Robots as embodied beings - interactionally sensitive body movements in interactions among autistic children and a robot

The general context of the work presented in this paper is assistive robotics with our long-term aim to support children with autism. This paper is part of an investigation into what ways and to what extent a robot can assume the role of a social mediator - encouraging autistic children to interact with the robot, with each other and with co-present adults. The article provides a case study evaluation of segments of trials where four children with autism interacted with a robot as well as with each other. It focuses primarily on the ways in which the autistic children were found to skilfully orientate and reorientate their bodies in a way that was sensitive to the activities of the adult (such as requests and adjustments to the robot), the robot (its position and movement) and another child. Results are presented using an analysis of interaction informed by conversation analytic principles. The analysis showed how the children exhibited interaction skills where the robot served as a salient object mediating joint attention with other children.