Handshake or Text? Why Robots Must Adapt to How Anxious We Feel

What is it about?

We studied how players react to a robot game master in a multi-party murder mystery game. We compared the robot physically handing out clues versus sending them to a digital screen. We found that a physical robot isn't always better. While comfortable players find physical interactions magical and highly engaging, players with high anxiety feel stressed by the robot invading their personal space. For these anxious users, receiving clues through a screen acts as a "social buffer". This shows that robots need to be adaptive, offering different modes depending on a user's comfort level.

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Photo by Enchanted Tools on Unsplash

Photo by Enchanted Tools on Unsplash

Why is it important?

As robots become game masters, teachers, or helpers in hospitals, designers often assume physical interaction is the ultimate goal. Our research proves that a "one-size-fits-all" approach fails. The main lesson is that robots must be adaptive. If a user is nervous, the robot should switch to a digital mode (screens, text) to give them space. If they are comfortable, it can use physical mode to make the experience more magical. In short: don't force a handshake on someone who just wants a text message. The best robot knows when to get close and when to stay back.

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