Human-robot interfaces for social interaction

This paper presents an overview of human-robot interfaces focusing particularly on social robot interfaces. Based on the multimodality and adaptivity dimensions, the human-robot interfaces are classified in four categories: direct-manipulation interfaces, multimodal interfaces, adaptive interfaces, and social interfaces. Integrating social interfaces with agent technology can help build human-robot interfaces. These interfaces have multimodality and adaptivity as two main features inspired from social interfaces. They also acquire autonomy, reactivity, pro-activeness, and cooperativeness as essential properties inspired from agent technology. The paper discusses the necessary features for social interface agents.