Abstract
- Telepresence systems (TPS) can be used for dynamic digital communication in social settings. To ensure positive interaction experience, it is essential to understand how these systems are perceived. We investigated the (social) perception of different TPS on the dimensions of anthropomorphism, sociability/morality, activity/cooperation, competence, and trustworthiness, especially in a sample of older participants. 26 people, aged 52 to 75 years, participated in a cross-sectional laboratory study. Participants assembled five simple figures in a collaborative task setting while interacting with a remote assistant via five TPS and a tablet. No differences in social perception and trustworthiness between the systems were found. Attributed anthropomorphism was significantly related to the evaluation of sociability/morality, activity/cooperation and trustworthiness. We provide relevant insights in the perception of TPS by older adults, which, while acknowledging the limited sample size, should be investigated more thoroughly as the proliferation of TPS especially in these areas of deployment is accelerated.