Mobile Remote Presence Robots for Medical Consultation and Social Connectedness.

We demonstrate that Mobile Remote Presence systems (MRP) aka telepresence robots can be successfully used in certain types of medical consultation such as consultation from a distance with residents of nursing homes. We argue that MRP afforded media richness also allows for supporting social connectedness during medically recommended isolation regimes similar to the ones that are implemented in residential care homes around the world during the SARS-CoVID-2 pandemic. Specifically, our research found that MRP are perceived as a more natural medium compared to typical telephones or videoconferencing via computers or tablets. MRP allow conversations to become more dynamic and engaging since remote participants are able to adjust their remote position and perspective during a conversation. Participants in our experiments reported they would be willing to engage even in difficult or emotional topics when using MRP however there are also certain types of situations that would still ask for face-to-face conversations.