As robots move into everyday environments, we need to understand both the social and the technical constraints and affordances for human-robot interaction. We use in situ evaluation of partially functioning prototypes to inform the design of robotic technologies that fit their intended contexts of use and illustrate this method through a case study of iteratively designing a desktop robot for break management in a computerized office. After an initial exploratory study of the office as context of use, we used comparative semi-controlled evaluations of multiple design alternatives to explore how different robot characteristics, specifically embodiment and social interactivity, are perceived by users and affect their break taking. We found evaluating simple prototypes with varying levels of functionality, even when not robust or "complete," provides opportunities for including users in the design process and for identifying emergent factors that impact robot use. Our case study provides insights into the challenges and best practices for performing iterative prototyping and in situ evaluations of robots, which can inform future development of contextually appropriate robotic technologies.

Workplace injuries commonly result from long periods of inactivity during computer use. Software exists to help remind people to take breaks but is often ineffective. On the basis of design research performed in an office environment, we propose an emotionally expressive companion robot to encourage employees to take breaks and socialize more regularly. Initial reactions to our design were positive, and encourage further investigation.

This paper describes the design and initial evaluation of Dewey, a do-it-yourself (DIY) robot prototype aimed to help users manage break-taking in the workplace. We describe the application domain, prototyping and technical implementation, and evaluation of Dewey in a real office environment to show how research using simple prototypes can provide valuable insights into user needs and practices at the early stages of socially assistive robot design.We present the design and initial evaluation of a desktop robot for managing breaks as a case study of developing contextually appropriate robots through iterative prototyping in situ. Rapid prototyping can be used to incorporate observations from user and environment interactions early on in the process of robot design, so that resulting technologies correspond to user expectations and contextual constraints [1]. Though not as robust as finished products, rapid prototypes are less expensive to design and test out, enable the participation of users as well as designers in the design process, and provide fast feedback for learning. We describe how our design is based in a real-world problem, defined through the exploration of break management practices in an office with potential users, and validated through implementation in the context of use. In the evaluation, we tested whether the robot's collocated presence and minimal embodied cues would be a successful alternative to existing computer-based technologies for break management. DESIGNThe relevance of break management as an application domain is supported by research stating that regular breaks from work help to relieve and prevent injury 1 and alleviate boredom and fatigue [3]. Our initial user studies also suggest 1

i nte ra c ti o n s J a n u a r y + Fe b r u a r y 2 013 22 on heriTaGe ForumOn Heritage aims to offer and promote a rich discussion at the intersection of art, performance, and culture that expands the boundaries of HCI while broadening our understanding of how things of the past come to matter in the present. Elisa Giaccardi, Editori nte ra c ti o n s J a n u a r y + Fe b r u a r y 2 013 24 on heriTaGe Forum

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