#1 College Students' Mental Health Concerns

College students' mental well-being is a growing concern, especially for those single-living students who lack adequate social support. Recent studies reveal alarming rates of overwhelming stress and hopelessness among students, particularly due to academic pressures.

‍#2 Kuri's Limitations in Emotional Support

The social robot Kuri excels at entertainment but fall short in empathizing with users. Designed for positive or neutral interactions, it has limited capabilities to effectively serve as companions, particularly in addressing the mental health needs of college students.

Customized emotional resonance

Users, as revealed in Kuri's usability testings, exhibit diverse preferences—some seek cheerful companions for solace, while others crave therapeutic listeners. Balancing predictability and spontaneity becomes vital for crafting emotionally attuned companion robots that cater to varied needs, ensuring widespread acceptance and success.

The palette risks

Using white, known for simplicity, raises challenges in humanoid robot design. White's historical association with minimalism clashes with potential biases in robot perception. Designers can work towards a more inclusive and thoughtful approach to color selection, ensuring that the visual language of robots aligns with the principles of diversity.

Touch matters

Users express yearn for the warmth of a pet-like experience, emphasizing the importance of touch and temperature. This desire of softness, warmth, and fluffiness highlights the need for exhibiting looks and behaviors that mimic the lovable qualities of pets, aiming to create the emotional fabric of human-robot interaction.