Eye-Movement Dependency of Peripheral Visual Perception of Anthropomorphism Using an 80ms Robot Picture Stimulus

This paper investigates the impact of types of eye-movements (static vs. pursuit) on dimensions of perceived anthropomorphism of robots in the peripheral visual field (covert visual attention) in a strongly controlled video-based study design. It replicates a previous study with a contrasting refinement of using a short-term stimulus of only 80ms in order to avoid the effect of potential short direct saccades towards the stimulus. In a between-subjects design, test participants are told to follow a point target, which is either static at the screen center or moving linearly. The robot head picture is then briefly presented in the peripheral field of view region for 80ms. After stimulation, a questionnaire based on the HRIES scale on anthropomorphism is completed. Significant results show differences in anthropomorphism perception with the sociability sub-scale being affected. Other dimensions are not found to be affected, which may be subject to potential motion dependency or ambiguity of the other HRIES sub-scales. The findings may have an impact on task performance in close HRI, if a robot is only visible in the peripheral visual field and perceived covertly, while overt (foveated) visual attention of an interacting human focuses on tasks requiring hand or arm movements.