Human User, Robot Body: Examining Identity and Embodiment in Robot-Mediated Communication
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Telepresence robots are widely used in homes, schools, and workplaces to support remote interactions and strengthen social connections. While the robot's physical embodiment can give the remote user a feeling of "being there," more work is needed to understand how interacting through a robot's body impacts identity expression and perception - or the sense of "being you." During face-to-face interactions, our bodies make us physically present and play a crucial role in communicating information about who we are. Embodiment, therefore, is not just a physical presence but a key factor in identity expression, social interaction, and our sense of self. Telepresence robots act as remote bodies for users. Users can move, gesture, manipulate objects, and "be there" through the robot body. However, can users communicate, express identity, and have the sense of "being you" through a robot? In this thesis, I present empirical findings from two studies and a theoretical model to answer the question: "How does interacting through a telepresence robot impact how users express and perceive identity?" I designed a simple, low-cost telepresence robot to understand how users can communicate head gestures through a telepresence robot. Through a controlled lab study (n=18), I found that while the local users could interpret the robot's head gestures, they also perceived the remote user as robot-like. I analyzed video, real-time observations, and interview data from a field study to explore how people perceive telepresence robots and their operators. Through thematic analysis of post-interaction interviews (n=48), I found that local users perceived the remote user's identity in the context of the robot's physical appearance and actions. Based on the empirical findings from my studies and building on existing theory, I construct the TeleBotic model of communication to capture how telepresence robots impact identity expression and perception. I propose that the remote user's identity expression combines with the attributes of the telepresence robot, forming a