PRE2022 3 Group12/User interview

Interview questions

The questions used for the user interview can be found below. While these questions are in English, the actual user interviews were conducted with Dutch participants, and were translated to allow the interviews to be conducted in the participants native language.

1. Do you often play games (with others)?
2. When/where do you mostly play?
3. Do you mostly play games with others or by yourself?
4. Do you often play in the same group(s)?
5. With how many do you often play?
6. What games do you mostly play?
7. Do you often play the same games (in the same groups)?
8. Why these games specifically?
9. Do you play those games according to official rules? Or do you have a locally defined ruleset? Or do you not have an official ruleset?
10. Do you sometimes play new games?
11. Do you experience difficulties when learning new games?
12. What would these difficulties be?
13. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you did not have enough players to play a game? Or potentially when playing alone?
14. Why do you play card games?
15. What do you look for in card games?
16. What is enjoyable about playing card games?

**explain the concept design of the card-game playing robot**

1. If you were to play against a robot, how would you like this interaction to be?
2. To what extent do you want communication with the robot? Voice interaction, visible decision process,…
3. This robot is a newly designed technology. Do you expect many difficulties in using this product?
4. What would be the main problems that you think you would face?
5. What would be design choices that we would need to incorporate in the design? Lightweight battery life, playing difficulty setting,…? (feel free to mention later if anything comes up)

**You work with or come in contact with elderly regularly. These next questions will be about what you expect from elderly.**

1. How and when do elderly often play games?
2. Which games do elderly mostly play?
3. Would elderly have a hard time learning a new game?
4. What requirements must the robot meet on order to dealt with elderly?
5. What characteristics does the robot need?
6. What does the robot need to be able to do? (shuffle, explain,…)
7. How should the robot handle win or loss ratios?

Interview summaries

Interview 1

This participant was not directly in the target group of elderly people but does work with and comes in contact with them regularly. Because of this the interview was taken both as ‘elderly’ and later as someone who can tell how elderly would answer and behave. This participant does play games but plays physical games almost exclusively with others and at home, this because games were mostly played to spend time and for conviviality and distraction. As others are not always available or busy with their own games or work, card games are played more often than board games as they usually have a shorter playtime, quicker game rounds and a clear winner, which is not as important as winning a big game, which makes them easier to just sit down and play. Games played often include; crazy eight (‘pesten’), toepen, yaniv and shithead. While they play these games according to ‘official rules’ these games often don’t have well defined rules and people play them in their local group’s variant. On the question If they have found themselves in the situation where they did not have enough players for a game they answered that they would just play another game that is playable with fewer players. After hearing about the concept and aimed design they said that the best implementation would of course include as many mechanics as possible; lights, voice, etc. but that the use of a screen and simple display would also work, something that would also be more feasible. While not expecting many difficulties with the robot, as long as it functions correctly and as expected, a problem that was mentioned was about how to handle cheating and/or mistakes, both from the robot as well as the opponent. Other design choices that would be most important would be an easy and clear design that is straightforward to use and operate. According to this participant the elderly people were actually more fanatic, competitive and monotonous than you might think. They are more focused on winning or mutual competition, and wouldn’t really be interested in new games or new players. As well as usually playing the same games; bridge or belote (‘klaverjassen’). These games in particular as they are the games they used to play when the where younger and have thus played many time and still do. In order to work with elderly the participant said that the robot needs to have a clear communication, easy to understand display/screen, as well as an clear and easy to understand design. It was expected that they could actually think it’s funny, something that could easily be enhanced with the design. Creating a nice design, not with lights but perhaps with an old fashioned look, roses or something, and shape. They are a bit skeptical so for the gameplay it should be clear they are playing against a fair robot, one that makes roughly the same decisions. They probably also want to shuffle the deck themselves as well but it would probably be better if it has the capabilities to do so. For gameplay and win loss ratio there should be difficulty levels, that way there are some differences between games. This also allows them to win, the robot definitely doesn’t have to always lose but it should be able to lose games now and then.

Interview 2

This participant hardly ever plays card games, and only read tarot cards now and again. This is mostly done alone but sometimes with a friend. This means the more card game oriented questions had little use. This participant however did tell that if they were to play a card game this was probably out of boredom. It was also said that while not really having a problem with learning a new card game after trying it out, the explanation itself was hard to learn from as it was hard for them to ‘visualize’ it. When talking about the design they said they would like a interaction as close to human interaction as possible. In a way that challenges you but also allows you to challenge the robot. It would also be best if the robot can make and take a joke and be somewhat playful. They also thought that a voice would work great as communication as it would help to make it stimulating and interesting. This participant said that having a bit of a lower voice was preferred over a higher pitched voice. Other things to improve its attractiveness could include some movement. But according to the participant the most important aspect would be an attractive appearance, using a more rounded shape instead of sharp edges. Some problems mentioned would be that the robot would become boring, something that could be improved if it was playful, than it wouldn’t be as identical. This participants also regularly works with and thus comes in contact with elderly people, because of that some more questions about what elderly would think were discussed. It was said that they play card games out of boredom as well but that it was more in an entertaining way, since they are not as mobile and thus sit down and play games for company. Games they mostly play would be patience or bridge for the more active and competitive elderly. Two important characteristics that kept coming back and are thus important for the robot would be patience and seriousness. It needs to be attractive but also friendly and calm. The elderly would need more guidance when learning a game and would need more attempts and time to get something right. Furthermore it needs to be serious, it needs to play seriously and also needs to take turns shuffling, in a divided turns way. Of course it also needs to let the others win. Ideally it should notice when someone gets agitated and stimulate them, for example by losing a round, if it doesn’t it probably just gets hit or thrown away after a while. When asked about elderly cheating the participant answered; elderly, specifically those with dementia, might become a bit childish. So more focused on winning and more inclined to cheat. Best would be if the robot could notice this and again if it is relaxed and can take a joke.