The negative attitudes towards robots scale (NARS) was applied widely in the robot-human interaction research field. However, robots' various occupations and roles have not been discussed when studying the negative attitudes towards robots. In this research, we aim to explore whether the occupation of robots could influence people's negative attitudes towards robots. The service robot and security robot, two types of robots that may be widely used, were used in the NARS-related study for the first time. We conducted the online questionnaire research, including three separate parts: negative attitudes towards robots, negative attitudes towards service robots, and negative attitudes towards security robots. The results of the online survey collected from 114 participants (54 females and 60 males) highlighted differences among the scores of people's negative attitudes towards service robots and the negative attitudes towards robots or security robots. People show the lowest negative attitudes towards service robots. There are no significant differences between the negative attitudes towards robots and security robots. This research supported the hypothesis people show different levels of negative attitudes towards different types of robots in the occupational division. These results provide a helpful indication for the study and design of robots with various occupations in the robot industry.

This paper proposes a method of conveying a driver’s intention to yield by blinking automotive lighting. Generally, headlight flashing indicates a driver’s intention to yield to another driver or pedestrians in Japan. However, this signaling method can have several meanings, including warning other drivers of road dangers such as crashed cars, or informing other drivers of the presence of a pedestrian. There is a possibility of a misunderstanding, increasing the risk of accidents. Therefore, we have investigated an effective method for facilitating communication in traffic. This study focuses on nonverbal communication in which blinking lights convey the driver’s intentions to others. In this study, visibility is not considered. Nine blinking patterns that changed the light colors, waveform, and blinking cycle were presented to fifteen healthy participants, and visual impressions were evaluated to identify the most suitable blinking patterns. These nine patterns indicate a driver’s intention to yield to pedestrians and other drivers. The results indicated that a blue-green blinking pattern in which luminance changes with a triangular wave pattern with a one-second cycle was best conveyed the intention to yield.

Some assistive devices (ADs) aim to ease elders performing daily activities by changing postural and strength requirements. Elders usually have cognitive lacks too, making AD usability perception an important issue. Usability perceptions arise from the affordances conveyed by the AD: design features should act as signifiers transmitting opportunities of how to use the AD. This study assesses the perception of jar openers usability. Eye-tracking (ET) data from 56 subjects were used. Rendered images of 6 ADs were shown, in 2 versions: with and without rubber on the grip area. Each slide showed the 6 ADs, each AD image being an area of interest (AoI) to be tracked. The participants ranked the ADs in the next usability affordances: comfort, effort level, easiness to grip, easiness to use, lid slippery and robustness. For each affordance, they were eye-tracked while deciding the best AD, and afterwards they ranked the other ADs. The ranks were transformed into scores, and their correlation with ET parameters (decision time and number of fixations on each AoI) were studied, along with the effect of the rubber on the scores. Heat maps were also analyzed to identify the signifiers of the ADs that attract attention on usability. The results showed the potentiality of ET to study the perception of ADs usability affordances, and that the addition of rubber on the grip area of the jar openers or the material and shape of the lid area have an effect on their understanding and use.