WOULD YOU RECEIVE A VACCINE FROM A ROBOT? SPECULATIVE PERSPECTIVES ON ROBOTS ADMINISTERING VACCINES

This speculative exploration envisions a future scenario that poses the question, “Would You Receive a Vaccine from a Robot?”. We investigate the hypothetical acceptance of the robotic agent Pepper and a mechanical arm to apply the vaccine. Participants' perceptions were assessed through an online survey using fictitious scenarios, examining appearance, likability, perceived intelligence, safety, and waiting times. Findings indicate a willingness to accept vaccines from robotic agents, particularly social robots, highlighting key influencing factors. This study enriches discussions at the intersection of health technologies and human-robot interaction, offering insights for future research in the area of healthcare technologies.