Investigating the effects of embodiment on presence and perception in remote physician video consultations: a between-participants study comparing a tablet and a telepresence robot

Abstract Increasing life expectancy and low birth rates have led to a larger aging population requiring more care, especially in rural areas. Information and communications technology may enhance older adults’ quality of life and digital health services. Assistive robotic systems, especially telepresence robots, are increasingly used in healthcare. These robots represent a significantly higher embodiment level than tablets, as they can provide the remote person with an additional body. This work explores the effects of different embodiment levels in video consultation, focusing on Presence and Perception from a Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) perspective. For this purpose, between-participants experiments were conducted in which 18 participants assumed the role of the patient and engaged in a video consultation with a remote, medically experienced person acting as the physician. A shortened medical check-up simulated the real assessment. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected during and after the experiment focusing on presence and interaction. Results show no significant influence of embodiment level in a video consultation from a HCI perspective. However, a trend towards more natural communication with stronger embodiment was observed, suggesting it may positively influence interaction.