FrameLight: Guiding Attention Through Motion and Arrangement in Shape-Changing Furniture Robots

This paper introduces “FrameLight,” a shape-changing, mobile furniture robot, as one example of the broader concept of “Furnituroids,” which encompasses multiple robots designed to enhance spatial experiences. FrameLight features parallel link mechanisms and dimmable LEDs mounted on a mobile base, capable of dynamically adjusting its shape and position. As an application of calm technology, multiple FrameLight units subtly capture attention and direct users' gaze through synchronized movements and spatial configurations. A user study was conducted using three FrameLight units to investigate how their arrangement and movement patterns influence user perception and behavior. The findings reveal that these robots effectively direct attention through their motion, with vertical arrangements that create a sense of depth being particularly well-received by participants.