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. 2023 Aug 2;25:e44125. doi: 10.2196/44125

Table 2.

Contextual factors: potential facilitators and barriers, and recommendations for improvement.

Factor Facilitators Barriers Recommendations for improvement
Hardware and physical context of the MINI robot

  • Cute appearance (M1a)

  • It should look like a pet or human but not in between (Ab)

  • Monotonous voice (M1)

  • 2 user interfaces making it complex to use: the robot and the tablet (M1)

  • Not a cute face (M1)

  • Not a nice appearancec

  • Childish appearancec

  • Moving eyes (M1)

  • Expressing emotions (eg, laughing at jokes; M1)

  • Less toy-looking (A)

  • Change the appearance (M1)

  • Should look like a child or young adult but not too childish or baby-looking (M1)

  • Huggable and soft touchc (A)

  • 2 versions of the robot’s look: puppet and adult look (A)

  • Use of special fabric that cleans itself (A)

  • Changeable clothing (A)

  • Clear voicec

  • Slow and short sentencesc (M1)

  • Use of bright colorsc (M1)

  • Add some hairc
Functionalities and software context of the MINI robot

  • Possibility to add new apps (M2d)

  • Interesting software (M1, M2)

  • Not too difficult (M1)

  • Too many options on the tablet screen could be confusing (M1, A)

  • Features of the robot for individual settings (M1)

  • No reaction to people’s emotions (A)

  • Too much explanation by talking (M1)

  • No feelingsc

  • Expressing emotions (eg, lighting to the jokes) (M1)

  • Medication reminder (LGe, M2)

  • Make the games more complicated (M2)

  • An alarm of accidents, fire, etc (M2)

  • Simple robot without a need for too many explanations (M1)

  • Robot in a group setting acting as a member of the group (M1)

  • Pictures from the local city (A)

  • Support and guidance in performing daily tasks (LG)
Users of MCs

  • N/Af

  • Higher functions of the brain damaged so not suitable for people in MCs (M1, A)

  • Repetitions of instructions needed by users (A)

  • N/A
Setting and activities of MCs

  • N/A

  • No quiz-like activities and games policy of the MCs (M1, A)

  • Not playing games in the MCs (main activity is to socialize)

  • Normal activities such as music and art (M1, A)

  • N/A
Other settings

  • Could be helpful in other settings such as nursing homes or private homes where people are truly alone

  • Can get used to the robot in MCs and then want to have it at home (M2)

  • N/A

  • N/A

aM1: meeting center (MC) manager.

bA: activity therapist.

cAs stated by people with disabilities (PwD).

dM2: manager/director of other care/welfare organization.

eLG: local government.

fN/A: not applicable.