Numerous technologies now exist for promoting more active lifestyles. However, while quantitative data representations (e.g., charts, graphs, and statistical reports) typify most health tools, growing evidence suggests such feedback can not only fail to motivate behavior but may also harm self-integrity and fuel negative mindsets about exercise. Our research seeks to devise alternative, more qualitative schemes for encoding personal information. In particular, this paper explores the design of data-driven narratives, given the intuitive and persuasive power of stories. We present WhoIsZuki, a smartphone application that visualizes physical activities and goals as components of a multi-chapter quest, where the main character's progress is tied to the user's. We report on our design process involving online surveys, in-lab studies, and in-the-wild deployments, aimed at refining the interface and the narrative and gaining a deep understanding of people's experiences with this type of feedback. From these insights, we contribute recommendations to guide future development of narrative-based applications for motivating healthy behavior.

Telepresence takes place when a user is afforded with the experience of being in a remote environment or virtual world, through the use of immersive technologies. A humanoid robot and a control apparatus that correlates the operator's movements whilst providing sufficient sensory feedback, encompass such immersive technologies. This paper considers the control mechanisms that afford telepresence, the requirements for continuous or extended telepresence control, and the health implications of engaging in complex time-constrained tasks. We present Telesuit - a full-body telepresence control system for operating a humanoid telepresence robot. The suit is part of a broader system that considers the constraints of controlling a dexterous bimanual robotic torso, and the need for modular hardware and software that allows for high-fidelity immersiveness. It incorporates a health-monitoring system that collects information such as respiratory effort, galvanic skin response, and heart rate. This information is consequently leveraged by the platform to adjust the telepresence experience and apply control modalities for autonomy. Furthermore, the design of the Telesuit garment considers both functionality and aesthetics.

Drones are becoming ubiquitous and offer support to people in various tasks, such as photography, in increasingly interactive social contexts. We introduce drone.io, a projected body-centric graphical user interface for human-drone interaction. Using two simple gestures, users can interact with a drone in a natural manner. drone.io is the first human-drone graphical user interface embedded on a drone to provide both input and output capabilities. This paper describes the design process of drone.io. We present a proof of concept, drone-based implementation, as well as a fully functional prototype for a drone tour-guide scenario. We report drone.io's evaluation in three user studies (N=27) and show that people were able to use the interface with little prior training. We contribute to the field of human-robot interaction and the growing field of human-drone interaction.

Telepresence takes place when a user is afforded the experience of being in a remote environment or a virtual world, through the use of immersive technologies. The development of a humanoid robot and a control apparatus that correlates the operator's movements, and provides sufficient sensory feedback, encompass efforts to create such immersive technologies. This paper considers the control mechanisms that afford telepresence, the requirements for continuous or extended telepresence control, and the health implications of engaging in complex time-constrained tasks. We present the Telesuit - a full-body telepresence control system used to operate a humanoid telepresence robot. The suit is part of a larger system that considers the physical constraints of controlling a dexterous bimanual robotic torso, and the need for modular hardware and software that allow for high-fidelity immserviness. It incorporates a health-monitoring system that allows the robotic platform to leverage information such as respiratory effort, galvanic skin response, and heart rate, to adjust the telepresence experience and apply control modalities that automate manipulation tasks. Furthermore, the design of the garment considers both functionality and aesthetics, and sets preface for future implementations of wearable telepresence control systems that integrate into the Internet of Actions (IoA) - allowing operators to interchangeably transition between the physical world and mixed-reality or virtual worlds.