Design
5 min read
Designing a face that doesn't stare
Two glowing eyes are enough to feel friendly, and enough to feel creepy. Getting that balance right took 60 prototypes.
Rui Barros, head of design
A face tells you what a robot is paying attention to. That’s useful, and it’s also how you end up with a machine that seems to watch you across the room.
Eyes that look away
Tuck makes eye contact for about a second, then glances at the task. People rated this ‘polite’ in testing. Holding the gaze felt like being assessed.
Moods, not emotions
The display shows three moods, calm, cheery and sleepy, and never fakes sadness or anger. We think a robot shouldn’t try to make you feel guilty.
Journal
