POCO soft robot rethinks human-AI connection through touch and interaction
Mehrnaz Amouei, a designer, has created POCO, a soft robotic companion that offers a new approach to human-AI interaction focused on presence, responsiveness, and clear boundaries instead of emotional control or interpretation. This initiative stemmed from a year-long research effort that included qualitative interviews, interdisciplinary contributions, and iterative prototyping, highlighting a preference for systems that are available without guaranteeing certainty. POCO embodies the idea of 'constructive interdependence,' integrating limitations into its interaction model. The device, a soft and tactile object, connects to a smartphone for processing. It employs capacitive sensors to react to touch gestures like holding or stroking, moving in slow, rhythmic patterns akin to breathing. POCO does not initiate interactions but responds to users, fostering a shared rhythm while visibly indicating states of activity and rest. This positions AI as a participant in a relational framework, promoting trust through transparency, limitations, and balanced engagement.
Key facts
- POCO is a soft robotic companion developed by designer Mehrnaz Amouei.
- The project proposes interaction models based on presence, responsiveness, and clearly defined limitations.
- It was informed by a year-long research process including qualitative interviews and iterative prototyping.
- The design introduces the concept of 'constructive interdependence.'
- POCO connects to a smartphone which functions as its computational component.
- Interaction is based on touch using capacitive sensors responding to gestures like holding or stroking.
- Movement is expressed through slow, rhythmic actions resembling breathing.
- The system does not initiate interaction independently but responds to user input.
Entities
Artists
- Mehrnaz Amouei
Institutions
- designboom