"Pimp My Roomba": Designing for Personalization

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Authors:
JaYoung Sung - Georgia Institute of Technology
Rebecca E. Grinter - Georgia Institute of Technology
Henrik I. Christensen -  Georgia Institute of Technology

Summary:

In this paper the idea of personalization to promote the use of a product is explored by giving a number of participants Roomba vacuum cleaning robots along with customization kits.  The participants are encouraged to add custom skins, stickers, paint, and write on their robots in any way they see fit.  The study lasted six months and at the end of the six months the users were asked about their experiences with their Roomba.

Of the people that regularly used their Roomba a varying degree of customization was done.  About half of the users decided not to customize their Roomba because they did not want to feel attached to it and wanted it to just do its job and then be tucked away in the corner.  Overall they felt that customizing it was unnecessary for it to accomplish its task.

The other half of the users that regularly used their Roomba did personalize it to varying degrees.  Some of these users chose to go online and order pre-made "skins" to add to their robot because they felt that it was easier than placing stickers or drawing on it.  Another reason a skin was chosen was the fact that the participants wanted the Roomba to match their furniture.  They wanted the Roomba to blend in with the environment and be an "unnoticed helper."

The set of users who chose to personalize their robot with paints and stickers shared a common feeling that the Roomba was a part of their family.  They chose to take extra care of it and believed that the Roomba actually performed better once they gave it their own personal feel.  The customization of the robot reflected its perceived personality and the participants were more likely to show off their new "friend."

The people that chose not to use the Roomba either forgot that they had it or did not like it when it was in use.

Discussion:
I really enjoyed this paper for the fact that it was not so much focusing on the area of  "robotic vacuum cleaners" but instead on the idea of personalization for promoting use of a product.  I have personalized some of my own items for the same reasons as shown above and can relate to every side of the study.  For instance, I personalize my computer and my car and I feel a closer connection to them and interact with them more as beings rather than just "things".

I believe that if a product promotes itself to be personalizable, it easily affords itself to be used and loved by its owner.