  In this paper, we explore the design and use of conversational telepresence
robots to help homebound older adults interact with the external world. An
initial needfinding study (N=8) using video vignettes revealed older adults'
experiential needs for robot-mediated remote experiences such as exploration,
reminiscence and social participation. We then designed a prototype system to
support these goals and conducted a technology probe study (N=11) to garner a
deeper understanding of user preferences for remote experiences. The study
revealed user interactive patterns in each desired experience, highlighting the
need of robot guidance, social engagements with the robot and the remote
bystanders. Our work identifies a novel design space where conversational
telepresence robots can be used to foster meaningful interactions in the remote
physical environment. We offer design insights into the robot's proactive role
in providing guidance and using dialogue to create personalized, contextualized
and meaningful experiences.
