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Author(s): Marta Díaz-Boladeras [sup.1] [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Technical Research Centre for Dependency Care and Autonomous Living (CETpD), , Rambla Exposició, 59., 08800, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain (2) grid.6835.8, [...], The challenge of long-term interaction between humans and robots is still a bottleneck in service robot research. To gain an understanding of sustained relatedness with robots, this study proposes a conceptual framework for bond formation. More specifically, it addresses the dynamics of children bonding with robotic pets as the basis for certain services in healthcare and education. The framework presented herein offers an integrative approach and draws from theoretical models and empirical research in Human Robot Interaction and also from related disciplines that investigate lasting relationships, such as human-animal affiliation and attachment to everyday objects. The research question is how children's relatedness to personified technologies occurs and evolves and what underpinning processes are involved. The subfield of research is child-robot interaction, within the boundaries of social psychology, where the robot is viewed as a social agent, and human-system interaction, where the robot is regarded as an artificial entity. The proposed framework envisions bonding with pet-robots as a socio-affective process towards lasting connectedness and emotional involvement that evolves through three stages: first encounter, short-term interaction and lasting relationship. The stages are characterized by children's behaviors, cognitions and feelings that can be identified, measured and, maybe more importantly, managed. This model aims to integrate fragmentary and heterogeneous knowledge into a new perspective on the impact of robots in close and enduring proximity to children.

Mutually adaptive interaction involves the robot as a partner as opposed to a tool, and requires that the robot is susceptible to similar environmental cues and behavior patterns as humans are. Recognition, or the acknowledgement of the other as individual, is fundamental to mutually adaptive interaction between humans. We discuss what recognition involves and its behavioral manifestations, and describe the benefits of implementing it in HRI., Author(s): Ingar Brinck [sup.1], Christian Balkenius [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.4514.4, 0000 0001 0930 2361, Theoretical Philosophy and LUCS Robotics Lab, Department of Philosophy and Cognitive Science, Lund University, , [...]

New forms of artificial intelligence on the one hand and the ubiquitous networking of “everything with everything” on the other hand characterize the fourth industrial revolution. This results in a changed understanding of human-machine interaction, in new models for production, in which man and machine together with virtual agents form hybrid teams. The empirical study “Socializing with robots” aims to gain insight especially into conditions of development and processes of hybrid human-machine teams. In the experiment, human-robot actions and interactions were closely observed in a virtual environment. Robots as partners differed in shape and behavior (reliable or faulty). Participants were instructed to achieve an objective that could only be achieved via close teamwork. This paper unites different aspects from core disciplines of social robotics and psychology contributing to anthropomorphization with the empirical insights of the experiment. It focuses on the psychological effects (e.g. reactions of different personality types) on anthropomorphization and mechanization, taking the inter- and transdisciplinary field of social robotics as a starting point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing complexity of modern industrial automatic and robotic systems, a burden is placed on system operators, who are required to supervise and interact with very complex systems, typically under difficult and stressful conditions. To overcome these challenges, it is necessary to adopt a responsible approach based on an anthropocentric design methodology so that machines adapt to human capabilities rather than vice versa. In this article, we consider an integrated methodological design approach, referred to as measure, adapt, and teach (MATE), which consists of devising complex automatic or robotic solutions that measure the current operator's status and adapting the interaction accordingly, while providing him or her with the necessary skills and expertise to improve the interaction. A MATE system, shown in Figure 1, endeavors to be usable for all users, thus meeting the principles of inclusive design. However, the use of such a MATE system calls to attention several ethical and social implications, which are discussed in this article. Additionally, a discussion about which factors in the organization of companies are critical with respect to the introduction of a MATE system is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The evaluation of the societal impact of autonomous technologies, particularly robotics, has grown in technological contexts (e.g., see [14] and the IEEE Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems [20]), as well as broader political contexts (e.g., see the 2017 European Parliament report regarding civil law rules on robotics [21]). In this article, we adopt the perspective that conceptualizes new technologies as social experiments, stressing their experimental character to deal with the inherent uncertainty that affects their behavior. We suggest that the kind of experiments performed when evaluating robots in specific contexts of use are explorative experiments, i.e., investigations carried out in the absence of a proper theory or theoretical background that diverge from the traditional notion of controlled experiments. Considering this epistemological shift, we apply the ethical framework proposed by van de Poel for experimental technologies to the case of robotics, and we discuss its implications on the design of robots. To make our discussion more concrete, we reference the field of robots for search and rescue, which offers a challenging opportunity to test socioethical approaches to the development of robots and their interactions with environments and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In conjunction with what is often called the industry 4.0, the new machine age, or the rise of the robots, the authors of this paper have each experienced the following phenomenon. At public events and roundtable discussions, among our circles of friends, or during interviews with the media, we are asked on a surprisingly regular basis: "How must humankind adapt to the imminent process of technological change? What do we have to learn in order to keep pace with the smart new machines? What new skills do we need to understand the robots?" [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The development of social robots for children with autism has been a growth field for the past 15 years. This article reviews studies in robots and autism as a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts socialcommunication development, and the ways social robots could help children with autism develop social skills. Drawing on ethics research from the EU-funded Development of Robot-Enhanced Therapy for Children with Autism (DREAM) project (framework 7), this paper explores how ethics evolves and developed in this European project. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Singularity, or as some may call it - the specific point in time when advanced technological development, for instance artificial intelligence (AI), leads to the creation of machines that are smarter than human beings - will arrive roughly around the year 2045 according to author, computer scientist, inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil. [1] The timeline presented by Kurzweil, can be argued, but not the fact that we are dealing with rapid advances in the fields of robotics and AI. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rhetorical moves that construct humanoid robots as social agents disclose tensions at the intersection of science and technology studies (STS) and social robotics. The discourse of robotics often constructs robots that are like us (and therefore unlike dumb artefacts). In the discourse of STS, descriptions of how people assimilate robots into their activities are presented directly or indirectly against the backdrop of actor-network theory, which prompts attributing agency to mundane artefacts. In contradistinction to both social robotics and STS, it is suggested here that to view a capacity to partake in dialogical action (to have a ‘voice’) is necessary for regarding an artefact as authentically social. The theme is explored partly through a critical reinterpretation of an episode that Morana Alač reported and analysed towards demonstrating her bodies-in-interaction concept. This paper turns to ‘body’ with particular reference to Gibsonian affordances theory so as to identify the level of analysis at which dialogicality enters social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In revisiting the Principles of Robotics (as we do in this special issue), it is important to carefully consider their full meaning – their history, the intentions behind them, and their actual societal impact to date. Here I address first the meaning of the document as a whole, then of its constituent parts. Further, I describe the nature of policy, and use the Principles as a case study to discuss how government and academia can interact in constructing policy. I defend the Principles and their main themes: that commercially manufactured robots should not be responsible parties under the law, and that users should not be deceived about robots' capacities or moral status. This perspective allows for the incorporation of robots immediately into UK society and law – the objective of the Principles. The Principles were not designed for every conceivable robot, but rather serve in part as design specifications for robots to be incorporated as legal products into British society. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this work, we were interested in creating a robot service for offering help to people who appear to be in need for guidance. In order to achieve that, we first developed a technique to detect pedestrians who walk in an atypical way (e.g., people who do not know their way). In our approach, a motion model of typical pedestrians developed in our previous work was used, and a novel predictability feature was defined that quantifies how well can a person's future position be predicted using that model. The classification method based on this feature gave accurate results and outperformed alternative methods. Using this detection method, we created a robot service for offering guidance to people who were classified as atypical. Experiments done in a shopping mall have shown that the robot was successful in choosing the people to approach, and the reactions from users in the interviews were very positive. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Robotics and artificial intelligence are expected to reach their 'tipping points' over the next decade. Digitalization and service automation are already visible in the tourism sector, raising questions on their wider impact on the industry and the holiday-experience per se. Numerous application examples and cases of those technologies across the entire holiday value-chain are outlined and their diffusion drivers are discussed. Apart from providing a typology for R-tourism applications, this paper makes a strong case for the incorporation of this interdisciplinary area into mainstream tourism research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limb repositioning is necessary for individuals with severe physical disabilities to sustain muscle strength and prevent pressure sores. As robotic technologies become ubiquitous, these tools offer promise to support the repositioning process. However, research has yet to focus on ways in which individuals with severe physical disabilities can control robots for these tasks. This paper presents a study that examines the needs and attitudes of potential users with physical disabilities to control a robotic aid for limb repositioning. Subjects expressed interest in using brain-computer interface (BCI) and speech recognition technologies for purposes of executing robotic tasks. The performance of four subjects controlling arm movements on an avatar through the keyboard, mouse, BCI, and Dragon NaturallySpeaking speech recognition was evaluated. Although BCI and speech technologies may limit physical fatigue, more challenges were faced using BCI and speech conditions compared to the keyboard and mouse. This research promotes accessibility into mainstream robotic technologies and represents the first step in the development of a robotic prototype using a BCI and speech recognition technologies for limb repositioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An individual can interact with the same set of people over many different scales simultaneously. Four people might interact as a group of four and, at the same time, in pairs and triads. What is the relationship between different parallel interaction scales, and how might those scales themselves interact? We devised a four-player experimental game, the Modular Stag Hunt, in which participants chose not just whether to coordinate, but with whom, and at what scale. Our results reveal coordination behavior with such a strong preference for dyads that undermining pairwise coordination actually improves group-scale outcomes. We present these findings as experimental evidence for competition, as opposed to complementarity, between different possible scales of multi-player coordination. This result undermines a basic premise of approaches, like those of network science, that fail to model the interacting effects of dyadic, triadic, and group-scale structures on group outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We found that children sometimes abused a social robot placed in a shopping mall hallway. They verbally abused the robot, repeatedly obstructed its path, and sometimes even kicked and punched the robot. To investigate the reasons for the abuse, we conducted a field study in which we interviewed visiting children who exhibited serious abusive behaviors, including physical contact. We analyzed interview contents to determine whether the children perceived the robot as human-like, why they abused it, and whether they thought that the robot would suffer from their abusive behavior. We obtained valid interviews from 23 children (age range, 5-9 years old) over 13 days of observations. We found that 1) the majority of the children engaged in abuse because they were curious about the robot's reactions or enjoyed abusing it and considered it human-like, and 2) about half of them believed the robot was capable of perceiving their abusive behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to explore how the introduction of robots and artificial intelligence raises questions regarding the role of “work” not just in meeting societal material needs but challenges the idea of work as an underlying paradigm of human society, particularly as personal identity.Design/methodology/approach This paper takes the form of an editorial opinion piece.Findings “Work” is a defining characteristic of an individual. The entrance of robots and artificial intelligence could be a greater challenge to an individual’s sense of well-being and identity than only for filling traditional functions and basic needs of society.Social Implications The question is raised as to the psychological and social implications of the “immigration” of a new “culture” in the form of artificial intelligence and robotics beyond a local or regional basis.Originality/value The increasing presence of robots and artificial intelligence not only offers alternative ways for society to function but also sharpens the challenges that one culture faces when confronted by other communities who are able to fill traditional positions beyond the traditional one of “work”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent technological advancements bring virtual agents, avatars, and social robotic characters into our daily lives. These characters must acquire the ability to express (simulated) emotions vocally and gesturally. In the vocal channel, Natural Language Interaction technologies today have some limitations when used in real-world natural environments and the models of expressivity of text to speech synthesis engines are not yet mature enough. To address these limitations, an alternative form of vocal communication - gibberish speech - is introduced in this paper. Gibberish speech consists of vocalizations of meaningless strings of speech sounds, and thus has no semantic meaning. It is occasionally used by performing artists or for cartoon animations and games to express intended emotions (e.g. Teletubbies and The Sims). In this paper, our approach for constructing expressive gibberish speech is described and the experimental evaluations with its intended robotic agents are reported. It is shown that the generated gibberish speech can contribute to a significant extent to studies concerning emotion expression for robotic agents and can be further utilized in affective human-robot interaction studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The way human beings engage with material things in our environment is experiencing rapid modification. Human and non-human, natural and artificial creatures are on the verge of building unprecedented relations of sociability. This paper takes this process as a horizon for Social Robotics, advancing a new approach to coordinate systems of multiple robots within social spaces durably shared by humans and machines. Given the fact that institutions are the tools in use within human societies to shape social action over long periods of time, we use human-inspired institutions to deal with scenarios involving many-to-many human-robot lasting interactions. Our approach, Institutional Robotics, is inspired by leading economists and philosophers having dedicated sustained efforts to the understanding of social institutions. This paper: (1) advocates the importance of an institution-based approach for multi-robot systems (Institutional Robotics) in real-world human-populated environments, where many-to-many social interactions among robots and humans must be considered; (2) reviews experiments conducted (including novel experimental work) and methodologies used in the process of advancing Institutional Robotics. Both contributions pave the way for a new institution-based methodology to coordinate robot collectives, which stems from an inter-disciplinary approach based on robotics, social sciences and philosophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In considering how to best deploy robotic systems in public and private sectors, we must consider what individuals will expect from the robots with which they interact. Public awareness of robotics--as both military machines and domestic helpers--emerges out of a braided stream composed of science fiction and popular science. These two genres influence news media, government and corporate spending, and public expectations. In the Euro-American West, both science fiction and popular science are ambivalent about the military applications for robotics, and thus we can expect their readers to fear the dangers posed by advanced robotics while still eagerly anticipating the benefits to be accrued through them. The chief pop science authors in robotics and artificial intelligence have a decidedly apocalyptic bent and have thus been described as leaders in a social movement called 'Apocalyptic AI.' In one form or another, such authors look forward to a transcendent future in which machine life succeeds human life, thanks to the march of evolutionary progress. The apocalyptic promises of popular robotics presume that presently exponential growth in computing will continue indefinitely, producing a 'Singularity.' During the Singularity, technological progress will be so rapid that undreamt of changes will take place on earth, the most important of which will be the evolutionary succession of human beings by massively intelligent robots and the 'uploading' of human consciousness into computer bodies. This supposedly inevitable transition into post-biological life looms across the entire scope of pop robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), and it is from beneath that shadow that all popular books engage the military and the ethics of warfare. Creating a just future will require that we transcend the apocalyptic discourse of pop science and establish an ethical approach to researching and deploying robots, one that emphasizes human rather than robot welfare; doing so will require the collaboration of social scientists, humanists, and scientists. Keywords Apocalyptic AI * Artificial intelligence * Ethics * Hans Moravec * Military. Morality * Popular science * Ray Kurzweil * Robotics * Science fiction * War, 1 Introduction In considering how to best deploy robotic systems in public and private sectors, we must consider what individuals will expect from the robots with which they interact. Public [...]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.robot.2009.09.015 Byline: Rachel Kirby (a), Jodi Forlizzi (b), Reid Simmons (a) Abstract: For human-robot interaction to proceed in a smooth, natural manner, robots must adhere to human social norms. One such human convention is the use of expressive moods and emotions as an integral part of social interaction. Such expressions are used to convey messages such as 'I'm happy to see you' or 'I want to be comforted,' and people's long-term relationships depend heavily on shared emotional experiences. Thus, we have developed an affective model for social robots. This generative model attempts to create natural, human-like affect and includes distinctions between immediate emotional responses, the overall mood of the robot, and long-term attitudes toward each visitor to the robot, with a focus on developing long-term human-robot relationships. This paper presents the general affect model as well as particular details of our implementation of the model on one robot, the Roboceptionist. In addition, we present findings from two studies that demonstrate the model's potential. Author Affiliation: (a) Carnegie Mellon University, Robotics Institute, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA (b) Carnegie Mellon University, Human-Computer Interaction Institute and Design Department, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA Article History: Received 25 July 2007; Revised 4 September 2009; Accepted 21 September 2009 Article Note: (footnote) [star] This work was funded in part by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to the first author and by NSF grants #IIS-0329014 and #IIS-0121426. Portions of this work have appeared previously in Gockley et al. (2006) .