Developing socially inspired robotics through the application of human analogy: capabilities and social practice
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Developing socially inspired robotics through the application of human analogy: capabilities and social practice Neil McBride1 Received: 29 June 2019 / Accepted: 22 January 2020 © Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Socially inspired robotics involves drawing on the observation and study of human social interactions to apply them to the design of sociable robots. As there is increasing expectation that robots may participate in social care and provide some relief for the increasing shortage of human care workers, social interaction with robots becomes of increasing importance. This paper demonstrates the potential of socially inspired robotics through the exploration of a case study of the interaction of a partially sighted social worker with a support worker. This is framed within the capability approach in which the interaction of a human and a sociable robot is understood as resulting in a collaborative capability which is grounded the relationship between the human and the robot rather than the autonomous capabilities of the robot. The implications of applying the case study as an analogy for human–robot interaction are expressed through a discussion of capabilities and social practice and policy. The study is attenuated by a discussion of the technical limits of robots and the extensive complexity of the social context in which it is envisaged sociable robots may be employed. Keywords Sociable robots · Socially inspired robotics · Trusting robots · Capability approach
1 Introduction In the last decade, technical development in humanoid robots have triggered immense research on the use of robots in society: in social situations where there is both emotional and physical interactions with humans in complex and dynamic social environments. Robots are likely to be employed in social care (Houses of Parliament 2018). Robots may interact with humans in business services situations, such as university reception (Nisimura et al. 2002) and in shopping centres (Chen et al. 2017). The UK government envisions the development of health care robots which will contribute to the grand challenge of an ageing population and the goal of giving people five years of longer healthier life (UK Government, 2019). Using care robots “could help provide the UK’s dedicated adult social care sector with more assistance for those who need it most.” The government aim to “develop robots to one day fulfil tasks such as helping an elderly person up after a fall and * Neil McBride [email protected] 1
Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
raising the alarm, delivering food to an older person at mealtimes, and even ensuring they take crucial medication at the correct time.” These robots will have “a clear set of rules in order for them make effective decisions” and “demonstrate principles like respect, fairness and equality enabling them to eventually be used in environments like care homes and hospitals.” They will “work in tande
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