scholarly journals Social robots and digital well-being: how to design future artificial agents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Dennis
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Artificial Agents ◽  
Value Sensitive Design ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Range Of Values

AbstractValue-sensitive design theorists propose that a range of values that should inform how future social robots are engineered. This article explores a new value: digital well-being, and proposes that the next generation of social robots should be designed to facilitate this value in those who use or come into contact with these machines. To do this, I explore how the morphology of social robots is closely connected to digital well-being. I argue that a key decision is whether social robots are designed as embodied or disembodied. After exploring the merits of both approaches, I conclude that, on balance, there are persuasive reasons why disembodied social robots may well fare better with respect to the value of digital well-being.

White Lies on Silver Tongues

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alistair M. C. Isaac ◽  
Will Bridewell
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Social Function ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Artificial Agents ◽  
Ethical Evaluation ◽  
Ulterior Motive ◽  
The Social ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Crucial Condition

It is easy to see that social robots will need the ability to detect and evaluate deceptive speech; otherwise they will be vulnerable to manipulation by malevolent humans. More surprisingly, we argue that effective social robots must also be able to produce deceptive speech. Many forms of technically deceptive speech perform a positive pro-social function, and the social integration of artificial agents will be possible only if they participate in this market of constructive deceit. We demonstrate that a crucial condition for detecting and producing deceptive speech is possession of a theory of mind. Furthermore, strategic reasoning about deception requires identifying a type of goal distinguished by its priority over the norms of conversation, which we call an ulterior motive. We argue that this goal is the appropriate target for ethical evaluation, not the veridicality of speech per se. Consequently, deception-capable robots are compatible with the most prominent programs to ensure that robots behave ethically.

scholarly journals Can a humanoid social robot stimulate the interactivity of cognitively impaired elderly? A thorough study based on computer vision methods

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gauri Tulsulkar ◽  
Nidhi Mishra ◽  
Nadia Magnenat Thalmann ◽  
Hwee Er Lim ◽  
Mei Ping Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computer Vision ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Assistive Robotics ◽  
Cognitively Impaired ◽  
Assistive Robots ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
Human Need

AbstractSocial Assistive Robotics is increasingly being used in care settings to provide psychosocial support and interventions for the elderly with cognitive impairments. Most of these social robots have provided timely stimuli to the elderly at home and in care centres, including keeping them active and boosting their mood. However, previous investigations have registered shortcomings in these robots, particularly in their ability to satisfy an essential human need: the need for companionship. Reports show that the elderly tend to lose interests in these social robots after the initial excitement as the novelty wears out and the monotonous familiarity becomes all too familiar. This paper presents our research facilitating conversations between a social humanoid robot, Nadine, and cognitively impaired elderly at a nursing home. We analysed the effectiveness of human–humanoid interactions between our robot and 14 elderly over 29 sessions. We used both objective tools (based on computer vision methods) and subjective tools (based on observational scales) to evaluate the recorded videos. Our findings showed that our subjects engaged positively with Nadine, suggesting that their interaction with the robot could improve their well-being by compensating for some of their emotional, cognitive, and psychosocial deficiencies. We detected emotions associated with cognitively impaired elderly during these interactions. This study could help understand the expectations of the elderly and the current limitations of Social Assistive Robots. Our research is aligned with all the ethical recommendations by the NTU Institutional Review Board.

scholarly journals An innovative STEM outreach model (OH-Kids) to foster the next generation of geoscientists, engineers, and technologists

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrián Pedrozo-Acuña ◽  
Roberto J. Favero Jr. ◽  
Alejandra Amaro-Loza ◽  
Roberta K. Mocva-Kurek ◽  
Juan A. Sánchez-Peralta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Stem Learning ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Problem Solvers

Abstract. Childhood education programmes aiming at incorporating topics related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have gained recognition as key levers in the progress of education for all students. Inspiring young people to take part in the discovery and delivery of science is of paramount importance not only for their well-being but also for their future human development. To address this need, an outreach model entitled OH-Kids was designed to empower pupils through the development of high-quality STEM learning experiences based on a research project. The model is an opportunity for primary school learners to meet geoscientists while receiving the take-home message that anyone can get involved in scientific activities. The effort is part of a research project aimed at the real-time monitoring of precipitation in Mexico City, which is a smart solution to rainfall monitoring using information and communications technologies. The argument behind this effort is that in order to produce the next generation of problem-solvers, education should ensure that learners develop an appreciation and working familiarity with a real-world project. Results show success at introducing the role of researchers and STEM topics to 6–12-year-old learners.

scholarly journals An innovative STEM outreach model to foster the next generation of geoscientists, engineers and technologists (OH-Kids)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrián Pedrozo-Acuña ◽  
Roberto J. Favero Junior ◽  
Alejandra Amaro-Loza ◽  
Roberta K. Kurek Mocva ◽  
Juan A. Sánchez-Peralta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Stem Learning ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Problem Solvers

Abstract. Childhood education aiming at incorporating topics related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have gained recognition as key levers in the progress of education for all students. Inspiring young people to take part in the discovery and delivery of science is of paramount importance not only for their well-being but also for the future human development. To address this an outreach model entitled OH-Kids, was designed to empower educators and pupils through the development of high-quality STEM learning experiences based on a research project. The model is an opportunity for primary school learners to meet geoscientists at the same time as they receive the take-home message that anyone can get involved in scientific activities. The effort is part of a research project aimed at the real-time monitoring of precipitation in Mexico City, which is a smart solution to rainfall monitoring using information and communications technologies. The argument behind this effort, is that in order to produce the next generation of problem-solvers, education should ensure that learners develop an appreciation and working familiarity with a real world project. Results show success at introducing the role of the researchers and STEM topics to 6–12 year olds learners.

scholarly journals Vulnerable robots positively shape human conversational dynamics in a human–robot team

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (12) ◽  
pp. 6370-6375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret L. Traeger ◽  
Sarah Strohkorb Sebo ◽  
Malte Jung ◽  
Brian Scassellati ◽  
Nicholas A. Christakis
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Hybrid Systems ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Social Robot ◽  
Artificial Agents ◽  
Human Communication ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Collaborative Game

Social robots are becoming increasingly influential in shaping the behavior of humans with whom they interact. Here, we examine how the actions of a social robot can influence human-to-human communication, and not just robot–human communication, using groups of three humans and one robot playing 30 rounds of a collaborative game (n= 51 groups). We find that people in groups with a robot making vulnerable statements converse substantially more with each other, distribute their conversation somewhat more equally, and perceive their groups more positively compared to control groups with a robot that either makes neutral statements or no statements at the end of each round. Shifts in robot speech have the power not only to affect how people interact with robots, but also how people interact with each other, offering the prospect for modifying social interactions via the introduction of artificial agents into hybrid systems of humans and machines.

Associations between morning–evening chronotype, fatigue, and QOL in breast cancer survivors.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 246-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oxana Palesh ◽  
M. Melissa Packer ◽  
Holly George ◽  
Cheryl Koopman ◽  
Pasquale F. Innominato
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Morning Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Range Of Values

246 Background: Emerging evidence suggests that circadian disruption is associated with cancer and cancer treatments. Chronotype is defined as a behaviorally manifested preference for a certain timing of sleep and activity. Previous studies have revealed that living out of sync from one’s innate chronotype can have detrimental effects on one’s health. Although there has been research examining the associations between chronotype and health, not much is known about the relationship between chronotype, fatigue, and QOL in cancer survivors. Methods: 68 Breast cancer survivors completed questionnaires to assess their chronotype (Horne-Ostberg), to rate their fatigue (MDASI), and to evaluate their QOL (FACIT). The Horne-Ostberg questionnaire yields a range of values indicating survivors’ preference for early or late activity. The study sample was divided by terciles according to survivors’ “morningness” or “eveningness” preferences (i.e., chronotypes). Results: Morning chronotype was associated with significantly less severe tiredness and drowsiness as well as significantly better physical well-being and fatigue subscale scores as compared to evening chronotype. Tiredness median (M) scores were highest for evening chronotype (M=5.5), moderate for mid-range chronotype (M=4.5), and lowest for morning chronotype (M=3.0), a significant difference (p=0.046). Drowsiness scores were highest for evening chronotype (median=6.0), moderate for mid-range chronotype (M=4.0), and lowest for morning chronotype (M=3.0), p=0.046. The median score for physical well-being was significantly lower for evening compared to morning chronotypes (22.5 vs. 25.0, p=0.038) and morning types reported significantly better health in respect to fatigue compared to evening types (40.5 vs. 35.5, p=0.045). Conclusions: Survivors with early chronotype (early to bed, early to rise) reported less fatigue, drowsiness, and better overall physical well-being. While chronotype is believed to be genetically driven, certain behavioral, pharmacological, and bright light modifications can be used to help patients shift their circadian rhythm towards earlier morning type and may experience improvements in physical well-being.

scholarly journals Manuscriptology: Relevance for Ayurveda Research Scholar

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sreeja K G ◽  
Jayashankar Mund ◽  
Vishwanathan Nambootiri ◽  
Leena P Nair
Keyword(s):  
Special Reference ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Indian Context ◽  
Research Scholar ◽  
Present Generation ◽  
Practical Experiences ◽  
The Government

Manuscripts are the treasure of wisdom passed from generation to generation. The art of writing emerged as a way of preserving knowledge that was previously transmitted orally from one generation to the next. Ayurveda developed as a result of the accumulated wisdom and practical experiences of many generations. The knowledge gained by ancient seers of Ayurveda were passed generations through the Manuscripts. Still thousands of valuable unpublished Ayurveda manuscripts are available in Government agencies which can immensely contribute in the development of system. Government of India gives a great importance to procure, preserve and to publish manuscripts. Kerala has exceptionally rich Ayurveda tradition and collection of Manuscripts which required special attention by the Government and from the scholars. The preserved Manuscripts are the invaluable treasure of knowledge  which can be utilized for the well being of present generation as well as to pass on to the next generation. This study focuses on an introduction to manuscripts in Indian context with special reference to Kerala and discuss the importance of preserving and conserving manuscripts especially for an Ayurvedic research scholar. 

scholarly journals Inherited Ventricular Arrhythmias, the Channelopathies and SCD; Current Knowledge and Future Speculation – Epidemiology and Basic Electrophysiology

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Abdulrhman Al Abdulgader
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Therapeutic Options ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
New Era ◽  
Cardiac Ion Channels ◽  
Scientific Exploration ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Near Future

This chapter represents advanced scientific exploration in the different disciplines of SCD and channelopathy. Epidemiology of SCD and channelopathy is given special attention. The essence of detailed electrophysiological bases of the different diseases of channelopathies and the diverse cellular pathways mandated detailed discussion that can open the closed doors that we faced to the next generation(s). Special sections have been devoted to spatial as well as temporal heterogeneity of the cardiac action potential. Genetic heterogeneity and allelic heterogeneity are two prominent findings of channelopathies that confirm the fact of the major overlap in the field. The way we present the clinical findings is a true call for the next generation(s) of clinicians and researchers to revolutionize the field in the near future. Detailed management plans based on the up to date basic sciences findings for the different channelopathies give better therapeutic options for the clinicians in the field. Unique to this chapter is the new directions to look for channelopathies beyond the human body. The new understanding of the psychophysiological well-being of HRV and the sympathovagal balance extending to cosmic resonances and its possible effect on cardiac ion channels carries new era of promising preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic options.

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