Stereotyping in Robotic Care: An Ethical Analysis of Vulnerabilities Among Older People in Digitalized Care Settings

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 72-72
Author(s):  
Niklas Ellerich-Groppe ◽  
◽  
Merle Weßel ◽  
Mark Schweda ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Ethical Analysis ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Robotic Systems ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Social Categories ◽  
Care Robots ◽  
Demographic Aging

"In light of demographic aging, the change of familial care arrangements, and the lack of skilled caretakers, robotic systems are increasingly discussed as a possible solution for eldercare. Sociopsychological research indicates that the ensuing human-robot interaction involves the same social categories as human-human interaction, e.g., gender, age and ethnicity. Indeed, these categories and related stereotypical markers are even strategically used in technology development to increase the acceptance and efficiency of robotic systems. Especially in vulnerable groups such as older people, however, such stereotyping strategies can be a reason for new vulnerabilities in digitalized care settings and cause serious moral problems that need critical reflection. In our contribution, we provide a systematic ethical analysis of stereotyping in robotic eldercare. Starting from the conceptual distinction between agency-based and harm-based conceptions of vulnerability, we explore potential moral issues and conflicts in the implementation of stereotypical care robots for older people and detect particularly serious challenges regarding users’ autonomy and wellbeing. Against this backdrop, we propose and discuss possible solutions like the explanation, neutralization or queering of care robots. Thus, we contribute to the theoretical conceptualization of older people’s vulnerabilities in increasingly digitalized care settings and draw conclusions for ethically sensitive technology development in eldercare. "

scholarly journals Gender Stereotyping of Robotic Systems in Eldercare: An Exploratory Analysis of Ethical Problems and Possible Solutions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merle Weßel ◽  
Niklas Ellerich-Groppe ◽  
Mark Schweda
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Gender Stereotyping ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Ethical Problems ◽  
Care Robots ◽  
Moral Problems ◽  
Leading Question ◽  
Care And Justice

AbstractSocio psychological studies show that gender stereotypes play an important role in human-robot interaction. However, they may have various morally problematic implications and consequences that need ethical consideration, especially in a sensitive field like eldercare. Against this backdrop, we conduct an exploratory ethical analysis of moral issues of gender stereotyping in robotics for eldercare. The leading question is what moral problems and conflicts can arise from gender stereotypes in care robots for older people and how we should deal with them. We first provide an overview on the state of empirical research regarding gender stereotyping in human-robot interaction and the special field of care robotics for older people. Starting from a principlist approach, we then map possible moral problems and conflicts with regard to common ethical principles of autonomy, care, and justice. We subsequently consider possible solutions for the development and implementation of morally acceptable robots for eldercare, focusing on three different strategies: explanation, neutralization, and queering of care robots. Finally, we discuss potentials and problems associated with these three strategies and conclude that especially the queering of robotics and the idea of a gender-fluid robot offers an innovative outlook that deserves closer ethical, social, and technological examination.

Stereotyping of Social Robots in Eldercare: An Explorative Analysis of Ethical Problems and Possible Solutions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merle Weßel ◽  
Niklas Ellerich-Groppe ◽  
Mark Schweda
Keyword(s):  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Gender Stereotyping ◽  
Ethical Analysis ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Care Processes ◽  
Pluralistic Societies ◽  
Demographic Aging ◽  
Potential Problems ◽  
Late Modern

Due to demographic aging, the relevance of social robots in eldercare is increasing. Studies indicate that gender stereotypes can play an important role in human-robot interaction and could be used strategically to optimize care processes and outcomes. However, as gender roles among older people become more diverse and societal recognition of different needs and preferences grows, such stereotypical notions appear increasingly problematic. Against this backdrop, our contribution provides an explorative ethical analysis of gender stereotyping in social robotics for eldercare. Starting from a principlist approach, we map potential problems and conflicts and discuss possible solutions for culturally sustainable social robots for eldercare in late-modern pluralistic societies.

scholarly journals Toward Humanlike Task-Based Dialogue Processing for Human Robot Interaction

AI Magazine ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 77-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Scheutz ◽  
Rehj Cantrell ◽  
Paul Schermerhorn
Keyword(s):  
Natural Language ◽  
Search Task ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Robotic Systems ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Social Exchanges ◽  
Processing Mechanisms

Many human social exchanges and coordinated activities critically involve dialogue interactions. Hence, we need to develop natural humanlike dialogue processing mechanisms for future robots if they are to interact with humans in natural ways. In this article we discuss the challenges of designing such flexible dialogue-based robotic systems. We report results from data we collected in human interaction experiments in the context of a search task and show how we can use these results to build more flexible robotic architectures that are starting to address the challenges of task-based humanlike natural language dialogues on robots.

The role and relationship of mindreading and social attunement in HRI – position statements of interdisciplinary researchers. Workshop HRI'20

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Wykowska ◽  
Jairo Pérez-Osorio ◽  
Stefan Kopp
Keyword(s):  
Mental States ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Artificial Agents ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

This booklet is a collection of the position statements accepted for the HRI’20 conference workshop “Social Cognition for HRI: Exploring the relationship between mindreading and social attunement in human-robot interaction” (Wykowska, Perez-Osorio & Kopp, 2020). Unfortunately, due to the rapid unfolding of the novel coronavirus at the beginning of the present year, the conference and consequently our workshop, were canceled. On the light of these events, we decided to put together the positions statements accepted for the workshop. The contributions collected in these pages highlight the role of attribution of mental states to artificial agents in human-robot interaction, and precisely the quality and presence of social attunement mechanisms that are known to make human interaction smooth, efficient, and robust. These papers also accentuate the importance of the multidisciplinary approach to advance the understanding of the factors and the consequences of social interactions with artificial agents.

The ‘loneliness pandemic’: implications for gerontological nursing

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 652-655
Author(s):  
Carlos Laranjeira
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Gerontological Nursing

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled states to limit free movement, in order to protect at-risk and more vulnerable groups, particularly older adults. Due to old age or debilitating chronic diseases, this group is also more vulnerable to loneliness (perceived discrepancy between actual and desired social relationships) and social isolation (feeling that one does not belong to society). This forced isolation has negative consequences for the health of older people, particularly their mental health. This is an especially challenging time for gerontological nursing, but it is also an opportunity for professionals to combat age stereotypes reinforced with COVID-19, to urge the measurement of loneliness and social isolation, and to rethink how to further adjust interventions in times of crisis, such as considering technology-mediated interventions in these uncertain times.

EMPLOYMENT OF OLDER PEOPLE IN THE MODERN LABOR MARKET

2021 ◽  
pp. 409-418
Author(s):  
В.Ю. Бабышев ◽  
Г. А. Барышева
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Older People ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Labor Legislation ◽  
Demographic Aging ◽  
Age Cohort ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Medical Advances ◽  
The Impact

В статье рассматривается занятость лиц пожилого возраста в условиях сорвеменных технологических, медицинских и демографических изменений. Актуальность темы исследования обусловлена демографическим старением населения, современными достижениями медицины и изменением характера трудовых операций в результате научно-технического прогресса. В данной статье проверены следующие конкурирующие гипотезы: производительность работников старших возрастных групп находится ниже уровня рентабельности из-за неуклонного ухудшения здоровья или, наоборот, ценность работников старших возрастных групп на современном рынке труда возрастает из-за повышения роли опыта, навыков и квалификации. Дополнительно проанализирован вопрос влияния систем пенсионного обеспечения на мотивацию лиц пожилого возраста к продолжению трудовой деятельности. Для проверки данных гипотез на основе статистики Организации экономического сотрудничества и развития проведен анализ общего уровня занятости, участия в рабочей силе и безработицы, а также временной и неполной занятости по нескольким возрастным группам в диапазоне 15-65 лет и старше. Для оценки динамики проанализирована ситуация на 2000 и 2019 гг. В целом сделан вывод, что количественные и качественные параметры занятости у работников старших возрастных групп уступают среднему рабочему возрасту, однако во временной динамике использование человеческого капитала лиц пожилого возраста растет. В области геронтологии рекомендовано уделять повышенное внимание улучшению здоровья возрастной когорты 65 лет и старше и изменению трудового законодательства в плане стимулирования продолжения трудовой деятельности после официального наступления пенсионного возраста. The article examines the employment of older people in the context of disrupted technological, medical and demographic changes. The relevance of the research topic is due to the demographic aging of the population, modern medical advances and changes in the nature of labor operations as a result of scientific and technological progress. In this article, the following competing hypotheses are tested: the productivity of older workers is below the level of profitability due to a steady decline in health, or vice versa, the value of older workers in the modern labor market is increasing due to the increasing role of experience, skills and qualifications. Additionally, the question of the impact of pension systems on the motivation of older people to continue working is analyzed. To test these hypotheses, based on OECD statistics, we analyzed the overall level of employment, labor force participation and unemployment, as well as temporary and underemployment for several age groups in the range of 15-65+ years. To assess the dynamics, the situation for 2000 and 2019 was analyzed. In general, the author concludes that the quantitative and qualitative parameters of employment of older people are inferior to the average working age, but over time, the use of the human capital of older people is growing. In the field of gerontology, it is recommended to pay increased attention to improving the health of the 65+ age cohort and changing labor legislation in order to stimulate the continuation of work.

scholarly journals Employment at 55+: Do We Want to work Longer in Lithuania?

Ekonomika ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-68
Author(s):  
Kristina Zitikytė
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Older People ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Social Insurance ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Employment Rate ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Demographic Aging

 The Lithuanian population is aging, and it causes many difficulties for public finances by increasing expenditures on health care, long-term care, and pensions, and also for the labor market by creating labor shortages. One of the ways to cope with demographic aging is to rise the employment rate of older people. According to Eurostat, the employment rate of the elderly aged 55–64 years increased from 49.6 percent in 2005 to 68.5 percent in 2018 in Lithuania and it is higher than the average employment rate of older workers in European Union, which was 58.7 percent in 2018. This paper focuses on older people in Lithuania, aged 55 and over, trying to answer a question whether the elderly in Lithuania willingly work or try to find alternatives such as receiving long-term social insurance benefits. The research findings show that the activity of older people in the labor market grows, and even the share of people with disabilities staying in the labor market increases. However, this analysis also shows that older people are more under risk to lose their job during an economic crisis, and this suggests that trying to find work alternatives can be closely related to one’s economic situation. Moreover, health problems remain one of the main factors limiting the activity of older people in the labor market. It is also noticeable that some labor force reserves exist among people with disabilities and this supposes that creating better adapted working conditions for older and disabled workers in Lithuania could probably contribute to meeting the needs of an aging workforce.

scholarly journals Improving Human–Robot Interaction by Enhancing NAO Robot Awareness of Human Facial Expression

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 6438
Author(s):  
Chiara Filippini ◽  
David Perpetuini ◽  
Daniela Cardone ◽  
Arcangelo Merla
Keyword(s):  
Facial Expression ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Facial Expression Recognition ◽  
Affective Computing ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Expression Recognition ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Interaction Field ◽  
Nao Robot

An intriguing challenge in the human–robot interaction field is the prospect of endowing robots with emotional intelligence to make the interaction more genuine, intuitive, and natural. A crucial aspect in achieving this goal is the robot’s capability to infer and interpret human emotions. Thanks to its design and open programming platform, the NAO humanoid robot is one of the most widely used agents for human interaction. As with person-to-person communication, facial expressions are the privileged channel for recognizing the interlocutor’s emotional expressions. Although NAO is equipped with a facial expression recognition module, specific use cases may require additional features and affective computing capabilities that are not currently available. This study proposes a highly accurate convolutional-neural-network-based facial expression recognition model that is able to further enhance the NAO robot’ awareness of human facial expressions and provide the robot with an interlocutor’s arousal level detection capability. Indeed, the model tested during human–robot interactions was 91% and 90% accurate in recognizing happy and sad facial expressions, respectively; 75% accurate in recognizing surprised and scared expressions; and less accurate in recognizing neutral and angry expressions. Finally, the model was successfully integrated into the NAO SDK, thus allowing for high-performing facial expression classification with an inference time of 0.34 ± 0.04 s.

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