scholarly journals Speculating About Robot Moral Standing: On the Constitution of Social Robots as Objects of Governance

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse De Pagter
Keyword(s):  
Policy Making ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Social Robotics ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Critical Study ◽  
Anticipatory Governance ◽  
Technology Governance ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
The Many

In recent years, the governance of robotic technologies has become an important topic in policy-making contexts. The many potential applications and roles of robots in combination with steady advances in their uptake within society are expected to cause various unprecedented issues, which in many cases will increase the demand for new policy measures. One of the major issues is the way in which societies will address potential changes in the moral and legal status of autonomous social robots. Robot standing is an important concept that aims to understand and elaborate on such changes in robots’ status. This paper explores the concept of robot standing as a useful idea that can assist in the anticipatory governance of social robots. However, at the same time, the concept necessarily involves forms of speculative thinking, as it is anticipating a future that has not yet fully arrived. This paper elaborates on how such speculative engagement with the potential of technology represents an important point of discussion in the critical study of technology more generally. The paper then situates social robotics in the context of anticipatory technology governance by emphasizing the idea that robots are currently in the process of becoming constituted as objects of governance. Subsequently, it explains how specifically a speculative concept like robot standing can be of value in this process.

scholarly journals Reinforcement Learning Approaches in Social Robotics

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1292
Author(s):  
Neziha Akalin ◽  
Amy Loutfi
Keyword(s):  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
Real World ◽  
Social Robotics ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Reward Function ◽  
Optimal Behavior ◽  
Learning Challenges ◽  
Starting Point

This article surveys reinforcement learning approaches in social robotics. Reinforcement learning is a framework for decision-making problems in which an agent interacts through trial-and-error with its environment to discover an optimal behavior. Since interaction is a key component in both reinforcement learning and social robotics, it can be a well-suited approach for real-world interactions with physically embodied social robots. The scope of the paper is focused particularly on studies that include social physical robots and real-world human-robot interactions with users. We present a thorough analysis of reinforcement learning approaches in social robotics. In addition to a survey, we categorize existent reinforcement learning approaches based on the used method and the design of the reward mechanisms. Moreover, since communication capability is a prominent feature of social robots, we discuss and group the papers based on the communication medium used for reward formulation. Considering the importance of designing the reward function, we also provide a categorization of the papers based on the nature of the reward. This categorization includes three major themes: interactive reinforcement learning, intrinsically motivated methods, and task performance-driven methods. The benefits and challenges of reinforcement learning in social robotics, evaluation methods of the papers regarding whether or not they use subjective and algorithmic measures, a discussion in the view of real-world reinforcement learning challenges and proposed solutions, the points that remain to be explored, including the approaches that have thus far received less attention is also given in the paper. Thus, this paper aims to become a starting point for researchers interested in using and applying reinforcement learning methods in this particular research field.

scholarly journals Poverty and Social Justice in the Devolved Scotland: Neoliberalism Meets Social Democracy?

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gill Scott ◽  
Gerry Mooney
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Social Democracy ◽  
Neoliberal Economics ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Scottish Government

Drawing on current debates in social policy, this paper considers the extent to which social justice has and is informing social policy making in devolved Scotland. Relating to the work of social justice theorists Young, Fraser and Lister in particular, it critically examines some key Scottish social policy measures since 1999, considering some of the ways in which these have been constructed in terms of social justice and which make claims to the Scottish national. Through a focus on the issue of anti-poverty policies, the paper explores the ways in which the dominant policy approaches of the Scottish Government have reflected an uneven and tension-loaded balance between the enduring legacies of Scottish social democracy and the influences of neoliberal economics.

New Haemophilus influenzae Type b Control Strategy: Premature Commitment to Prophylaxis?

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-121
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Mann ◽  
Harry F. Hull
Keyword(s):  
Haemophilus Influenzae ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Haemophilus Influenzae Type ◽  
Critical Study ◽  
Haemophilus Influenzae Type B ◽  
Type B ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Future Assessment ◽  
Official Policy ◽  
Single Field

Recent promulgation of an official policy on prevention of secondary cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b disease illustrates the challenges and frustrations inherent in the policy-making process. Despite evidence that H influenzae type b disease is "contagious" in households and probably also in day care centers and despite demonstration that rifampin eradicates nasopharyngeal H influenzae type b carriage, the single field study of rifampin use to prevent secondary cases of H influenzae type b disease remains unpublished and has yet to receive broad critical scrutiny. Promulgation of the rifampin strategy prior to publication of this critical study is unfortunate, as public and private providers are now committed to a policy that will be difficult to evaluate or alter. Now that the strategy has been issued, the central question regarding rifampin prophylaxis has changed from "Is this strategy effective?" to "Can this strategy be shown to be ineffective?" When policies are issued prior to publication of key supporting data, or when such studies are either missing or highly controversial, the policy-making committee might publish, along with its recommendations, explicit criteria for continuation, modification, or withdrawal of the new policy. This structured reassessment approach could accomodate the critical need to proceed with disease control recommendations—even though based on incomplete information—yet underscore the policy's tentative nature and provide direction for future assessment and study.

Is it time to move from mandatory stretching? We need to differentiate “Can I” from “Do I Have To?”

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Afonso ◽  
Jesús Olivares-Jabalera ◽  
Renato Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Warm Up ◽  
Alternative Interventions ◽  
Passive Stretching ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
The Times ◽  
The Many

The effects and usefulness of active and passive static stretching have raised heated debates. Over the years, the pendulum has swung from a glorified vision to their vilification. As most of the times, the truth often lies somewhere in-between. But even if there was no controversy surrounding the effects of static and passive stretching (which there is), and even if their effects were homogeneously positive (which they are not), that would not be sufficient to make stretching mandatory for practicing physical exercise, for most populations. Amidst the many discussions, an important issue has remained underexplored: the prerequisites to answer the question “Can I?” are not sufficient to answer the question “Do I have to?”, especially when alternative interventions are available. In this current opinion paper, we address four potential applications of stretching: (i) warm-up; (ii) cool-down; (iii) range of motion; and (iv) injury risk. We argue that while stretching can be used in the warm-up and cool-down phases of the training, its inclusion is not mandatory, and its effectiveness is still questionable. Stretching can be used to improve range of motion, but alternative and effective interventions are available. The role of stretching in injury risk is also controversial, and the literature often misinterprets association with causation and assumes that stretching is the only intervention to improve flexibility and range of motion. Overall, the answer to the question “Can I stretch?” is “yes”. But the answer to the question “Do I have to?” is “no, not really”.

Flourishing Isn’t Free: Paying Down Our Moral and Social Debt in Robotic Systems

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Vallor
Keyword(s):  
Social Status ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Social Robotics ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Sociotechnical Systems ◽  
Robotic Systems ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Social

The conversation about social robots and ethics has matured considerably over the years, moving beyond two inadequate poles: superficially utilitarian analyses of ethical ‘risks’ of social robots that fail to question the underlying sociotechnical systems and values driving robotics development, and speculative, empirically unfounded fears of robo-pocalypses that likewise leave those underlying systems and values unexamined and unchallenged. Today our perspective in the field is normatively richer and more empirically grounded. However, there is still work to be done. In the transition from risk-mitigation that accepts the social status quo, to deeper thinking about how to design different worlds in which we might flourish with social robots, we nevertheless have not reckoned with the moral and social debt already accumulated in existing robotics systems and our broader culture of sociotechnical innovation. We relish our creative and philosophical imaginings of a future in which we live well with robots, but without a serious reckoning with the past and present, and the legacies of harm and neglect that must be redressed and repaired in order for those futures to be possible and sustainable. This talk explores those legacies and their accumulated debts, and what it will take to liberate social robotics from them.

Public Policy Making and Public Policy Analysis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee S. Friedman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Policy Analysis ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
The United States ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Public Policy Analysis ◽  
Professional Class ◽  
The Many

This chapter reviews the development and growth of the policy-analytic profession. Historically, government decision makers have often called upon those with expertise to assist them in reaching their decisions. This chapter, however, concerns a new professional class of advisors that began developing during the 1950s in the United States. This new profession assists policy makers in understanding better their alternatives and relevant considerations for choosing among them. From here, the chapter offers some perspective on the research to date that has attempted to assess the effects of the profession—a perspective that emphasizes some important differences across the many types of governmental settings that utilize policy analysis, and the methodological difficulties that assessment efforts confront.

scholarly journals Policy-making for real: Politics and progress in South African health care

Curationis ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Fourie ◽  
H. C. J. Van Rensburg
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
South African ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
African Health ◽  
The Status ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
South African Health

Problems have been accumulating in South African health care for well over three centuries yet when it comes to resolving the crisis by means of appropriate policy measures, one becomes aware of the powers at play and the interests at stake in maintaining the status quo, thus obstructing much initiative in the process of reform.

scholarly journals Alexander Fleck, Baron Fleck of Saltcoats, 1889-1968

1971 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 242-254
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Academic Career ◽  
Scientific Discovery ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Science Students ◽  
The Public ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Many ◽  
Waste Accumulation

Lord Fleck who died in London on 6 August 1968 was most widely known as a distinguished leader in chemical industry and as Chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd from 1953 to 1960. It was very apparent, however, to all with a closer acquaintance with him, that he could have been just as successful in other fields. In early life, following his outstanding scientific researches at his university, a promising academic career had been open to him and, later, the keen mind, sound judgement and gifts of leadership, shown in the many and diverse official enquiry committees which he chaired, were clear evidence of the wide range of his capabilities. But, to those who were privileged to work with him or to know him really well, admiration of his abilities and achievements gave second place to affection for the man himself and to profound respect for the concern about people, individually and collectively, which motivated his whole life. Alec Fleck had very definite views on the place and responsibilities of science and scientists in society. Although he fully appreciated the fascination and value of scientific discovery for its own sake, he felt that it should be the primary duty of a considerable proportion of scientists, including the most able, to apply their skill and knowledge to practical objectives aimed at the welfare and happiness of mankind. Among these objectives he ascribed particular importance to elimination of social ills which, ironically, can so easily arise as byproducts of industrial progress; for example, air and water pollution, waste accumulation and unpleasant or dangerous jobs for plant operators. Fleck believed that more senior positions with policy-making responsibilities in industry and the public services could, with advantage, be filled by people with a first-class scientific background and advocated that company organization and staff policy should be such as to give maximum opportunity to able young scientists to widen their experience and interests. He was also of the opinion that educational establishments could do far more to widen the outlook of science students by stimulating their interest in history, politics, economics and general world affairs.

scholarly journals Natural language generation for social robotics: opportunities and challenges

2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1771) ◽  
pp. 20180027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ellen Foster
Keyword(s):  
Natural Language ◽  
Natural Language Generation ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Social Robotics ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Verbal Expression ◽  
Language Generation ◽  
Face To Face

In the increasingly popular and diverse research area of social robotics, the primary goal is to develop robot agents that exhibit socially intelligent behaviour while interacting in a face-to-face context with human partners. An important aspect of face-to-face social conversation is fluent, flexible linguistic interaction; face-to-face dialogue is both the basic form of human communication and the richest and most flexible, combining unrestricted verbal expression with meaningful non-verbal acts such as gestures and facial displays, along with instantaneous, continuous collaboration between the speaker and the listener. In practice, however, most developers of social robots tend not to use the full possibilities of the unrestricted verbal expression afforded by face-to-face conversation; instead, they generally tend to employ relatively simplistic processes for choosing the words for their robots to say. This contrasts with the work carried out Natural Language Generation (NLG), the field of computational linguistics devoted to the automated production of high-quality linguistic content; while this research area is also an active one, in general most effort in NLG is focused on producing high-quality written text. This article summarizes the state of the art in the two individual research areas of social robotics and natural language generation. It then discusses the reasons why so few current social robots make use of more sophisticated generation techniques. Finally, an approach is proposed to bringing some aspects of NLG into social robotics, concentrating on techniques and tools that are most appropriate to the needs of socially interactive robots. This article is part of the theme issue ‘From social brains to social robots: applying neurocognitive insights to human–robot interaction’.

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