Technological Companionship:
A Research Project By Gene Munger, Maggie Harrington and Tatiana Blanch
Biological Semiotics Final Project
Professor Andrew Yang
Abstract:
As a group we have been researching advancing technologies through the lens of social interactions. Originally we were interested in Artificial Intelligence. However, after realizing a larger population of the world is already dealing with technology in very intimate ways we began to wonder how these interactions will affect or perhaps replace human to human interactions in the future and what kind of technological advancements will assist that evolution. Researching this question lead us to an assorted array of information hovering around the promise of robotic assistance. This promise triggered our interest as an answer to the question about developing interfaces.
We found that there are two general types of robots being developed. One being innocent machine-looking robots that have a submissive quality to them that are being developed for assisted living and child care. The other type being a more human-like display for robots with a function that revolves around companionship or a romantic relationship. These two developments exemplify two different approaches to solving the issue of the uncanny valley within robots.
The less human-like robots do not threaten the physical human form by being designed to look like a personified machine. The developers of these robots designed them with larger eyes and soft rounded edges to make the object seem innocent and submissive. This allows for an easier acceptance into the home to take care of the elderly or childcare. Pepper is the name of a robot that has recently been put on the market in Japan. It is being advertised as a robot with emotions and as a kind of mediator for families, like a nanny. Pepper is around three feet tall and and has big round eyes that light up as a way to express excitement. Pepper also has a screen on it’s chest to display messages and host video calls between family members.
Another example of this kind of robot is Robovie. In 2012, Peter Kahn of the University of Washington published the results of an experiment in which 9-, 12-, and 15-year-olds underwent a planned interaction with Robovie. The goal of the experiment was to investigate how children conceive of human-like robotic entities with which they have social interaction as social, mental, and moral others. The children were introduced to Robovie with a handshake, listened to Robovie tell them about his interest in coral reefs and environmental protection, were asked by Robovie to move a ball from his path, and then played a game of “I-spy” with Robovie. After the children took their turn to guess, Robovie asked them for a hug and then prepared to take his turn. However, at this time an experimenter would enter the space and say that it was time for the interview, that Robovie was no longer useful, and that he should be put in the closet. At this, Robovie would protest, claiming that it was unfair that he didn’t get to take his turn, that he wanted to take his turn, and then further, that he didn’t want to be put in the closet because it was scary, dark, and he would be alone. The children were then asked a series of questions to determine if they conceived of Robovie as a social, mental, and/or moral other, and whether they thought that this treatment of Robovie was acceptable or not.
The more human-like robots are so well designed they are almost hard to identify as a machine over a human. The main issue with these robots not passing for humans are due to movement, the uncanny valley is present when the robot tries to move because its movements are not as seamless as a human's movements. One of the main developers for this kind of work is Hiroshi Ishiguro, he and his team have created a large catalogue of incredibly realistic looking robots. He claims that the future is going to consist of seamless human and robot interactions everywhere. These robots offer a different kind of companionship do to their design, because they look so much like humans they offer the potential for intimate, physical interactions in which specific visceral qualities are key to a desired effect. The impending emergence of robotic sexual partners is strongly indicated by technologies that currently exist separately serving needs of physical and linguistic simulations of romantic interaction.
Through our research we have found that the evolution of humankind is now intertwined with the development of digital technologies. Whether it be through the the dependence with consistent social media interactions or the projected future of robotic companionship it can be safely assumed that the Umwelt of humans will be greatly changed through our close ties with technology. Technology provides us with ways to manipulate our Umwelts. Technology enables us to produce simulations of interactions and experiences, that may produce in us feelings that we seek from human to human interactions. As technology allows us to create ever more convincing simulations our need for suspension of disbelief is being exhausted. As we become more entwined in this living in simulation, we can expect that our systems of emotional response will change greatly.
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Bibliography:
Tufekci, Zeynep. "The Machines Are Coming." The New York Times. The New York Times, 18 Apr. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
In this article Zeynep Tufekci examines how machines are replacing human labor in the workplace. Tufekci brings up the start of the Industrial Revolution, the start of cheaper labor by machines as opposed to human workers. The conclusion that the Tufekci comes to is a really nice point, she says that it is not technology that is at blame but rather a reminder of values in regards to how we see and interact with humans.
Kahn, Peter H., Jr. ""Robovie, You'll Have To Go In The Closet Now" Childeren's Social and Moral Relationship With a Humanoid Robot." American Phycological Association, 11 Nov. 2011. Web.
This is a write-up of an experiment in which children had a social/moral interaction with a robot called Robovie. The children were found to conceive of Robovie as a social/moral other but were less disposed to grant to Robovie civil liberties (right not to be bought and sold). Peter Kahn discusses humanoid robots as a potentially new ontological group in the future. Also reflects on the effects on moral conceptions of children who might in the future grow up having robots as friends and caretakers, if children grow up with others around them with whom they have meaningful social relationships but do not feel moral obligations, or over whom they exercise masterful control.
Zyga, L. "AITopics." How to Make Ethical Robots. Phys.Org, 12 Mar. 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
Coining the term Roboethics, this article asks the question of ethics when developing these robots who will presumably be much more immersed in our lives through the form of child care and overseeing senior citizens.
Onita, Laura. "People Fail to See Robots as Alternative to Care for the Old." - E & T Magazine. Engineering and Technology Magazine, 5 Mar. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
“Robots have the potential to play a crucial role in improving the lives of people, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities, Webb said.” Doctors asking patients to think about how helpful robots can be in taking care of the elderly. This article promotes the potential help robots will be able to give to the elderly in the future.
"Personal Robots with 'emotions' to Go on Sale next Year." Personal Robots with Emotion. E & T
Magazine, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
Robots that are cable of child care/nurses/medical work/party companions. “The robots, which the mobile phone and Internet conglomerate envisions serving as baby-sitters, nurses, emergency medical workers or even party companions, will sell for 198,000 yen (£1,150) and are capable of learning and expressing emotions, SoftBank CEO Masatoshi Son told a news conference.”
"Asimo TV." ASIMO by Honda. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
Honda robot, Asimo videos that show how the robot interacts within the home and or work place. The video is presented as support to the concept of robots in more closely associated with the home. These videos also show how the movement of robots are still not as fluid as natural movements but well oh the way.
Epstein, Robert. "My Date With A Robot." Scientific American Mind, July 2006. Web. Apr. 2015.
This article covers Robert Epstein’s date human like android Repliee. The article is written from his point of view, meeting her and feeling connected to her. His point of view has a lot to do with the reaction he has to the android. He is willing and able to see her as an attractive woman instead of a robot. This article exemplifies the potential for relationships in the future with AI. (However the scientist did make a replica of his 4 year old daughter which is before making Repliee...which seems odd maybe obsessive? Which begins to ask the question what are the intentions for AI?)
Hernandez, Barbara E. "Could Artificial Intelligence Steal Your Job?" NBC Bay Area. NBC, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
This video and article points out the threats of artificial intelligence. The main consern of the new caster is the treat of job loss to the machines AI to us is augmenting human intelligence and being able to do something humans can't do
Mostly about communication through social networking and the appeal of this form of connection vs. interaction in real world. Some about artificial intelligence as companionship and about robotic companions. Turkle argues that technology allows for more controlled interaction and allows for us to never feel alone or never to confront solitude, laments that avoiding solitude prevents us from knowing ourselves, from having meaningful connection and conversation with others. this is basically the same thing but in text:
Emmeche, Claus. "Does a Robot Have an Umwelt." Does a Robot Have an Umwelt. Semiotica Vol. 134 (issue 1/4): Pp. 653-693; 2001, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
This article brings up the discussion of the Umwelt of a robot. The question that author Claus Emmeche asks is in regards to the application of the term and concept of Umwelt being applicable to a robot.
Epstein, Robert. "Online Dating The Future of Online Dating Looks Good." Scientific American Mind, March 2007. Web. Apr. 2015.
This article goes into the politics of online dating. The trust that is built through a virtual space. The article brings up issues like users having different pictures on their profiles or lying about age by a significant amount, things that are possible because of the distance between the people due to technology.
Shulevitz, Judith. "Siri, You're Messing Up a Generation of Children." New Republic. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
This article describes a common pattern in children’s interactions with Siri, as well as an experiment in which children play hide and seek with a robot which performs emotional responses to the game. It is found that children feel some kind of empathetic connection to the robot, perceive it as human-like, but sub-human, even slave like, in that they do not grant it rights but do attribute to it emotions. A good term used in this article is “the performance of connection” vs. connection itself.
Abumrad, Jad. "Radiolab from WNYC." ITunes. Radiolab, n.d. Podcast. 04 May 2015.
This podcast dives into the topic of Facebook terminology and how slight word changes in general Facebook notifications lead to different responses. These changes are managed by a team called the trust engineers.
Paro is a robotic seal that comforts elderly people. A quote from the doctor “They’ll bark at it, they'll pet it, they'll sing to it. We find it works better with people with dementia because if the residents are aware that it’s not real, we find that sometimes they don’t engage with it as much.” This is an emotional and physical relationship that develops between the the robot and the human that is "taking care" of the robotic seal. This article brings up the positive effects of having a companion when in a hospital or a retirement home.
Khan, Peter H. "Human Interaction With Nature and Technological Systems Lab (The HINTS Lab)." HINTS Lab: Homepage. Washington Collage, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
This article talks about all the different experiments that have been done at Washington Collage around the idea of Human interaction with nature and technological systems. These studies are interesting because they are the ground work for what is to come in understanding the advancing technologies and relationships between humans and robots.
Additional Sources:
Bostrom, Nick. "Ethical Issues in Advanced Artificial Intelligence." Ethical Issues In Advanced Artificial Intelligence. Oxford University, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
Epstein, Robert. "From Russia, with Love How I Got Fooled (and Somewhat Humiliated) by a Computer." Nature. Scientific American Mind, n.d. Web.
Galbraith, Patrick W. "BishÅjo Games: ‘Techno-Intimacy’ and the Virtually Human in Japan." Game Studies. Games Studies, May 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
WALDMAN, PAUL. "Why You Will One Day Probably Fall In Love With a Robot." The American Prospect. N.p., 21 July 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
Chinski, Eric. "Brian Christian on ‘The Most Human Human’." The Paris Review RSS. N.p., 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
"Real Silicon Doll 4woods." Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
http://aidoll.4woods.jp/en/photogallery/allure/chisato.html
Turkle, Sherry. "The Flight From Conversation." The New York Times. The New York Times, 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 04 May 2015.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/opinion/sunday/the-flight-from-conversation.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
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