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ROBOTS – OUR FUTURE PARTNERS!? a Comparison Study Between Germany and Japan

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ROBOTS – OUR FUTURE PARTNERS!? a Comparison Study Between Germany and Japan ROBOTS – OUR FUTURE PARTNERS!? A Comparison Study Between Germany and Japan Due to the novelty of the topic “Robots for non-professional use”, my work will be: Rather hypothesis-generating Questions: - Analysis of theories about human-object-relations , human-computer-relations , “communication theories ”, placement of artifacts (e.g. Actor-Network-Approaches) for the case of robots are robots special? - Social theories applied on AI / Robotics (e.g. action and communication theories) - “Robots begin to enter our society”: Analysis of projects, purpose, concepts, dreams & motivations for the creation of “Robots for n-p use” WHY build them? Concept-Differences Germany – Japan? “Postsocial”, “Postbiological”, “Parasocial” machines are regarded as human-like and humans as machines (e.g. cybernetic models) - What’s behind the (Japanese) idea of “ Partner Robots ” and what does this mean for social sciences? (phenomenon like “ benriya ”, “ primopuel dolls ”, AIBO, Robot- Assisted Therapy (RAT), care for the elderly are also considered) - Possible explanations for Japan’s image as “Robot Kingdom” – and what’s really behind it (in comparison to Germany) ? Methods: - Personal observations: How robots begin to enter our lives – public events in Germany and Japan – and how they differ? - Robots: toys, entertainers, “pet-substitutes”, helpers, “partners”? - Project analysis: - Some personal interviews with researchers / engineers, museum staff - Analysis of interviews posted in newspapers / in the Internet - People and Robots - Survey with AIBOwners in Germany and Japan (why do they have decided on buying an AIBO, as what do they regard it) (?) - Online discussions in German AIBO Internet Forum - Discussions with friends, acquaintances, researchers - Comparison AIBO Germany and Japan: Administration: e.g. “AIBO-Clinic”, Owner’s Registration, AIBOwner’s Homepages in Germany and Japan, “AIBO- Life-Style” Germany and Japan etc. (Online discussions, Internet Forum, own experience) - Review of literature in the fields of robotics, AI, sociology, psychology and cultural studies, history (of technology) and philosophy / religion Applicability of theories for new situation (explanatory power for observations? ) “Robotology” – as the intersecting set of different disciplines dealing with robotics Many different disciplines contribute to modern robot research and engineering: Biology movement mechanisms, ergonomics Engineering Hardware “embodyment” Cognitive Science / Neuro-Science / Psychology Computer Science / Informatics AI, data processing mechanisms Software theories “Socionics” Psychology, Sociology Interaction, Communication, Deployment, “Integration”, Consequences ROBOT dialogue analysis Economics Marketing, Deployment Philosophy, Theology Critique, Comments, Consequences ? One question discussed by Sociologists, Philosophers and “Artificial Life” and “Socionic” Theorists Can machines (robots) be considered as “acting entities”? (“Können Maschinen handeln?”) Due to complexity of the topic, I just jump to the conclusions… first one needs a robust theory about what is meant by “acting” (e.g. cybernetic models work for humans and machines) Candiscussion in connectionthey to “goals”, have “planning”, knowledge, learning and even “consciousness” makes the problem not necessarily easier… “von Neumann-type machines” only process (pre)programmed data so one Intentions?should rather speak of a “human’s transferred / simulated action scheme ” Interesting: Artificial Neural NetworksPlanning? (mimicking the architecture of the human brain) EMERGENCE, but the problem is still difficult to resolve on an empirical basis Simulation-Problem, “Turing Test” If it looks like “acting”, does it necessarilyGoals? really “act”? Maybe one should consider robots just as an attempt to make machines more user-friendly Analysis of further interest: What’s behind robot-related fears and enthusiasm indicator for social concerns, robot discussion as “eye-opener”? (e.g. in regard to humanism, aging society, change of life-style etc.) The tendency (especially in Japan) towards the usage of robots for “entertainment” and “companionship” new kind of “solitude-deflection” as it has been already discussed in connection to TV and the Internet PARASOCIAL INTERACTION ? (e.g. study: “Einsamkeit in der Mediengesellschaft ”; Barbara Mettler-v. Meibom (Hg.)) Social Parasocial (unidirectional) Parasocial (bidirect.) Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 (future?) Comm. “partner” human Radio / TV Computer / VR “Personal Robot” symmetry user: high user: high user: high user: high entity: high entity: none entity: low (simulation) entity: high (simulation)? Time …what about Artificial Intelligence? A Chess-computer is not regarded as “intelligent”, but an ape defeating a Human chess champion would be called extraordinary intelligent… Since an ex ante definition of “intelligence” is difficult – I would consider the following aspects as relevant in regard to AI and its evaluation: “AI” is a tool to enable robots - to autonomously perform in a rather unstructured “every-day” environment - to be controllable in an easy way (i.e. through human-like comm. forms) - to adapt to new situations USER FRIENDLINESS There has been much discussion about the question: where to plac e “interactive artifacts” like robots, “AI -systems”, agents, avatars etc.? Such artifacts are created with the (long term) goal to communicate with humans, learn and even simulate emotional expressions… …so where to place them – “somewhere between dead and alive ” ? Many theories about the placement of artifacts in the “texture of society” from: classical view of “mere tools” (e.g. Weber) symmetric suggestions of “Actor Network Theories” (Function in Network) (e.g. Hans Linde, Steve Woolgar, Michael Callon, John Law, Bruno Latour) Problem: ASIMO (a robot) on the state visit with P.M. Koizumi It’s function: “Goodwill Ambassador” Accepted as such? Maybe not , because it is not human (“quality” of entity) …so it may be important to make the analysis in regard to function and “quality”. “Qualitative Actor -Network -Analysis ” Robots Entering our Lives “Robot -Assisted Therapy” (RAT): method used especially in Japan, Sweden and the US. Used are animal-like “robots” like “Paro” or AIBO in hospitals and care-facilities as “companions” (similar to “animal therapy” with seemingly similar results). According to advocates, the robot has advantages to animals: No hygiene problem It can be fitted with features such as surveillance, bio-control, communication technology …and a robot can patiently listen to your complaints… CRITIQUE: Inhumane and a shift to the “sterile care-service” !? Background picture: © Sony Corporation “AIBO” (Sony Corporation / Japan) AIBO is an “Entertainment Robot” commercially available for home use, created by the Sony Corp. All models are four-legged and vaguely resemble a “dog”. AIBO is an acronym for Artificial Intelligence Ro bo t and can also mean “pal” in Japanese = 相棒). It can “communicate”, learn and simulate emotions to a limited extend. Sony never /*officially*/ intended AIBO to be a “pet-substitute” Nonetheless… << Most people name their robots << some take them on journeys /*which may sound counter-productive*/ << some celebrate (family) festivities together with it << especially Japanese “AIBOwners” treat their robots like pets (or at least are more willing to admit it publicly…) Picture: AIBO ERS-7 – the only model available in Germany “AIBO” (Sony Corporation / Japan) …Such effects seem to be intended AIBO ERS -312 & ERS -311 << In Japan AIBOwners get an ID and “ AIBOwner’s card” or one can get a “Birth Certificate”) << “ill” robots /*broken robots*/ are “cared” for /*repaired*/ in so -called “AIBO -Clinics” /*repair shops*/ (and spare parts should be available for a longer period of time …) << There are AIBO “Kennel Clubs” AIBO may have initiated a kind of Lifestyle -Phenomenon”… << AIBOwner’s forming Networks (mostly over the Internet) << They organize meetings; “AIBO Town Magazine and Homepage” etc . << Many German AIBOwners show interest in Jap. Pop -Culture AIBO: The beginning of a new form of relationship?! “Partner Robots”? A term coined in Japan – Mr. Suzuki, engineer at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in charge of the “ Wakamaru ” project has provided an explanation of the term. Communication (high interaction) „Wakamaru “ Robot as Friend / Partner Robot as Butler (Tetsuwan Atomu ) „master-slave“ „autonomy“ Robot as Slave Robot as stranger / alien (Tetsujin 28-go ) Movement (low interaction) Own reconstruction and modification of chart, courtesy Mr. J. Suzuki; picture: www.androidworld.com INDUSTRY “Partner Robot” Affection Human Human (result) Important Step 3 for factory function Step 2 communication Important order communication for community of home humans and robots Step 1 („contact“, interaction) Robot Robot family This would certainly be something for future The few AIBOwnersThere are in Germany signs indicating I havepartner this,asked at thisleast quest in Japan…ion so far, said that they wouldsociological not just and throw psychological away a brokenstudies –AIBO. Andas a childin how didn’t far want will to people give up beits “PaPeRo”able to just prot throwotype, SomeButor can asof buteven thempeople in grown-up mywould growview reuse it Jap. toois not the AIBOwnersattached friendnew hardware and nottowards have for difficult presenteda new robots? rob ot, for people to get attachedaway a brokento (moving robot and interacti? ve) objects “AIBO-doctors”Others
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