Events

Re-Configuring HRI - Part 2: The mutual shaping of (social) robots and (social) institutions 

The workshop will take place at Robophilosophy 2022, 16.-19. August 2022, Helsinki

The workshop is the second in a row in which we gather and discuss interdisciplinary approaches on reconfiguring HRI. We will present and discuss new paradigms for HRI that enrich our understanding of the complex and mutual construction of (social) robots, socio-technical practices and (social) institutions. In doing so, we aim a) to cross the boundaries of divergent disciplines such as engineering, design, philosophy and sociology, and b) to cross the boundaries of HRI in development and HRI in (social) institutions. These endeavors are not new. However, we aim for approaching new theoretical and empirical paradigms for HRI more systematically. This workshop on Re-configuring HRI will critically reflect on those boundaries and provide new methodological impulses to overcome them.

Workshop Goals:

The workshop presents and discusses new paradigms for HRI that enrich our understanding of the complex and mutual construction of social robots, social practices, and social institutions. In doing so, we want to irritate two major boundaries within HRI:  

• Firstly, we aim to cross the boundaries of engaging in interdisciplinary work on such new paradigms between divergent disciplines as engineering, design, psychology, philosophy and sociology. 
• Secondly, we aim to cross the boundaries of HRI and the social contexts of robot use – often referred to as ‘real world’ environments.  

These endeavors are not new, as we have discussed above. However, we aim for approaching new theoretical and empirical paradigms for HRI more systematically. This workshop on Re-configuring HRI will critically reflect on those boundaries and provide new methodological impulses to overcome them.  

For the title, we turned to the famous STS concept of “configuring” which discusses how potential users and use cases are shaped and in turn reshaped (configured) throughout technology design – be it explicitly or accidentally. Suchman’s understanding of the concept as socio-material configuration in specific [9], helps us to think about the particular modes of ordering that produce particular configurations of heterogeneous associations of humans, machines, ideas, infrastructures, plans, discourses, and practices, that HRI and robot development produce. Given robotic technologies are becoming deeper integrated in ‘real world’ contexts, such as public spaces, homes and care facilities, we argue for the need for a re-configuration of Human-Robot Interaction.

Program

• Welcome; Setting the stage with opening talk “Re-Configuring HRI” (Panel organisers) – 10 mins 
• Paper presentations – 4x10 min 

  1. Towards non-dyadic HRI: building robots for institutions 

     Antonia Krummheuer (Presenter), Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Aalborg University; Andreas Bischof, Faculty of Computer Science, University of Technology, Chemnitz; Matthias Rehm, Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Aalborg University; Eva Hornecker, Faculty of Media, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar 

     Abstract: In this presentation we develop our thoughts on “non-dyadic HRI”. We will argue that social robotics and HRI traditionally assume a dyadic interaction model with a focus on a single human that is interacting with a single robot. Considering that social robots should be used in social institutions including several human participants, this dyadic model does not match the needs of many institutional settings. In this presentation we will report our findings from two different contexts (therapeutic and care setting). We will demonstrate that a dyadic model fails to capture a) different participation roles that facilitate or engage in the interaction with the robot and b) the constructions of distributed agency which are relevant characteristics of interactions in such settings. We will end the presentation by discussing how this insight

  2. Is there a need for critical robotics research? 

     Sara Ljungblad (Presenter), Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology; Niamh Ni Bhroin, Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo; Sofia Serholt, Department of Applied IT, University of Gothenburg; Mafalda Samuelsson Gamboa, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology

     Abstract: Over several years, we have worked to develop the concept of critical robotics research. The concept aims to problematize the research in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) from humanistic and critical perspectives, an initiative aiming to re-frame HRI research from an epistemological perspective. We will discuss the humanistic and critical dimensions of critical robotics and why we consider that a paradigm shift in the robotic field is needed. This discussion is urgent as robots and robotic solutions are increasingly introduced and integrated in expanding social domains and institutions. We would also like to discuss some background to the critical robotics movement, and present examples of research that take a critical robotics research perspective. 

  3.  The impacts of Society 5.0 on human-related robots and HRI  

     Kimmo Vänni (Presenter), Principal Research Scientist at HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences, Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland

     Abstract: Society is currently in a transition from the information society to a super-smart society which has been named tentatively Society 5.0. Society 5.0 is seamlessly combining the virtual world and the physical world, and it emphasizes artificial intelligence and human-centered robotics, which are becoming a relevant part of life at work, school, and leisure.  There are several new research issues in HRI that need to be discussed when Society 5.0 is evolving; First, how to connect robots to data platforms for refining data to personalize services for different users and groups. Second, what signals should be detected and what kind of user interface is needed, especially if also wearable robots are considered. Finally, how the human centered design approach will be used in robot design. 

  4. The emerging role of HRI in Industry 5.0 

     Matthias Rehm (Presenter), Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Aalborg University, Denmark

     Abstract: The introduction of Industry 5.0 shifts the focus from automation and optimization of production process to resilience, sustainability and human-centeredness of these processes, aiming at empowering workers using digital devices and endorsing a human-centric approach to technology. This paradigm shift offers a window of opportunity to rethink the role of robotics in automation and envision HRI as a central component of collaborative work practices between human workers and robots. We are going to discuss three cases in relation to this vision: 1.) Robot driven ergonomic adaptation for production environments prone to repetitive stress injuries, 2.) Mobile robots in the hospital as an example for the need of going beyond a dyadic view of human robot interactions, 3.) Data driven HRI as a prerequisite for robotics that caters to diverse user groups. 

• Panel discussion with presenters – 20 mins 
• Open discussion – 20 mins