Panel 2: social responsibility in human-robot interaction

Abstract

At the 2008 ACM/IEEE Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, a provocative panel was held to discuss the complicated ethical issues that abound in the field of human-robot interaction. The panel members and the audience participation made it clear that the HRI community desires - indeed, is in need of - an ongoing discussion on the nature of social responsibility in the field of human-robot interaction. At the 2010 Conference, we will hold a panel on the issues of social responsibility in HRI, focusing on the unique features of robotic interaction that call for responsible action (e.g., value-specific domains such as autonomy, accountability, trust, and/or human dignity; and application areas such as military applications, domestic care, entertainment, and/or communication). As a young and rapidly growing field, we have a responsibility to conduct our research in such a way that it leads to human-robot interaction outcomes that promote rather than hinder the flourishing of humans across society. What does social responsibility within the HRI field look like, and how do we conduct our work while adhering to such an obligation? The panelists will be asked to address this and related questions as a means of continuing an ongoing conversation on social responsibility in human-robot interaction.