Module 4 The Future of Connectivity: Interpersonal & Emotional Connections

What defines a relationship in the age of digital technology? With all the ways technology allows us to connect to each other, are we compromising the value of face-to-face relationships with a 140-character tweet or post on social networks? This is only the beginning of how we define our interpersonal connections; as technology rapidly advances, social robots are being created as companions and helpers to the human race. Will social robots eventually replace our human-to-human relationships? Read and watch the material below to form your own answers to these questions (and perhaps raise some valid questions of your own) as we shift our focus to the aspects of the interpersonal and emotional potential future of connectivity.

 

 Definitions/Concepts to know:

1. False/virtual intimacy Links to an external site.
2. Social robots Links to an external site.
3. Human-computer interaction (HCI) Links to an external site.

Things to watch:

1. Despite being connected virtually all the time across so many mobile devices, is it possible we can still feel alone?  Sherry Turkle Links to an external site.examines this concept in her TED talk below. Connected, but alone? Links to an external site.
2. Stefana Broadbent Links to an external site. takes an alternative viewpoint in her TED talk about how technology can actually deepen and strengthen our human connections, not tear them apart. How the internet enables intimacy Links to an external site.
3. Social Robots Links to an external site.(PBS; 11 min.)
4. The rise of personal robots Links to an external site. (TED talk; 14 min.)

Things to read:

False/virtual intimacy 

• The lie of false intimacy Links to an external site.
• Missed connections with hyperconnectivity Links to an external site.
• Social media affecting teens' concepts of friendship, intimacy Links to an external site.
• Couples, the Internet and social media Links to an external site.
• Social media impacts real relationships Links to an external site.
• Social media users migrating to smaller circles Links to an external site.
• Virtual intimacy is 'like' this Links to an external site.
• The false face of our social media persona Links to an external site.

Social Robots:  Research being conducted at universities, non-profits and corporations across the world

1. Carnegie Mellon University Links to an external site.

• The Interbots Initiative Links to an external site.: at the Entertainment Technology Center Links to an external site., Carnegie Mellon University's department for the development of alternative combinations of the arts and sciences.
• The Project on People and Robots Links to an external site.: at the The Human Computer Interaction Institute Links to an external site., Carnegie Mellon University's department for the research of how people and computers create, interact, disseminate and share information.

2.  Yale University Social Robotics Lab Links to an external site.

3.  Georgia Tech College of Computing:  GoGo Social Robot Links to an external site.

4.  Massachusetts Institute of Technology:  MIT Media Lab:  Personal robots group Links to an external site.

5.  National Science Foundation:  Socially Assistive Robots Links to an external site.

6.  University of Freiburg (Germany): Social Robotics Laboratory Links to an external site.

7.  University of Sydney (Australia):  Centre for Social Robotics Links to an external site.

8.  Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK - Finland): Social Robotics Links to an external site.

9.  Imperial College (London):  Personal Robotics Lab Links to an external site.

10.  University of the West of England & University of Bristol:  Bristol Robotics Laboratory Links to an external site.

 News, journal articles and websites about Social Robotics:

• How social robotics is revolutionizing therapy for autistic children Links to an external site.
• Toward sociable robots Links to an external site.(PDF)
• The uncertain future for social robots Links to an external site.
• Social robots in the real world Links to an external site.
• Robots in Health and Social Care:  A Complementary Technology to Home Care and Telehealthcare? Links to an external site. (PDF)
• Extending Legal Rights to Social Robots Links to an external site. (PDF download)
• Social robots:  Our charismatic friends in an automated future? Links to an external site.
• Robohub.org Links to an external site.
• Ethics
• Institute for Ethics & Emerging Technology Links to an external site.
• Ethics in Information Technology Links to an external site.(PDF)
• Conferences
• International Conference on Social Robotics Links to an external site. (ICSR)
• WeRobot Conference Links to an external site.

•  One final thought:

• The Future is about People Links to an external site.