Social robots: A meeting point between science and fiction

Authors

  • Carme Torras Institute of Robotics and Industrial Informatics (CSIC-UPC), Barcelona (Spain).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.0.3546

Keywords:

social robots, artificial intelligence, science fiction, Asimov, roboethics

Abstract

Industrial robots and androids in science fiction were worlds apart until recently, but now begin to merge with the rapid development of social robotics. Given the growing need for labour in the healthcare and service sectors, robots are being designed to interact with disabled or elderly people, or to take the place of receptionists or shop assistants in shopping malls, or even to act as support teachers or nannies. Within this context, efforts have grown to encourage mutual inspiration between techno-science and humanities. Ethical issues such as the influence of robotic nannies on child psyche, previously raised within the realms of literary works, are now being discussed in scientific forums. 

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Author Biography

Carme Torras, Institute of Robotics and Industrial Informatics (CSIC-UPC), Barcelona (Spain).

Institute of Robotics and Industrial Informatics (CSIC-UPC), Barcelona (Spain).

References

Asimov, I., 1950. I, Robot. Gnome Press. New York.

Ballesté, F. and C. Torras, 2013. «Effects of Human-Machine Integration on the Construction of Identity». In Luppicini, R. (ed.). Handbook of Research on Technoself: Identity in a Technological Society. IGI Global. Hershey, EUA. DOI: <10.4018/978-1-4666-2211-1.ch030>.

Berger, P. and T. Luckmann, 1966. The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge. Anchor Books. New York.

Bradbury, R., 1969. I Sing the Body Electric. Knopf Publishing. New York.

Bueno Gómez-Tejedor, S. and M. Peirano (eds.), 2009. El rival de Prometeo. Vidas de autómatas ilustres. Impedimenta. Madrid.

Dick, Ph. K., 1955. «Nanny». Startling Stories, 33(1): 50-61.

Ihde, D., 2002. Bodies in Technology. University of Minnesota Press. Minneapolis.

Nature, 2007. «Many Worlds». Nature, 448(7149): 1-104.

Rushkoff, D.; Hammond, R.; Thomas, S. and H. Markus, 2012. The Tomorrow Project. Bestselling Authors Describe Daily Life in the Future. Intel. Santa Clara.

Sharkey, N. and A. Sharkey, 2010. «The Crying Shame of Robot Nannies». Interaction Studies, 11(2): 161-190. DOI: <10.1075/is.11.2.01sha>.

Stephenson, N., 2011. «Innovation Starvation». Wired, 27 October. Available at: <http://www.wired.com/2011/10/stephenson-innovation-starvation>.

Torras, C., 2008. La mutació sentimental. Pagès Editors. Lleida. Torras, C., 2010. «Robbie, the Pioneer Robot Nanny: Science Fiction Helps Develop Ethical Social Opinion». Interaction Studies, 11(2): 269-273. DOI: <10.1075/is.11.2.15tor>.

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Published

2015-04-16

How to Cite

Torras, C. (2015). Social robots: A meeting point between science and fiction. Metode Science Studies Journal, (5), 111–115. https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.0.3546
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Issue

The light of science (2015)

Section

Crossroads. Where science and literature meet

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