Social Robotics

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/S_SR

Course Objective

After completion of this course, the student is able to:
• Understand and discuss current thematic and research issues in social robotics;
• Critically discuss the role of theory building (i.e. formal modeling) within social robotics, and reflect on ethical and normative issues in robot research and design;
• Apply a critical-reflective attitude about up-to-date and interdisciplinary scientific research in the field of social robotics;
• Develop a design proposal and related research to tackle a communication problem in social robotics.

Course Content

The future is now and we are designing it. Certain layers of society already work with social robots on a day-to-day basis. Until recently, robots seemed to be the realm of engineering but with the rise of Big Data analysis and embedded software in the Internet of Things, Communication Science has a new role to play in understanding how digital communications (i.e. patterns, trends, read-outs) should be translated back into human-digestible forms. Social robots seem to be the ultimate interface between the digital and analogue world but in what way are robots different from humans? Do the same rules of conduct and communication apply as to human-human interactions? Will Computer-Mediated Communication branch off into robot-mediated communication? Will Media Psychology have found a new field to explore human bonding with machines? This course consists of 12 lectures that describe the study and creation of social robots. Learning the ingredients is one thing, combining them in practice is another. Therefore, lectures are flanked by practical exercises during the work groups, where you will learn how to formally model a theory but also how to draw on your own creativity to design a robot or a robot application. If possible (but this is dependent on the availability of participants), we will let your design be tested by real users. While working, we will have plenty of discussions about the societal impact of robots on work, privacy, security, ethical behavior, our self-image as humans, and the like. Theoretical explorations will not be limited to communication science but will stretch to science philosophy (i.e. epistemics) and the theory of creativity and innovation as well.

Teaching Methods

Lectures and work groups. Students will be trained to access their individual creativity and ingenuity.

Method of Assessment

1) Individual examination (‘tentamen’) (50% final grade) 2) Short graded assignments (group-based) (40% final grade) 3) Individual participation in the work groups (10% final grade) Examination, each assignment, and participation each must be passed (‘voldoende’) to be able to pass the course.

Literature

Hyperlinks to scientific articles from different disciplines (humanities, communication, and computer science) are available on Canvas.

Target Audience

Elective for Master students Communication Science. Master students of Linguistics, Computer Science (i.e. AI and CHI), Health Science, Industrial Design Engineering (i.e. interaction design), and foreign exchange students are welcome.

Additional Information

This course will be taught in English. We encourage students from different backgrounds to apply (Social Sciences, Psychology, Linguistics, Computer Science/ AI, industrial design, eHealth, education...). Programming skills or any kind of technical background are not required.

Recommended background knowledge

BA level cognitive theories and concepts (E.g. psychology, linguistics, communication, artificial intelligence, industrial design engineering, education, or health intervention). BA level knowledge of experimental design, empirical testing and/or formal modeling. Useful but not mandatory: structured questionnaire design, statistics, coding (any language), electronics, mechanics.