Shift and Blend: Understanding the hybrid character of computing artefacts on a tool-agent spectrum

Marco C. Rozendaal; Evert Van Beek; Pim Haselager; David Abbink; Catholijn M. Jonker

doi:10.1145/3406499.3415066

Shift and Blend: Understanding the hybrid character of computing artefacts on a tool-agent spectrum

Marco C. Rozendaal, Evert Van Beek, Pim Haselager, David Abbink, Catholijn M. Jonker

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

In the context of human-agent interaction, we see the emergence of computational artefacts that display hybridity because they can be experienced as tools and agents. In this paper we propose a tool-agent spectrum as an analytical lens that uses 'intention' as a central concept. This spectrum aims to clarify how a computational object can change from being conducive to the intentions of others ('tool') to appearing to have intentions of its own ('agent'), or vice versa. We have applied this analytical lens to unravel people's experiences in two hybrid cases; guide dogs as a living mobility aid for the visually impaired and an experimental wearable object named 'BagSight' as a rudimentary artificial counterpart. We compared both cases through the lens of a tool-agent spectrum and elaborate on these results by discussing some of the principles by which computational artefacts can shift across the spectrum. We conclude by discussing the limitations of this study and provide suggestions for future work.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	HAI 2020 - Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery, Inc
Pages	171-178
ISBN (Electronic)	9781450380546
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3406499.3415066
Publication status	Published - 10 Nov 2020
Externally published	Yes
Event	8th International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction, HAI 2020 - Virtual, Online, Australia Duration: 10 Nov 2020 → 13 Nov 2020

Conference

Conference	8th International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction, HAI 2020
Country/Territory	Australia
City	Virtual, Online
Period	10/11/20 → 13/11/20

Funding

We would like to thank Ibo van de Poel for taking part in the discussions that helped shape his work and for his careful reading of the earlier versions of the manuscript. We would further like to thank our study participants, and the organizations Bartiméus and KNGF for their support in helping us reach out to people with a visual impairment and mobility trainers who are working with service dogs. Finally, we like to thank Aadjan van der Helm, Martin Havranek and Richard Bekking for their assistance in developing the BagSight prototype.

Funders	Funder number
Koninklijk Nederlands Genootschap voor Fysiotherapie

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10.1145/3406499.3415066

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title = "Shift and Blend: Understanding the hybrid character of computing artefacts on a tool-agent spectrum",

abstract = "In the context of human-agent interaction, we see the emergence of computational artefacts that display hybridity because they can be experienced as tools and agents. In this paper we propose a tool-agent spectrum as an analytical lens that uses 'intention' as a central concept. This spectrum aims to clarify how a computational object can change from being conducive to the intentions of others ('tool') to appearing to have intentions of its own ('agent'), or vice versa. We have applied this analytical lens to unravel people's experiences in two hybrid cases; guide dogs as a living mobility aid for the visually impaired and an experimental wearable object named 'BagSight' as a rudimentary artificial counterpart. We compared both cases through the lens of a tool-agent spectrum and elaborate on these results by discussing some of the principles by which computational artefacts can shift across the spectrum. We conclude by discussing the limitations of this study and provide suggestions for future work.",

author = "Rozendaal, {Marco C.} and {Van Beek}, Evert and Pim Haselager and David Abbink and Jonker, {Catholijn M.}",

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booktitle = "HAI 2020 - Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction",

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note = "8th International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction, HAI 2020 ; Conference date: 10-11-2020 Through 13-11-2020",

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Rozendaal, MC, Van Beek, E, Haselager, P, Abbink, D & Jonker, CM 2020, Shift and Blend: Understanding the hybrid character of computing artefacts on a tool-agent spectrum. in HAI 2020 - Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction. Association for Computing Machinery, Inc, pp. 171-178, 8th International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction, HAI 2020, Virtual, Online, Australia, 10/11/20. https://doi.org/10.1145/3406499.3415066

Shift and Blend: Understanding the hybrid character of computing artefacts on a tool-agent spectrum. / Rozendaal, Marco C.; Van Beek, Evert; Haselager, Pim et al.
HAI 2020 - Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction. Association for Computing Machinery, Inc, 2020. p. 171-178.

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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Shift and Blend: Understanding the hybrid character of computing artefacts on a tool-agent spectrum

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