Human communication relies to large degrees on the utilization and support of technology. This is not limited to smart devices and software, but also includes robots and other embodied agents. As robots and smart devices have become integral parts of our daily communication, especially during the pandemic, it is high time push the envelope further and investigate how technology can be used to improve people's lives and foster healthy lifestyles. Transitioning from mere communicative functions we slowly venture into a much more active roles of robots such as targeted interventions to support social, mental, physical and emotional aspects of human well-being. In this workshop, we will build on the success of communication robots and explore further expansion of their functionality from a mere communication device to playing a more active role -- an effector to improving people's well-being.
Nowadays, robots are equipped with a wide range of sensors and perception technologies. When leveraged with advances in AI, these robotic agents can develop more advanced perception capabilities to understand human interactions and support mediation roles. Moreover, by combining behavioral design (actuation, verbal and nonverbal modalities, etc.) with the robot's physical presence, we can transform robots into potent embodied mediators. Making use of their sensory, contextual and executing capabilities, embodied mediators - autonomous confidants that serve the human in a trustful way - can initiate and control interactions that address manifold issues concerned with human well-being. Examples are sensory or physical impairments, memory decay, difficulties in communication, inflexibility/lack of spontaneity and lack of physical/emotional connection.
We believe that robotic mediators are able to fill the gap of physical, social and mental disconnection. For example, telepresence robots can provide necessary physical support to faraway family members, or social agents can provide entertainment and diversion from anxiety. Consequently, applying and extending previous strategies of robot behavior design to the concept of embodied mediation adds a new level of interaction in a cross-generational setting. To foster bonding among individuals of different genders, cultures and age groups, the robotic agent would need to adapt to human’s mental, emotional and social needs to effectively navigate its interaction.
Contributions
The implementation of the envisioned embodied AI system requires a transformative perception that combines current technologies and devices with novel intervention and behavior generation strategies as well as multilevel social awareness. Therefore, we aim to bring together researchers from diverse backgrounds to explore how to design, build and deploy robotic mediators to be effective across contexts and use cases. The list of possible topics includes, but is not limited to the following:
Devices for human-robot interaction and connection
Human perception and understanding
Understanding of social context and group dynamics
Interaction principles for appropriate mediation and intervention
Design of mediated group interactions and shared activities
Automation of robot behavior for intervention and life support
Contextual perception and sense-making
Robot control for physical intervention
Human-robot collaboration
Human expectations and trust towards machines
Robots in education, entertainment and healthcare
The role of art and design in human-centered robotics
Teleoperation and telepresence robots
Social robots and embodied agents
We welcome two kinds of submissions, 4-6 page papers describing work relevant to the workshop, and 2 page illustrations describing design concepts of potential embodiments.
The workshop proceedings will be compiled as a white paper, which will be accessible online on the website of the International Consortium of Socially Intelligent Robotics. Depending on the outcome of the workshop, we are also considering the organization of a Special Issue at a relevant academic journal.
Timeline
Mid Feb 2022: submission opens
Mar 31 2022: submission deadline
Submission
Please follow the Call for Papers link or use this direct link to the submission.
Workshop format
The workshop will be a full-day interactive event with two parts consisting of various activities and open discussions. Activities of the first part include panel sessions with talks on the current state-of-the-art (multimodal sensing, human-robot interaction and robot behavior generation) followed by moderated discussions, and presentation of paper contributions by the participants (spotlight presentations and poster session). The second part comprises of a facilitated design thinking to define appropriate use cases for interventions and interactions. This hands-on creative program point allows researchers to explore creative tools to promote inclusion in the design process to bridge existing technologies with the demands of society for embodied mediation. It also offers the chance to young researchers to openly voice their ideas, and hence shape the future research direction.
*The workshop is currently planned to be held physically, with the option of virtual attendance for all researchers that are unable to travel to the conference.
Schedule and Invited Speakers
Papers
Organizers
Heike Brock – Honda Research Institute Japan
Thomas Weisswange – Honda Research Institute Europe
Serge Thill – Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University
Malte F. Jung – Cornell University
Aaron J. Horowitz – Sproutel Inc.