Towards novel concepts of social presence for robots

Abstracts

(The order of the abstracts refelcts the Workshop Program)

Paul Dumouchel - Keynote talk

Presence and social presence theory

I argue that social presence theory, which has recently been widely used in relation to social robots, is not really appropriate for that end. There are at least two reasons that explains this. First are the many difficulties inherent to the theory itself, among others its inability to provide a commonly received definition of social presence. Second is the fact that for both conceptual and historical reasons social presence theory abstracts from what is a central characteristics of social robots, their real physical presence. I also suggest a hypothesis for why social robotics turned to what appears as a very inadequate means of analyzing the presence of robots.

Fabio Puglia - Inspiration Talk

Interaction without prejudice, for humanoid robot Robee, the basis for an enhancement of Human-Robot Interaction

In Human-Robot Interaction, the humanoid machine's lack of judgment towards humans is a crucial aspect for several reasons, especially if we consider the context of interpersonal relationships and the trust that users develop towards robots. In fact, human beings tend to judge others based on behaviors,attitudes and physical appearance, and this can generate anxiety or social discomfort. The valuable operational experience of Oversonic Robotics through its humanoid robot RoBee allows us to appreciate complex interactions in different contexts such as: industrial activity, neuro rehabilitation, Alzheimer's disease. The correct perception by the user of the intentions of the robotic agent are an enabling condition for the triggering of an interaction that over time allows the user to adopt the machine as a disinterested and authoritative interlocutor. In this sense, RoBee's lack of judgment enhances the perception of their social intelligence and emotional behaviors, albeit in a dynamic of external robotic affectivity. We will explain how this aspect is crucial for the adoption and interaction with the machine even in industrial contexts where the theme of collaboration and task sharing are the basis of every daily activity. Real scenarios will also be proposed and the lines of development for the coming months will be explained. In fact, one of the most complex but at the same time strategic steps in the adoption of a collaborative and humanoid machine is the activation of a two-way channel of collaboration. Only through this interaction will the machine be used and will be able to effectively enter the company's operational process. This approach increases confidence and psychological comfort, making it easier for users to interact openly with the robot.

Hagen Lehmann - Keynote Talk

Creating social presence in robots via non-verbal communication signals

My talk will focuses on the embodied social presence of robots. One of the key factors in human-human communication are non-verbal communication signals. I will give an overview of  HRI research from the past 10 years that was aimed at creating non-verbal behaviors for robots to increase the "illusion" of social presence during human-robot interactions.   

Ester Fuoco - Inspiration Talk

Performative art as a facilitator in the implementation of Human-Robot Interaction

For the past few decades, contemporary theater has been clarifying its relationship with robotics on various fronts, including aesthetic, cultural, and social dimensions. This has brought to light a range of creative forms referred to by different names: robotic theater, cyborg theater (Parker-Starbuck 2011), metal performance and robotic installations, which fall under the broader concept of digital performance (Dixon 2007). The entrance of robots on stage echoes the development and proliferation of social robots in our daily lives, driven by the desire to make these devices more familiar to us and to recognize them not only as useful, but also as sensitive companions (Dario, Anerdi 2022). The quest for ubiquity necessitates familiarization with these artifacts, understanding a new distribution of social roles, and constantly adapting to new needs. This inscribes these “entities” within the narrative structure of daily life, where the artistic dimension plays a fundamental role (Riccio, 2024). Two theatrical case studies will be presented: Robot (2013) by Blanca Li, a dance choreography featuring human dancers and NAO robots, and I, Worker (2011) by O. Hirata, a theater piece partially performed by the Robovie R3 robot. Each work reflects different perspectives and considerations of social robots, Eastern and Western, respectively. However, both illustrate how theatrical art serves as a remarkable medium for the implementation of robotics, not only in technical terms but also as a powerful facilitator of human-robot interaction (HRI). Thanks to its interactive dynamics, theater allows for the development and testing of robotic systems in which empathy is not only simulated but actively used to improve the effectiveness and naturalness of interactions (Fuoco 2024). Performing arts provide complex and nuanced scenarios in which robots “could learn” the rules of social behavior, enhancing their communicative and relational skills. Indeed, Theatrical art represents an ideal scenario for developing and testing algorithms, models, and techniques of interaction between humans and social robots. Some of the objectives related to human-centered robotics and the development of effective HRI coincide with key axioms of performance: the illusion of life, identification, presence, alterity, improvisation, and dialogue (Lu, Smart 2011). Moreover, the use of theater/dance in HRI helps to overcome the emotional detachment that often characterizes interactions with machines. Through the narrative structure and emotional engagement typical of theater, humans can perceive robots as closer, more relatable interlocutors, rather than as alien entities (Robertson 2022).

Gaia Contu - Talk

“Do you love grandma, robot?”. Addressing deception in human-robot attachment within elderly care

When we become affectionate towards someone or something, this entity assumes an emotionally relevant role in our lives. In the age of new technologies, our capacity to form attachments extends beyondpeople, animals, and objects to include robots. The research field of socially assistive robotics focuses oninvestigating and creating robotic devices designed to provide care for vulnerable people, such as theelderly. The world population is indeed increasingly aging, while care services remain scarce, and PersonalCare Robots present a promising solution to combat loneliness and mental health issues among the elderly. However, this raises an important ethical question: what if the affective involvement formed in Human-Robot Interaction is based on deceptive premises? Given the frailty and delicate moral status of the end-users, this issue becomes a primary concern. This presentation will explore the issue of Human-Robot Attachment specifically asking: is it ethical to design robots that elicit feelings of attachment in elderly people? To address this question, I will examine: 1. Whether attachment to a robot is deceptive per se; 2. Whether attachment to a robot is possible, necessary for the effectiveness of a care relationship,and beneficial to the end-user; 3. Ethical design guidelines aimed at reducing the risk of deception and increasing social acceptance of Elderly Care Robots. My argument combines top-down and bottom-up approaches, merging the ethical analysis with the development of an operational field research program. Starting from the theoretical frameworks of Human-Robot Affective Coordination (Dumouchel & Damiano, 2017), pragmatism and consequentialism, I will argue that the standard accuse of deception is based onfalse premises, and this is also supported by empirical evidence from the behavioural sciences and moral psychology. Alongside, I will argue that this conclusion must be tested within a practical social space, both from an ethical point of view and from the perspective of Social Construction Of Technology and User-Centred Design, according to which technoscience does not happen in a deterministic vacuum and user preferences are an integral part of the process of social acceptance. As a result, I will propose an experimental program of co-design with the elderly which follows the framework of Care-Centred Value Sensitive Design (van Wynsberghe, 2013) and possible ethical guidelines, based on the conclusion that designing care robots to elicit attachment in the elderly is not inherently ethically controversial, yet specific precautions must be followed.

Rebecca Mannocci - Talk

Rethinking social presence for robots. A third way for human-robot co-evolution between utopia and dystopia

As social robots become increasingly integrated into human environments, their ability to establish a significative social presence is crucial for fostering positive human-robot interactions. This concept strongly shapes our perceptions of robots, influencing both utopian and dystopian visions. A strong social presence can lead to idealizations of robots as entities with "superpowers"; while also provoking fears of them as destructive forces. By cultivating a nuanced understanding of social presence, we can pave the way for a "third way" that recognizes the fragility of artificial agents and their potential for constructive coexistence with humans. Drawing on Gilbert Simondon’s concept of mental images, this study examines prevalent imaginaries surrounding social robots and human-robot interactions. It contrasts dystopian fears of a world devoid of humanity with utopian visions of technological transcendence, aiming to chart a "third way". This approach considers the fragility of artificial agents and the nuanced human responses they evoke, exemplified by the evolution of phenomena as the "Tamagotchi phenomenon". By proposing new foundations for a paradigm shift, this research seeks to cultivate new imaginaries that facilitate the co-existence and co-evolution of humans and social robots. It aligns with the urgent call to analyze and reinterpret technoscientific imaginaries in light of their societal and cognitive impacts, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and harmonious future for human-machines interactions.

Joseph Masotti - Talk

Social robots and relationships of trust

The emotional cues we rely on when assessing other agents’ trustworthiness depend on generalizations of folk psychology that do not hold in the case of emotionless beings such as robots. In this paper, I argue that emotional cues, typically crucial in human-to-human interactions, cannot be relied upon to accurately assess the trustworthiness of robots, leading to what I call the Emotions-Trustworthiness Gap. This gap poses a significant problem for the development of healthy relationships between humans and robots as robots become increasingly used as companions in social contexts. I begin by discussing the communicative role of emotions in establishing perceived trustworthiness in human interactions. Given the phenomenon of anthropomorphism in human-robot interactions, people may misjudge the trustworthiness of robots based on their mimicry of these emotional expressions, such as compassion or remorse. I argue that these judgments are unwarranted, as robots do not experience emotions as humans do. As the use of robots as social companions becomes more widespread, addressing the Emotions-Trustworthiness Gap will be critical to fostering healthy human-robot relationships and ensuring the ethical integration of robots in social contexts.