Schedule, structure and other important info
Tutorial purpose: The tutorial presents some of the most pressing ethical and legal issues robots pose to society. The organizers will exemplify the challenges by showcasing research conducted at the University of Oslo and Leiden University, covering topics ranging from privacy, safety, responsibility, diversity, and dignity. To engage the community in thinking about new research avenues in this area, the tutorial will involve the participants to discuss some of the challenges in small groups.
The organizers will collect the audience's opinions using an interactive tool (Kahoot!). The audience will be able to respond using their smartphone to answer multiple-choice quizzes. If the event is organised virtually, the interaction will be in digital format with attendee questions through chat, polls collected among the attendees and potentially also using small break-out rooms for discussion, if available.
The target audience and why the tutorial topic is relevant and innovative: There is increasing attention on the ethical implications and legal issues related to robots and systems. The tutorial will give the audience insight into the main ethical implication and legal issues currently being discussed and also how that can open up for new directions in research related to robots and systems.
Prerequisite knowledge needed: There is no specific prerequisite knowledge required. Thus, the tutorial will be targeting all attendees of the IROS-2021 conference.
Added value for the participants and learning objectives of the tutorial:
- Getting an overview of the most commonly expressed ethical and legal considerations with regards to robots and systems.
- Get insight into how ethical assessment and legal challenges are relevant for research and development of robots and systems.
- Get knowledge about ethical aspects regarding inclusive robots, diversity of users, and how human autonomy is addressed in relation to the interaction with- and use of robots.
- Learning will also be strengthened with concrete examples from current or previous research projects on how e.g., elderly and non-elderly users experience interaction, privacy, and safety issues related to robots.
Tutorial history: Jim Torresen has given several well attended conference tutorials on a similar topic in 2020 but more in AI related conferences than robotics conferences, see an overview his of past invited talks and tutorials here. The tutorial here proposed is given for the first time together with colleagues from law that will cover legal and regulatory questions.
Earlier given tutorials have been well received and with a majority of attendees among PhD students. The tutorial proposed here will be an updated and extended version while, at the same time, the topics covered are mostly not rapidly changing. However, the relevance and need to address ethical concerns change with how one progresses and moves into new application areas. Thus, we think the proposed tutorial will be relevant for both past and new attendees.
Expected attendance: 50-100. Earlier experience from tutorials and workshops on the topic has shown that there is in general, a wide interest in the theme of the tutorial.
Schedule
Time |
Topic |
Presenter |
14.30 CEST time |
Introduction and motivation |
Jim Torresen & Diana Saplacan |
14.45 CEST time |
Ethical and legal challenges and considerations |
Tobias Mahler & Jim Torresen |
15:45 CEST time |
Participation and interaction (polls and/or breakout rooms) |
Audience |
16.00 |
Break |
|
16:15 CEST time |
Ethical and legal challenges and opportunities with (care) robots: a perspective on diversity and inclusion (two presentations of 30 min each incl. Q&A?) |
Diana Saplacan & Naomi Mona Lintvedt |
17:15 CEST time |
Participation and interaction (polls and/or breakout rooms) |
Audience |
17:30 CEST time |
Future venues |
Organizers and Audience |
17:45 CEST time |
Wrap-up |
Organizers |
Contact info:
Jim Tørresen: jimtoer@ifi.uio.no;
Diana Saplacan: diana.saplacan@ifi.uio.no