Working Group

Aude Billard (billard@pollux.usc.edu) and Kerstin Dautenhahn (K.Dautenhahn@herts.ac.uk)

This working group will address our perception of the use of robots and how this has evolved recently towards a more lovable, cute and friendly one with the design of robots for entertaining and teaching children. We will start the discussion with the following questions:

• Do we have sufficient knowledge of the implications of giving robot toys to children? Is there a fundamental difference between robots and other toys and software programs which children already use and enjoy?
• What are dangers, potential and challenges of using robots in rehabilitation and therapy, e.g. robotic toys for children with learning disability or e.g. children with autism?
• How will playing with robots in an early age influence people's future view of robots in society? Will this depend on the "social role", aesthetics, appearance and /or behaviour of the toy robot (see comparison of video games with Sony AIBO)? What is the role of parents, family and peers?
• What would we like our children to learn from playing at an early age with a robot? a) to program it, b) to construct it, i.e. to understand sensors and motors c) to get familiar with the use of complex electronic machines, d) to have fun, d) other.
• How does this relate to the role we wish robots to play in our adults' life?

The issues discussed will depend on what the participants of this group are particularly interested in. Please email us if you have any ideas or suggestions.

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