What Makes a Robot Social? A Review of Social Robots from Science Fiction to a Home or Hospital Near You
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Author / Producer
Date
2021-03
Publication Type
Journal Article
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no
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Abstract
Purpose of Review
We provide an outlook on the definitions, laboratory research, and applications of social robots, with an aim to understand what makes a robot social—in the eyes of science and the general public.
Recent Findings
Social robots demonstrate their potential when deployed within contexts appropriate to their form and functions. Some examples include companions for the elderly and cognitively impaired individuals, robots within educational settings, and as tools to support cognitive and behavioural change interventions.
Summary
Science fiction has inspired us to conceive of a future with autonomous robots helping with every aspect of our daily lives, although the robots we are familiar with through film and literature remain a vision of the distant future. While there are still miles to go before robots become a regular feature within our social spaces, rapid progress in social robotics research, aided by the social sciences, is helping to move us closer to this reality.
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Publication status
published
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Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
2 (1)
Pages / Article No.
9 - 19
Publisher
Springer
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Cognitive neuroscience; Human-robot interaction; Human-robot interaction; Social cognition; Social robots; Socially assistive robots
Organisational unit
09800 - Cross, Emily S. / Cross, Emily S.