Category: Podcast

The Science Beyond the Horizon

How do predatory conferences work?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS

Predatory conferences have become a global problem that plagues the scientific community. The Science Horizon Conferences claims to organize ten conference in 2022 in Europe, including the International Conference and Expo on Robotics & Artificial Intelligence. In this podcast episode I investigate this conference and its organizers Shaik Riyaz and Devasai Udarapu. My nonsensical abstract submission passed their peer review process and was accepted for a keynote presentation. I confronted Devasai with this complete lack of academic rigor in an interview. Anton Angelo and David Kaye share their view on this conference, predatory conferences in general and what impact they have on the scientific endeavour.

Transcript

The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.

HRI-Podcast-Episode-018-The-Science-Beyond-The-Horizon-Transript

ISSN 2703-4054

Important Links

The Laws Of Robotics

We discuss the three laws of robotics by Isaac Asimov.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS

In our previous podcast episode The Good Robot we discussed the difficulty of enabling robots to act ethically. When talking to journalists or policy makers about machine ethics you frequently get the response, well, Issac Asimov already solved that problem with his three laws of robotics. These laws are so seductively simple that most will intuitively understand them. In this episode of the Human-Robot Interaction podcast, Sean Welsh and I will have a close look at these laws and try to understand why barely anybody has ever tried to use them in their robot.

Transcript

The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.

HRI-Podcast-Episode-017-The-Laws-Of-Robotics-Transcript

ISSN 2703-4054

Important Links:

There is method to the madness

I talked about HRI methods with Tony Belpaeme.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS

The success of Human Robot Interaction depends on utilizing our understanding of the interaction between humans and robots in the development of new technology. These new technologies then need to be rigorously tested to proof their benefit. In other words, it is time for an HRI study. In this episode we will discuss some of the major decision you need to make when designing a study with Tony Belpaeme who recently published a book chapter entitled “Advice to new human-robot interaction researchers”. Choose wisely, for while the true study will bring you knowledge, the false study will take it from you.

Transcript

The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.

HRI-Podcast-Episode-016-There-Is-Method-To-The-Madness-Transcript

ISSN 2703-4054

Important Links:

Why do all social robots fail in the market?

The resurrection of dead robots.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS

While working on our first Human-Robot Interaction textbook, we noticed that almost all the robots mentioned in the book had failed in the market. Our book had become an obituary. I talked with Lundy Lewis, Frederic Kaplan, Amro Najjar, Robert Cheek and Tomas Concha (NTT Disruption) about why almost all social robots failed in the market. The Aibo and Jibo robots are examples of robots that were brought to the market, failed and were resurrected from the dead. One in fame and one in shame.

Transcript

The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.

HRI-Podcast-Episode-015-Why-Do-All-Social-Robots-Fail-In-The-Market-Transcript

ISSN 2703-4054

Important Links:

PDF Embedder requires a url attribute

Artificial Artificial Intelligence

Did Zach pass the Turing test?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS

Alan Turing devised the Imitation Game as a test the intelligence of machines. This test is also used in human-robot interaction. But what happens if not a computer is trying to convince you that it is a human, but a human is trying to deceive you in thinking he is an artificial intelligence? In this episode we will discuss the Turing Test, the Zach super computer and what it means to think. I interviewed Diane Proudfoot and David Farrier about the Terrible Foundation, Turing Test and Artificial Intelligence.

The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.

HRI-Podcast-Episode-014-Artificial-Artificial-Intelligence-Transcript

ISSN 2703-4054

Important Links:

The Good Robot

How can a robot act ethically?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS

Humans have asked themselves since the beginning of time “What is good”? While we have some consensus and even laws, teaching a robot to act ethically remains a delicate problem. It certainly requires more than three laws. How can a robot know what to do while operating in an uncertain world? I interviewed Sean Welsh on Ethics in Human-Robot Interaction.

Transcript

The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.

HRI-Podcast-Episode-013-The-Good-Robot-Transcript

ISSN 2703-4054

Links:

The Rise And Fall of ATR

We discuss the conception, rise and fall of ATR.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS

The Advanced Telecommunication Institute International (ATR) in Japan is a major player in the field of human-robot interaction. Its early history was described by many who worked there as a paradise. After many changes to its funding and subsequently to its organization it remains a pretty strong research organization, but it is only a shadow of its early glory. Many researchers left this highly volatile and competitive environment. In this episode of the Human-Robot Interaction Podcast we will try to understand what the changes of a research organization means for its employees. I interview Takayuki Kanda, Michita Imai and Dylan F. Glas about their work at ATR and their lives afterwards.

ISSN 2703-4054

Links:

Humans and/or Robots at ATR

We talk about the people at ATR and the robots they created.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS

The Advanced Telecommunication Research Institute International in Japan is a major contributor to Human-Robot Interaction. I interview Takayuki Kanda, Michita Imai and Dylan F. Glas about their work on robots at ATR. How was Robovie developed and what is the goal of the Erika android? In two episodes we will have a closer look at the people working at ATR and the robots they created. We will also discuss what it means to work for a research lab like ATR in Japan.

ISSN 2703-4054

Supporter:

Furhat is a social robot that communicates with us humans as we do with each other – by speaking, listening, showing emotions and maintaining eye contact. Build interactions and experiences unlike any other with the world’s most advanced social robotics platform. Follow the link in the description to find out more about the Furhat Robotics.

Links:

Ask your librarian

In this episode we discuss the evolving landscape of academic publishing.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS

Publishing scientific papers and books is a difficult task. The arrival of the internet has the potential to dramatically change the business models, but also the review and publishing process. I discussed the changing world of publishing with Anton Angelo, Data Librarian at the University of Canterbury. We discussed Open Access, Print-on-Demand and the changing roles of libraries. We even spotted some dangerous predators in the publishing jungle. And in case of any trouble, always ask you librarian!

ISSN 2703-4054

Conventional Journals for HRI:

Open Access Journals for HRI:

  • Paladyn – Journal of Behavioral Robotics

Problematic Open Access Journals for HRI:

Sex Robots

It is not a question if sex robots will become available but only when.

It is not a question if sex robots will become available but only when. Many companies are working on their development with moderate success. While empirical research on the topic is rare, the ethical implications of sex robots have been discussed passionately. Some want to ban them before they even enter the market while others defend the rights of people to own sex toys. For this episode I interviewed David Levy, Robert Sparrow and Eleanor Hancock.

Transcript

The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.

HRI-Podcast-Episode-009-Sex-Robots-Transcript

ISSN 2703-4054

Important links: