social robots

Are friends electric? The benefits and risks of human-robot relationships

Are friends electric? The benefits and risks of human-robot relationships

Social robots that can interact and communicate with people are growing in popularity for use at home and in customer-service, education, and healthcare settings. Although growing evidence suggests that co-operative and emotionally aligned social robots could benefit users across the lifespan, controversy continues about the ethical implications and their potential harms. In this condensed post, Professor Prescott and Professor Robillard highlight the benefits and risks of human-robot relationships.

The Thinking Behind Robotic Design

The Thinking Behind Robotic Design

Designing an emotionally engaging robot is a discerning balance between how its personality will be emotionally perceived and its functionality. For Consequential Robotics, it is this interaction between the human and the machine that is our primary focus.

Creating Robots that are Emotionally Engaging

Creating Robots that are Emotionally Engaging

We’re often asked about MiRo’s emotionally engaging design, when MiRo users are stroking its head and gazing adoringly at MiRo as it looks up at them with its big puppy dog eyes. Creating a robotic device that is emotionally engaging was a key component to MiRo’s design

The Science of Creativity

The Science of Creativity

STEM is a creative subject. I strongly believe that is true and that there is an important place for pupils with a creative mindset in STEM learning. There is clear evidence that leading scientists like successful artists, need to be imaginative…..

12 Key Research Challenges for the Future Use of Robots in Social Care

12 Key Research Challenges for the Future Use of Robots in Social Care

As technology companies and product designers begin to focus on developing robots for social care, they will also start to consider the research challenges. Professor Tony Prescott highlights twelve key research challenges.

The Isolation Pandemic.

The Isolation Pandemic.

Humans are social creatures. One of the consequences of the current Covid19 situation is that many of us have now experienced social isolation as the by-product of social distancing or shielding. We know first-hand how it feels and the inevitable impact it has on one’s mental well-being.