The collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is a key measurement tool for patient-centred care. At the same time, collecting these measures poses obstacles for many patients, leading to these groups being underrepresented in the data. We have therefore developed a multimodal, AI-driven assistance system to support patients in collecting these data. The interface of the system comprised a digital tablet containing the PROM questionnaire items and the assistant in three forms of embodiment: A virtual avatar, a physical avatar, and a voice-only agent. To evaluate the users' experience and ratings of the system, two separate studies were implemented in two rehabilitation centers with 195 patients. A mixed within-between RCT was conducted at an outpatient clinic, where patients completed PROMs both with and without an assistant, and a between-subject design at an inpatient clinic comparing routine PC-based care with avatar- and robot-assisted PROM administration. Our results suggest a preference for the non-assisted tablet-only condition in Clinic A, whereas, in Clinic B, both agent conditions were preferred over routine care. We have further analyzed aspects such as trust and social presence in this study to gain a more thorough understanding of the users' experience. Our analysis shows a higher trust rating for the voice-only assistant, whereas the robot, virtual avatar, and the voice-only conditions were perceived as more socially present. The impact of demographic factors and affinity for technology on the user ratings was also thoroughly studied. Our findings shed light on the role of agent embodiment in PROM assistance and contribute to the future design and evaluation of effective, engaging, and trustworthy systems for data collection in healthcare settings.

reconfigured, and reinvented to be used as a framework to deal with reality as a social reality that is to reign upon.Manufacturing life, thus, goes by a broader understanding of life that includes not only the living, from the unicellular (a genetic modification for example) to the multicellular (plant, animal, human being), but also the social life with all the seemingly non-living things (robots, organizations, etc.), surrounded, (re) configured, and infiltrated by the social.The articles in this special section place emphasis on the materiality of the socio-bio-technical impact on the concept of life.

Sofern es stimmt, dass der Körper für die Genealogie des Subjektes als modernen sozialen Akteur zentral war und die Naturreferenz diesen in seine höhergestellte hierarchische Ordnung bestätigt und verfestigt, dann führt die Manipulierbarkeit des Körpers zur Implosion der Natur-Kultur Differenz und der auf dieser beruhenden Ordnungen. Ein Außen der Natur-Kultur Differenz, das die Behaglichkeit der durch sie geschaffenen Grenzen des Denk- und Verhandelbaren gefährdet, ist allerdings inzwischen (bedrohlich) sichtbar geworden, da die Konfrontation mit den empirischen Möglichkeiten bezüglich einer grundsätzlichen Entscheidbarkeit wer oder was der Mensch als sozialer Akteur sein soll oder will unausweichlich geworden ist.

Trotz der Erwartung, dass sie viele gesellschaftliche Probleme lösen wird, gibt es Vorbehalte gegenüber sozialer Robotik. Diese Diskrepanz wirft die Frage auf, welche Art sozialer Robotik gesellschaftlich überhaupt gewünscht ist und welche Faktoren zu dieser Bewertung beitragen. Methodisch nähert sich unsere Untersuchung diesen Fragen mit Gruppendiskussionen, die wir durch explorative Szenarien strukturieren. In diesem Beitrag stellen wir vier Szenarien vor: Roboter zur Pflege von Älteren, zur Kinderbetreuung, zur psychologischen Beratung und Sexroboter. Ergebnis der Untersuchung ist, dass die Akzeptanz sozialer Roboter insgesamt vergleichsweise groß ist. Wenn jedoch robotische Kompetenzen den Kern der Selbstbeschreibung des Menschen in Frage stellen oder die Unterscheidbarkeit von Mensch und Roboter zu verschwinden droht, werden diese abgelehnt. Somit erscheint es empfehlenswert, bei der Entwicklung von Robotern eine Imitation des Menschen zu vermeiden.

Bekanntermaßen muss in den Erzählungen der griechischen Mythologie der Titan Atlas (übrigens: Prometheus' Bruder) zur Strafe das Himmelsgewölbe (also die Erdkugel) auf seinen Schultern tragen, da er sich auf die Seite von Kronos und damit gegen die 'neuen Götter' des Olymps gestellt hat. In meinem Beitrag möchte ich eine besondere (neue) Form der Individualisierung der Spätmoderne thematisieren und die damit verbundenen negativen Folgen für gesellschaftliche Erneuerung. Ich möchte also auch – vor dem Hintergrund einer Unterscheidung der Dynamiken von Innovation versus Revolution – die Orientierung an Nachhaltigkeit als ein regimestabilisierendes Phänomen thematisieren, das den Spielraum für genuine gesellschaftliche Transformationen erheblich einschränkt. Ausgehend von alternativen Modellen der Wissensproduktion und Weltdeutung (Rhizom, Cyborg, Cthulhu) werde ich eine gesellschaftliche Gegenwartsdiagnose der "totalen Immanenz" formulieren, die hinsichtlich klaustrophobischer Ohnmachtseffekte kaum zu übertreffen ist. Nicht nur erscheint uns die Welt "ohne Ausgang" (Adornos und Horkheimers geradezu prophetisches Einläuten der zweiten Moderne), sie muss nun auch von jedem Einzelnen – und zwar um jeden Preis – gerettet werden.

BMBF, 16SV7109, Intuitive sozio-technische Interaktion - Kommunikation, Handlung und Wahrnehmung von Menschen und Roboter-Assistenzsystemen im Kontext des demographischen Wandels

Abstract We conducted a Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) study during a science event, using a mixed method experimental approach with quantitative and qualitative data (adapted version of Godspeed Questionnaire and audio-visual material analysed videographically). The main purpose of the research was to gather insight into the relevance of the so-called “point of interaction” for a successful and user-friendly interaction with a non-anthropomorphic robot. We elaborate on this concept with reference to sociological theories under the heading of “addressability” and “social address” and generate hypotheses informed by former research and theoretical reflections. We implement an interface on our robot system, comprising two LEDs, which indicate the status of the robot/interaction, and which might possibly serve as basal form of embodied social address. In one experimental condition, the movements were accompanied by a light choreography, the other one was conducted without the LEDs. Our findings suggest a potential relevance of social address for the interaction partner to receive additional information, especially if the situation is a contingent one. Nevertheless, the overall rating on the Godspeed scales showed no significant differences between the light conditions. Several possible reasons for this are discussed. Limitations and advantages are pointed out in the conclusion.

Im interdisziplinären Forschungsprojekt MTI-engAge wird an vier verschiedenartigen Robotern untersucht, wie Aussehen, soziale Kommunikationsfunktionalität, Größe, Bewegung und Verhalten das Gelingen einer Interaktion zwischen Mensch und Roboter-Assistenzsystemen beeinflussen, indem gemeinsam mit Nutzern praxisorientierte Demonstratoren evaluiert werden. Die Einbeziehung der Nutzer in Entwicklungsprozesse von Systemen und die gründliche Auseinandersetzung mit ihren mentalen Modellen werden als Schlüssel für die Akzeptanz und damit für den Erfolg zukünftiger Roboter angesehen.

The paper is focusing on human–robot cooperation in work environments from the perspective of genuine sociological insights regarding human–robot interaction. Due to the typical range of application of robots, aspects of work safety were so far mainly emphasized as an issue of avoiding somatic harm. However, when it comes to social robots and to the design of settings of straight human-robot cooperation cognitive aspects should be taken into consideration. A crucial aspect for human-robot interaction (HRI) in work environments is avoiding strong routinization and a strong reduction in the human's attention. Especially if the robot is assuming a large workload the stated problem could arise and pose danger to safety. Systematically induced crisis in terms of confronting the humans with credible contingency in the form of small amounts of unexpected behavior could be a very effective solution. The humans cooperating with robots are not involved in a behavioral crisis in an everyday sense; the term "crisis" is used in a ethnomethodological meaning to describe a robot behavior that slightly surprises the human user. To achieve this goal and the intended benefit, the robot simply must act in such a way that is somewhat different from the human's expectations. When expectations do not meet with such surprise after a fair amount of interaction experience, humans automatically tend toward routinization.

The evaluation of human-robot interaction (HRI) is still a major methodological challenge. Despite the interdisciplinary nature of the field, sociologically inspired contributions are still rare. This paper aims to introduce a theory-driven method according to a sociological interaction concept to evaluate HRI and identify aspects of successful and satisfying interaction experiences. It combines Harold Garfinkel’s breaching experiments with a frame analysis inspired by Erving Goffman. Sociologically, the method relies on a definition of social interaction based on the symbolic interactionism paradigm.

Human-robot cooperation in work environments is an upcoming, but still crucial topic in the study of human-robot interaction (HRI). Aspects of work safety are substantial. In many areas where industrial robots are used in the production process, they are separated by security spaces from the workers. Nonetheless, there is an upcoming need for robots taking part in collaborative actions with human workers. For this purpose, the interaction with the robot has to be safe, as well as intuitive and unproblematic. The construction of interactive working robots can learn from different disciplines in order to achieve this goal of successful and convenient human-robot interaction. This article presents insights from biology, biomimetic robotics and sociology regarding perceptual, constructional and interactional issues. Biological aspects help understanding how humans work and allow the transfer of these insights to the construction of robots and human-robot interaction. Abstracting biological principles and transferring them to the construction of robots is the part of biomimetic robotics. A biomimetic approach unfolds a huge potential for the safety issue in HRI. Sociological insights may help evaluating human-robot interactions behind the foil of human-human interactions and contribute important social factors.

The reduction of cognitive tasks brought about by new developments in service-robots’ collaboration with humans in working environments has given rise to new challenges as to how to address safety issues. This paper presents insights from biology, cognitive/neural sciences and sociology that can conquer these new challenges. The main focus lies in sociological variables that ensure safe human–robot interaction in working environments rather than addressing biological ones (avoiding bodily harm) or purely cognitive ones (avoiding any signals that are outside the human’s sensory comfort zones). We will present an approach on how to integrate behavioral patterns into the robotic system in order to prevent the problem of reduced cognition in relation to essential features, which are necessary for carrying out this pattern in the context of a human–robot interaction with non-humanoid robots (which is the most typical design of robots used in work environments).

This paper describes the strengths and weaknesses of the Scenario-based Design as a method to achieve a user-centered development of technology for the elderly. Our assumptions are based on findings from a three-year research project dedicated to the application of service robotics in a stationary nursing home. In summary, the increasingly specific nature of the phases during the design process afford a needs-based technical development, thus providing a good basis for participatory technical development. Nonetheless, some weak points were identified during the case study. They are related to the graphic nature of the scenarios as well as following the users' notions in each and every case. In consideration of the difficulties that arose during the use of Scenario-based Design, we conclude with some suggestion for future applications of this method.

Vor dem Hintergrund einer kritischen Rekonstruktion soziologischer Theoriebildung entwickelt Diego Compagna ein Akteurmodell für Cyborgs, das insbesondere auf die Differenz von Subjekt und Akteur abhebt.Die wissenssoziologisch inspirierte Rekonstruktion und das daraus abgeleitete Akteurmodell legen zugleich offen, dass die Soziologie immer auch Ungleichheit (re)produziert – indem es einer Reifizierung des sozialen Akteurs als »menschliches« bzw. »phänomenologisch bestimmbares« Subjekt Vorschub leistet, das nie als neutrale Entität vorkommen kann.

Evaluating and shaping the quality of interaction between humans and service or "social" robots from a genuine sociological point of view is still a pivotal methodological challenge at stake in the development of successful Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). In this regard an interdisciplinary research group, dedicated to the study of HRI in general, is developing a theory-driven method based on sociological interaction models with the goal of identifying the most important aspects in achieving satisfactory interaction experience. The method is suitable for experimental settings, e.g. in the context of laboratory research and development environments as often encountered in Fabrication Laboratories (FabLab). The method uses Harold Garfinkel's concept of breaching experiments as a core instrument in combination with Erving Goffman's Frame Analysis. The baseline of the method is a genuine sociological definition of Social Action on the basis of theories belonging to the paradigm of Symbolic Interactionism.

The paper examines how participatory technology development (pTD) in the field of ambient assisted living (AAL) is marked by several weaknesses. We will discuss these from a theoretical point of view as well as based on empirical findings of a three-year project dedicated to the achievement of pTD within a representative AAL domain, adopting the scenario-based design (SBD) method. The case study – dealing with the introduction of care robots in a care facility for the elderly – will be examined by an ethnographical qualitative analysis as well as by three theoretical approaches often used in the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS). We combine these three approaches with an ethnographical analysis to achieve a deeper understanding of several difficulties with pTD that are typical in the realization within the AAL field, especially when a mediating method, such as SBD, is adopted. In this respect the theoretical contribution consists of outlining the importance of a strictly bottom-up view on pTD. Finally, we conclude with two general recommendations on how the inclusion of care workers and older people as target groups of pTD within the AAL field can be accomplished more successfully.