Robotic Spirit Animals
Robotics is a quickly growing field. While some see potential in creating robots to replace much of the workforce, I also see potential in their therapeutic possibilities. Robotic speech generators like Siri can be helpful for children with autism, and further research is being done with application assisted learning and therapy for autistic spectrum disorders. Similarly, PARO is an interactive robotic seal that needs to be cared for and is used for lonely (usually elderly) individuals in situations where real animals aren’t allowed. There are many other current projects researching the therapeutic possibilities of robotics and AI. But what if robots could specialize not only in helping the autistic, elderly and those with social anxiety, but they could help “normal” people who need a bit of encouragement when they’re feeling down or are hit with something difficult in life. How many downward spirals could have been prevented if a caring person would have been there at a critical time? There are times when everyone feels alone and unwanted, leading people to not see the truth of their intrinsic strength and worth. Giving a mechanism to fight those thoughts could be of great benefit to society and human potential. Instead of going to a therapist, there could be a companion who is always with you, who understands to some extent the daily trials of your life. Although I thought that this may have been a far out idea, this concept is actually already gaining popularity in Japan as there is a large population of single men that live relatively lonely lives. It would be a concern that having these close robotic relationships could diminish real human relationships, however, perhaps these robots could act as platforms of connection, using data to connect similar people to one another. In this way, these social robotic companions would become a sort of smart phone, helping you navigate in the real world and within social media and the web. The idea of a friendly therapeutic robot doesn’t sound too strange but I want to take this concept a little further.
The future is shaped by many things, things that are beyond our control. It is impossible to know whether our future will be shiny intelligent internet utopia or humans fighting extinction. If the age of technology does continue to prosper, we must hope that we as the people of earth have some agency over the next steps for robotics, as it may change the structure of society as we know it. Robotics and mechanization is due to take many jobs in the future, leading to questions about how the economy will continue to function. These questions must be addressed before steps in robotics continue to move forward, as humanity must learn to think about consequences of its actions before it acts. I assert that robotic technology should be used for the greater good, to fill a hole in society leading to the epidemic of mental illness, depression, drug abuse and mistreatment of the elderly. If we want to build a better tomorrow, we should not only be thinking about what is possible or exciting but also what this world needs, what aspects of this world need to be made better. This is one place in the world that I think needs to be made a little better.
When I was a kid, I really liked reading fantasy books. I found myself at times wishing that I lived in a fantasy world and had magical powers like some of the characters in the novels that I was reading. There was none that incited this feeling more than the Golden Compass--a novel that takes place in a parallel universe in which human souls take on the form of animals [daemons]. When I was thinking for an idea for a project, translating this fantasy into a reality was the first thing that came to my mind. I have always felt a deep, intrinsic connection with animals that I have trouble feeling with humans without a large degree of effort. I think having an animalistic companion that is personal to you and genuinely wishes you the best in life could help people in this society greatly.
Project Requires:
1. Recognition of Individual
Although Facial recognition software has been widely available for some time, the recognition of specific faces has presented an interesting project for scientists. Unsurprisingly, researchers at Facebook are leading this area of research with the recent unveiling of project “Deep Face” which has developed an algorithm which allows a computer to access if two pictures are the same person with 97% accuracy [ as accurate as the human brain]:
source:
https://research.fb.com/publications/de ... ification/
2. Recognition of Emotions
Once an individual face is recognized, it is essential that the emotions of the specific person's face could be recognized and proper behaviors could be employed. If enough time was spent with an individual, perhaps their mannerisms could be learned and
Company:
https://www.kairos.com/
b) Clmtracker
Source= https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/ ... eads-your-
emotions-on-your-face/282993/
3. Machine Learning to ‘get to know a specific person’ & Developing social relationship
It would be necessary that the robot has an interesting enough personality that the person would not grow annoyed with it. It would have to be able to learn social cues, jokes, and mannerisms that were specific to an individual person.
a)
Jibo, Source: https://www.jibo.com/
Able to recognize faces and speech patterns. Able to learn jokes and individual mannerisms and continue to add to social interaction. Meant for a family environment but also lonely single people. Meant to be a social appliance for the home. [Almost a Wall-e-like robot] Face = large screen that is capable of displaying different images etc.
I like the idea of some sort of display screen (as exhibited in Jibo) or holographic medium because this allows for more personalized robotic features as well as more dynamic expressions.
4. Speech Recognition/Comprehension and learning
I think speech comprehension and production would be important because they would make the person feel as though they are interacting with an intelligent being. If they are able to talk to this robot and it understands them and gives a helpful or unexpected response, or if it remembers something about what they said, they may feel that they are building a relationship of some kind. They would not feel quite as ashamed in making friends with a robot if it is at least a cool robot who is better at conversation than other humans.
For autistic and socially anxious people, having the opportunity to interact in person with a somewhat socially functional being would perhaps make them better at interacting with other real humans in real life, benefitting thieir social interactions.
5. Further Object Recognition for intelligence and interaction:
Source https://research.fb.com/publications/a- ... detection/
6. Robotic Following:
Source =
https://www.wired.com/2014/10/robotic-followers/
Very informative article about all of the different types of Robotic Following. This would be important because familiars are supposed to stay by your side.
6. Durability/Adaptability and Animal-Like Behavior.
source https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v ... 14422.html
7. Therapeutic Applications
a)PARO
Pet therapy robot for the elderly/people in hospitals where animal therapy would be helpful but animals are not allowed.
I like PARO because it is cute and endearing. My idea is similar to PARO but a bit more intelligent and less passive and has the ability to help the individual (could be different sized) rather than just be helped. Although I do think the idea of reciprocal affection/assistance could strengthen the bond between human and robot and should be explored.
APPLICATION OF IDEAS:
Phase I:
Art Exhibition: Space in which robots move and target a person. / Quantify ‘type’ of individual (expressions, colors in clothing etc) and change holographic appearance/behavior to best connect with this person
Phase II:
Personal Robotic Familiars for Therapy/ just for funsies.
***Growing popularity in Japan***---> probably first release this in Japan/have the art exhibit in Japan because this is such a popular topic there.