Summary and discussion of the issues
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Malcom Peltu
Abstract
The COMPANIONS project, which inspired this book, is studying conversational software-based artificial agents that will get to know their owners over a substantial period. These could be developed to advise, comfort and carry out a wide range of functions to support diverse personal and social needs, such as to be ‘artificial Companions’ for the elderly, helping their owners to learn, or assisting to sustain their owners’ fitness and health. This chapter summarizes the main issues raised in the workshop that gave rise to this book. Most direct quotes from participants in this chapter come from their own chapters. Appendix 1 contains examples of current artificial Companions and related research projects mentioned at the workshop.
Abstract
The COMPANIONS project, which inspired this book, is studying conversational software-based artificial agents that will get to know their owners over a substantial period. These could be developed to advise, comfort and carry out a wide range of functions to support diverse personal and social needs, such as to be ‘artificial Companions’ for the elderly, helping their owners to learn, or assisting to sustain their owners’ fitness and health. This chapter summarizes the main issues raised in the workshop that gave rise to this book. Most direct quotes from participants in this chapter come from their own chapters. Appendix 1 contains examples of current artificial Companions and related research projects mentioned at the workshop.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Foreword xi
- Acknowledgements xii
- Contributors xiii
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Section I. Setting the scene
- In good company? 3
- Introducing artificial Companions 11
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Section II. Ethical and philosophical issues
- Artificial Companions and their philosophical challenges 23
- Conditions for Companionhood 29
- Arius in cyberspace 35
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Section III. Social and psychological issues
- Conversationalists and confidants 59
- Robots should be slaves 63
- Wanting the impossible 75
- Falling in love with a Companion 89
- Identifying your accompanist 95
- Look, emotion, language and behavior in a believable virtual Companion 101
- New Companions 107
- On being a Victorian Companion 121
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Section IV. Design issues
- The use of affective and attentive cues in an empathic computer-based Companions 131
- GRETA 143
- A world-hybrid approach to a conversational Companion for reminiscing about images 157
- Companionship is an emotional business 169
- Artificial Companions in society 173
- Requirements for Artificial Companions 179
- You really need to know what your bot(s) are thinking about you 201
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Section V. Special purpose Companions
- A Companion for learning in everyday life 211
- The Maryland virtual patient as a task-oriented conversational Companion 221
- Living with robots 245
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Section VI. Afterword
- Summary and discussion of the issues 259
- References 287
- Index 309
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Foreword xi
- Acknowledgements xii
- Contributors xiii
-
Section I. Setting the scene
- In good company? 3
- Introducing artificial Companions 11
-
Section II. Ethical and philosophical issues
- Artificial Companions and their philosophical challenges 23
- Conditions for Companionhood 29
- Arius in cyberspace 35
-
Section III. Social and psychological issues
- Conversationalists and confidants 59
- Robots should be slaves 63
- Wanting the impossible 75
- Falling in love with a Companion 89
- Identifying your accompanist 95
- Look, emotion, language and behavior in a believable virtual Companion 101
- New Companions 107
- On being a Victorian Companion 121
-
Section IV. Design issues
- The use of affective and attentive cues in an empathic computer-based Companions 131
- GRETA 143
- A world-hybrid approach to a conversational Companion for reminiscing about images 157
- Companionship is an emotional business 169
- Artificial Companions in society 173
- Requirements for Artificial Companions 179
- You really need to know what your bot(s) are thinking about you 201
-
Section V. Special purpose Companions
- A Companion for learning in everyday life 211
- The Maryland virtual patient as a task-oriented conversational Companion 221
- Living with robots 245
-
Section VI. Afterword
- Summary and discussion of the issues 259
- References 287
- Index 309
