Listen to a fascinating podcast of Noel Sharkey talking about
ethical issues in the Robotics field at 
Noel Sharkey, professor of robotics and AI at the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, tells of the rise of robots. He expresses concern about the serious impact that the use of various robotic technology may have on the way we behave toward each other and conduct ourselves in the world. He feels that much of these ethical dilemmas are imminent as, for example, it is now 90% cheaper to make say, a robot, than it was in 1990.
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| Reaper photograph from silicon.com |
For Sharkey there are four particular areas of concern regarding the use of robots: policing, the military, childcare and elder care. As an example he points to the use of distantly operated missile carrying planes, such as the Reaper. He emphasizes how wonderful it is that so many robots have been designed and are operational in defusing bombs, currently in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq, but cautions about the growing proliferation of non-human-manned weaponry. Apparently, totally automated robotic weaponry is an imminent reality. I am particularly concerned by
Sharkey's observation that the idea of "swarming" is being touted as a way of efficiently and effectively actualizing robotic police and/or military units on duty. Whilst this may reduce injury and death to real police and soldiers, one has to wonder how much easier it will be, and is in some cases already, to decide to act aggressively toward others. The human tendency to hesitate, question, and brainstorm alternatives will be removed somewhat.
According to Sharkey,
"The deployment of the first armed battlefield robots in Iraq is the latest step on a dangerous path - we are sleepwalking into a brave new world where robots decide who, where and when to kill" and he concludes this article with "It is imperative that we create international legislation and a code of ethics for autonomous robots at war before it is too late." (Sharkey in The Guardian, 2007)
Sharkey considers the increasingly attractive notion of using robot child-care and robot care for the elderly--what he calls "service robots"--an area that also requires immediate legislation. As he illustrates,
"These types of robots can be controlled by a mobile phone or from a PC, allowing input from camera "eyes" and remote talking from caregivers. Sophisticated elder-care robots like the Secom "My Spoon" automatic feeding robot; the Sanyo electric bathtub robot that automatically washes and rinses; and the Mitsubishi Wakamura robot, used for reminding people to take their medicine, are already in widespread use." (Sharkey for University of Sheffield, 2008: British Scientist Warns We Must Protect The Vulnerable From Robots. ScienceDaily).
However, there is no international guidelines or legislation in place. Sharkey urges scientists and engineers to be thoughtful in their work and to consider ethical problems that can arise.
Sharkey reminds us that children and the elderly could be left without human contact for long periods and social isolation does have psychological effects.
At the same time, the possibility of allowing our elderly to maintain some independence and remain in their own home for longer are aspects from the positive side of these issues. The following video demonstrates some of these positives: From an ongoing joint project of several US universities you will meet a Nursebot in the making(2008).
For Norman (2007), the positives would be a victory for the science of design, as in "The deliberate shaping of the environment in ways that satisfy individual and societal needs" (p. 171). As Norman explains,
"We need a new approach, one that combines the precision and rigor of business and engineering, the understanding of social interactions, and the aesthetics of the arts" and that we need to realize that "smart machines are all about interaction, symbiosis, and cooperation, both with people and with other smart machines." (P. 173)
So, I ask you: "Weird and Wired"--are these two words related by more than their anagram-ness or, is it pure coincidence?
As I say, I think not!
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