Using robot pets instead of companion animals for older people: A case of 'reinventing the wheel'?

Simon Coghlan; Jenny Waycott; Barbara Barbosa Neves; Frank Vetere

doi:10.1145/3292147.3292176

Using robot pets instead of companion animals for older people: A case of 'reinventing the wheel'?

Simon Coghlan, Jenny Waycott, Barbara Barbosa Neves, Frank Vetere

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Other › peer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Robot pets are being developed and deployed to provide companionship for older adults. While robot pets offer some therapeutic benefits, their intended use for 'companionship' often provokes ethical debate, including concern that interactions with robot pets are demeaning or lack value compared to other social interactions. Another concern is that robot pets provide no real advantages over companion animals. This conceptual paper draws on philosophy, human-animal bond research, and technology development in robotics, to consider whether robot pets provide new opportunities for companionship as opposed to just 'reinventing the wheel'. We argue that robot pets may sometimes be as beneficial as companion animals or offer something different and distinctive. The paper provides a foundation for further multidisciplinary research to advance understanding of the ethical issues and the opportunities and challenges that arise in our ongoing and changing relationships with new technologies such as robot pets.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 30th Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2018
Editors	Ann Morrison, George Buchanan, Jenny Waycott, Mark Billinghurst, Duncan Stevenson, J.H.-J. Choi, Mark Billinghurst, Ryan Kelly, Dana McKay, Artur Lugmayr
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Pages	172-183
Number of pages	12
ISBN (Electronic)	9781450361880
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3292147.3292176
Publication status	Published - 4 Dec 2018
Externally published	Yes
Event	Australian Computer Human Interaction Conference 2018 - Melbourne, Australia Duration: 4 Dec 2018 → 7 Dec 2018 Conference number: 30th http://www.ozchi.org/2018/ https://dl.acm.org/doi/proceedings/10.1145/3292147 (Proceedings)

Publication series

Name	ACM International Conference Proceeding Series

Conference

Conference	Australian Computer Human Interaction Conference 2018
Abbreviated title	OZCHI 2018
Country/Territory	Australia
City	Melbourne
Period	4/12/18 → 7/12/18
Internet address	http://www.ozchi.org/2018/ https://dl.acm.org/doi/proceedings/10.1145/3292147 (Proceedings)

Keywords

Ageing
Companionship
Ethics
Older adults
Pets
Robots

Access to Document

10.1145/3292147.3292176

Cite this

Coghlan, S., Waycott, J., Neves, B. B., & Vetere, F. (2018). Using robot pets instead of companion animals for older people: A case of 'reinventing the wheel'? In A. Morrison, G. Buchanan, J. Waycott, M. Billinghurst, D. Stevenson, JH-J. Choi, M. Billinghurst, R. Kelly, D. McKay, & A. Lugmayr (Eds.), Proceedings of the 30th Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2018 (pp. 172-183). (ACM International Conference Proceeding Series). Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). https://doi.org/10.1145/3292147.3292176

Coghlan, Simon ; Waycott, Jenny ; Neves, Barbara Barbosa et al. / Using robot pets instead of companion animals for older people : A case of 'reinventing the wheel'?. Proceedings of the 30th Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2018. editor / Ann Morrison ; George Buchanan ; Jenny Waycott ; Mark Billinghurst ; Duncan Stevenson ; J.H.-J. Choi ; Mark Billinghurst ; Ryan Kelly ; Dana McKay ; Artur Lugmayr. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2018. pp. 172-183 (ACM International Conference Proceeding Series).

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abstract = "Robot pets are being developed and deployed to provide companionship for older adults. While robot pets offer some therapeutic benefits, their intended use for 'companionship' often provokes ethical debate, including concern that interactions with robot pets are demeaning or lack value compared to other social interactions. Another concern is that robot pets provide no real advantages over companion animals. This conceptual paper draws on philosophy, human-animal bond research, and technology development in robotics, to consider whether robot pets provide new opportunities for companionship as opposed to just 'reinventing the wheel'. We argue that robot pets may sometimes be as beneficial as companion animals or offer something different and distinctive. The paper provides a foundation for further multidisciplinary research to advance understanding of the ethical issues and the opportunities and challenges that arise in our ongoing and changing relationships with new technologies such as robot pets.",

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Coghlan, S, Waycott, J, Neves, BB & Vetere, F 2018, Using robot pets instead of companion animals for older people: A case of 'reinventing the wheel'? in A Morrison, G Buchanan, J Waycott, M Billinghurst, D Stevenson, JH-J Choi, M Billinghurst, R Kelly, D McKay & A Lugmayr (eds), Proceedings of the 30th Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2018. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), pp. 172-183, Australian Computer Human Interaction Conference 2018, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4/12/18. https://doi.org/10.1145/3292147.3292176

Using robot pets instead of companion animals for older people : A case of 'reinventing the wheel'? / Coghlan, Simon; Waycott, Jenny; Neves, Barbara Barbosa et al.

Proceedings of the 30th Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2018. ed. / Ann Morrison; George Buchanan; Jenny Waycott; Mark Billinghurst; Duncan Stevenson; J.H.-J. Choi; Mark Billinghurst; Ryan Kelly; Dana McKay; Artur Lugmayr. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2018. p. 172-183 (ACM International Conference Proceeding Series).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Other › peer-review

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ER -

Coghlan S, Waycott J, Neves BB, Vetere F. Using robot pets instead of companion animals for older people: A case of 'reinventing the wheel'? In Morrison A, Buchanan G, Waycott J, Billinghurst M, Stevenson D, Choi JH-J, Billinghurst M, Kelly R, McKay D, Lugmayr A, editors, Proceedings of the 30th Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2018. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). 2018. p. 172-183. (ACM International Conference Proceeding Series). https://doi.org/10.1145/3292147.3292176

Using robot pets instead of companion animals for older people: A case of 'reinventing the wheel'?

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Keywords

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