As the appearance of humanoid robots becomes more convincingly human and the field of
artificial intelligence continues to advance, gendered artificial beings are poised
to become a central element in the shaping of human-robot interactions, new social
relationships and cultural practices. Such developments will also pose challenges to
the ethical conduct and moral standards of scientists, practitioners and consumers.
This symposium and accompanying exhibition of artworks and demos will bring together
experts, researchers and students from a diverse range of disciplines to discuss
emerging issues in the field of robotics as they relate to gender, technology, design
and culture. The aim is to provide a forum in which the production, functions and
meanings of gendered robots can be reflected upon together in a multi-disciplinary
setting. We invite proposals from experts and students who can speak to topics such
as the following, regardless of disciplinary orientation:
- What is the importance of gender in humanoid design?
- If robots are gender specific, why is that so and how is gender represented?
- How have humans - and specifically gender - been portrayed in robots and what has been the relationship between creator and artificial creature? How has this relationship changed over time?
- As more women enter the field of robotics, will they change the way gender is designed and represented in robotic technologies?
- What ethical issues are raised by human-robot relationships, such as those involving identity, emotional attachment, sex, and perceivable limits on the integration of technology with human organisms?
- Can we develop an alternative framework for humanoid robotic design that is guided by cultural analysis rather than exclusively by technological challenges and the quest for complete replication of the human mind and body?
Symposium Organization
The symposium will be launched with a keynote presentation by Brenda Laurel, pioneering
researcher and designer in the field of human computer interaction. Following this presentation
will be two panel discussions and a film screening. One interdisciplinary panel will be
comprised of faculty and senior researcher experts in: robotics, art, design, cultural studies,
feminist theory, engineering, social science, etc. A second panel will provide an opportunity
for graduate students to present on and discuss the topics outlined above. A break for lunch
between the panel sessions will provide a forum for all participants to continue their
discussions in a more informal setting. Following the last panel, film and media scholar Allison
de Fren will speak about her film, The Mechanical Bride, which will be screened following her
talk.
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Symposium Outline
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