Workshop on Haptics, AI, and Responsible Research and Innovation
Scope
This workshop is a result of ongoing cross-disciplinarity efforts were undertaken in the Touchless H2020 FET-Proactive project. The Touchless project is developing next generation contactless haptic technologies infused with neurocognitive models and artificial intelligence (AI). The aim of such a project is to enable computer systems to create and enhance tactile intelligently experiences. In developing such powerful tools capable of altering one affective, social, and cognitive behaviours, one should be conscious of unforeseen risks and technology missuses. The Touchless project is, therefore also developing the first ethics framework for theorizing ethical considerations around remote, contactless interactions with the human body and the self, and using this framework to pioneer responsible
research and innovation (RRI) practices beyond haptics. To that end, this workshop will cover some of the latest advancements in haptics, it will describe the means by which AI can automate and instil affective tactile responses to immersive experiences, and finally discuss RRI in an interactive and pedagogic setting that is not restricted to haptics so that participants can translate their thoughts and acquired knowledge back into their own research practice.
Topics
This workshop has three main objectives. First, it aims to connect and create synergies between interdisciplinary groups working on haptics and related HCI applications, including interactive media and smart systems. Secondly, it paves the way for introducing hybrid-AI tools into the design and development of haptic interactive systems. Finally, it asks critical questions about the ethics and governance of emerging technologies in line with best practices in responsible research and innovation (RRI).
The list of addressed themes is the following:
- Haptics and hand tracking
- Ultrasound tactile mid-air haptics
- Wearable computing and ethics of embodiment
- Developing an ethical framework and research agenda for embodiment technologies
- Tools and methodologies for Hybrid AI for an immersive multimodal experience
- Critical thinking about ethical issues in emerging technologies
- Confronting uncomfortable questions as a case study of responsible research and innovation
Keynotes
The following keynotes are confirmed
- Keynote 1: William Frier (Ultraleap)
- Keynote 2: Patrick Haggard (UCL)
- Keynote 3: Mykola Maksymenko (SoftServe)
- Keynote 4: Stephen Hughes (UCL)
Cooperation
The workshop is organized in cooperation with the Touchless project. More information can be found here.