Prof. Hatice Gunes (Professor of Affective Intelligence & Robotics, University of Cambridge) will present “Social Alignment in Robotics: Promoting Human Wellbeing Through Adaptive Robotic Coaches” at 11am (UTC) on 11 February 2025.
IEEE UK and Ireland RAS Chapter is cooperating with a number of IEEE OUs including IEEE UK and Ireland Women in Engineering Affinity Group and IEEE UK and Ireland SSIT Chapter to organise this Guest Lecture as a joint Webinar on 11 February as part of International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Registration
IEEE and non-IEEE Members are invited to (https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/467185) and participate.
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Access to online Meeting
(https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/467185) participants will be provided with the link prior to the event.
Guest Lecture Focus
Abstract: The field of social robotics increasingly acknowledges the potential of robots to align with human needs, serving as collaborative agents in promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being. At the Cambridge Affective Intelligence and Robotics Lab (AFAR), we have explored this potential since 2019, supported by a 5-year grant from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Our work focuses on designing robotic coaches that socially align with human behaviours and goals to enhance mental well-being. This effort has involved:
· Collaborations with human coaches & professionals to ground the robot’s actions in established practices.
· User-centred research to understand user expectations, perceptions, and feedback.
· Development of adaptive AI that responds in real-time to verbal and nonverbal user behaviours.
In this talk, I will share our journey of transitioning robotic coaches from lab environments to real-world applications, discussing how social alignment in robotics enhances engagement and efficacy. Through case studies, I will highlight challenges and opportunities in using socially adaptive robots for well-being, including strategies for short- and long-term adaptation and insights into user expectations shaping the future of research in this domain.
Speaker(s): Prof. Hatice Gunes,
Agenda:
11:00 (UTC) Welcome and Introduction to Guest Speaker
11:05 Lecture
12:00 Questions and Discussions
Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/467185
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