Cyberselves in Immersive Technologies
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Psychology
Abstract
From mystical experiences brought about through trance or psychedelic drug use, to film fantasies such as The Matrix, Avatar and Surrogates people have long been fascinated with the idea of projecting the self outside of the body, or into a different body, or even into a radically different world. In history and in literature, such an experience is often described as a life-transforming event-through transcending corporal limits, or leaving your own body entirely, perhaps to temporarily inhabit another, you might come to see and understand yourself in new and more enlightened ways.
With the development of next generation virtual reality and telepresence technologies, the possibility of experiencing the world from a point-of-view other than that from behind our own eyes is becoming a possibility for all of us. Fully immersive technologies, through which you have the compelling feeling of being in another place or body, are on the near horizon, and scientists and technologists are everyday discovering new ways to directly manipulate your experience of where, what, or even who, you are. As more-and-more people devote time and energy to life in virtual or 'cyber' realities-with different degrees of immersion-our cyberselves, the people who we become in these virtual worlds, could become as important to us as our 'real' selves. Since the technologies are advancing so rapidly, there has been little time to consider the transformative effects that widespread access to deep and prolonged immersion could have on people, their relationships, and our societies (both real and virtual); for example, the idea that the virtual world is less 'authentic' than the physical one is being challenged by people for whom their cyber-relationships are more important than those happening in 'real' life.
The "Cyberselves in Immersive Technologies" project considers it imperative that we examine the transforming impact of immersive technologies on our societies and cultures. To do so effectively, a multi-disciplinary approach is required that embraces methods from both the humanities and sciences. Our project includes philosophers and cultural theorists, working alongside psychologists, technologists, and cognitive scientists. We seek to explore and understand the notion of immersion both in its historical and cultural contexts, and in the 'here and now'-examining how immersive technology operates and how it effects our brains on bodies. We plan to draw from these analyses conclusions about the cultural perception and likely social impact of this technology near- and long-term.
Our project will involve experimental studies using a virtual reality environment, and the comparison of immersion in this virtual world with that of experiencing the real world through telepresence (remote presence) interfaces to an advanced humanoid robot. We will use state-of-the-art motion capture, virtual reality and robotics equipment already operating at the Sheffield Centre for Robotics and the University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona to explore objective and subjective aspects of the immersive experience and to understand how our conceptions of our bodies may be transformed by such experience. By collaborating across disciplines and by combining this approach with cultural and ethical analyses we expect to (i) generate an improved understanding of the cultural, historical and ideological constructions around the notion of virtual reality and the projected self; (ii) transform the way that cognitive scientists investigate immersive and virtual reality technologies as a way of discovering more about the nature of the self; (iii) identify critical cultural anxieties and future societal challenges raised by immersive technologies; and (iv) promote a scientifically- and culturally- informed debate about the potential benefits and risks of living more of our lives as cyberselves.
With the development of next generation virtual reality and telepresence technologies, the possibility of experiencing the world from a point-of-view other than that from behind our own eyes is becoming a possibility for all of us. Fully immersive technologies, through which you have the compelling feeling of being in another place or body, are on the near horizon, and scientists and technologists are everyday discovering new ways to directly manipulate your experience of where, what, or even who, you are. As more-and-more people devote time and energy to life in virtual or 'cyber' realities-with different degrees of immersion-our cyberselves, the people who we become in these virtual worlds, could become as important to us as our 'real' selves. Since the technologies are advancing so rapidly, there has been little time to consider the transformative effects that widespread access to deep and prolonged immersion could have on people, their relationships, and our societies (both real and virtual); for example, the idea that the virtual world is less 'authentic' than the physical one is being challenged by people for whom their cyber-relationships are more important than those happening in 'real' life.
The "Cyberselves in Immersive Technologies" project considers it imperative that we examine the transforming impact of immersive technologies on our societies and cultures. To do so effectively, a multi-disciplinary approach is required that embraces methods from both the humanities and sciences. Our project includes philosophers and cultural theorists, working alongside psychologists, technologists, and cognitive scientists. We seek to explore and understand the notion of immersion both in its historical and cultural contexts, and in the 'here and now'-examining how immersive technology operates and how it effects our brains on bodies. We plan to draw from these analyses conclusions about the cultural perception and likely social impact of this technology near- and long-term.
Our project will involve experimental studies using a virtual reality environment, and the comparison of immersion in this virtual world with that of experiencing the real world through telepresence (remote presence) interfaces to an advanced humanoid robot. We will use state-of-the-art motion capture, virtual reality and robotics equipment already operating at the Sheffield Centre for Robotics and the University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona to explore objective and subjective aspects of the immersive experience and to understand how our conceptions of our bodies may be transformed by such experience. By collaborating across disciplines and by combining this approach with cultural and ethical analyses we expect to (i) generate an improved understanding of the cultural, historical and ideological constructions around the notion of virtual reality and the projected self; (ii) transform the way that cognitive scientists investigate immersive and virtual reality technologies as a way of discovering more about the nature of the self; (iii) identify critical cultural anxieties and future societal challenges raised by immersive technologies; and (iv) promote a scientifically- and culturally- informed debate about the potential benefits and risks of living more of our lives as cyberselves.
Planned Impact
The technology for immersive virtual reality is improving very rapidly, largely due to its importance to the entertainment and games industries. In addition to leisure, however, there are also important applications of immersive technologies (ImT) in the civil and commercial domains: for example, teleoperation of remote equipment in hazardous environments (such as the nuclear industry, oil & gas, space); telepresence for delivering healthcare or conducting business; and augmented reality, for applications in areas such as design (e.g. planning and architecture), tourism, and retail (particularly online). Perhaps most controversially, these technologies have also found military applications, such as the remote piloting of aircraft ("drones"). Concerns also arise that people, especially children, through exposure to immersive technologies could be put at risk of cognitive, physical or emotional damage, or could become exposed to dangerous or malicious content, that due to the compelling nature of immersion could have much more harmful effects than content displayed through more conventional interfaces (e.g. TV). Thus, while important economically, the broadening use of immersive technology is a major concern both for policy-makers and the wider public. Given this context, this research has many potential beneficiaries:
* Government, and advisory bodies such as the Technology Strategy Board, will benefit from a better understanding of public perceptions and anxieties, and how these technologies are shaped by both cultural aspiration and fear. This will inform policies concerning the use of ImT in business and to address key challenges such as healthcare provision.
* Charities, and government bodies concerned with cyber-risk and cyber-security, will potentially benefit, as worries about the growing use of ImT are explored.
* Manufacturers and end-users of cybertechnologies will benefit from investigation of the societal impacts of ImT in both established markets, such as gaming, and in emerging ones, such as telecare.
* People with disabilities, illness, or recovering from injury, will benefit through exploration of the potential benefits of ImT for telehealth, for gaining better control over the environment through teleoperation, and of the use of mixed-reality ImT in rehabilitation.
* Companies and organisations employing teleoperation of equipment in remote or hazardous environments will benefit from a better understanding of the user experience of ImT.
* Organisations, public and private, that are making increasing use of cybertechnologies to improve efficiency and communication will benefit through a better understanding of the unintended consequences and cultural impacts of, for example, the growing use of telepresence devices for conferencing.
* The artistic and scientific communities will benefit by exploring the mutual relationship between science fiction and science-led design, and between methodologies applied in the arts and those used in technology development. By bringing together scientists, cultural and literary scholars the project will enrich imagination and creativity in both the artistic and scientific/design spheres related to ImT.
* Ethicists, theologians, and lawyers who are concerned with the notion of what it means to be a 'person', will benefit from exploration of the concept of cyberselves in a humanities-grounded, but scientifically well-informed, context. This could allow progress in some major moral and legal debates about cyber-identities and rights.
* The public will benefit from better engagement with all of the above issues and improved information. We will seek to understand public anxieties surrounding ImT, both conscious and unconscious, which greatly effect the perception and acceptance of these technologies and which will significantly impact on human wellbeing, now and in the future.
* Government, and advisory bodies such as the Technology Strategy Board, will benefit from a better understanding of public perceptions and anxieties, and how these technologies are shaped by both cultural aspiration and fear. This will inform policies concerning the use of ImT in business and to address key challenges such as healthcare provision.
* Charities, and government bodies concerned with cyber-risk and cyber-security, will potentially benefit, as worries about the growing use of ImT are explored.
* Manufacturers and end-users of cybertechnologies will benefit from investigation of the societal impacts of ImT in both established markets, such as gaming, and in emerging ones, such as telecare.
* People with disabilities, illness, or recovering from injury, will benefit through exploration of the potential benefits of ImT for telehealth, for gaining better control over the environment through teleoperation, and of the use of mixed-reality ImT in rehabilitation.
* Companies and organisations employing teleoperation of equipment in remote or hazardous environments will benefit from a better understanding of the user experience of ImT.
* Organisations, public and private, that are making increasing use of cybertechnologies to improve efficiency and communication will benefit through a better understanding of the unintended consequences and cultural impacts of, for example, the growing use of telepresence devices for conferencing.
* The artistic and scientific communities will benefit by exploring the mutual relationship between science fiction and science-led design, and between methodologies applied in the arts and those used in technology development. By bringing together scientists, cultural and literary scholars the project will enrich imagination and creativity in both the artistic and scientific/design spheres related to ImT.
* Ethicists, theologians, and lawyers who are concerned with the notion of what it means to be a 'person', will benefit from exploration of the concept of cyberselves in a humanities-grounded, but scientifically well-informed, context. This could allow progress in some major moral and legal debates about cyber-identities and rights.
* The public will benefit from better engagement with all of the above issues and improved information. We will seek to understand public anxieties surrounding ImT, both conscious and unconscious, which greatly effect the perception and acceptance of these technologies and which will significantly impact on human wellbeing, now and in the future.
Organisations
- University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Leeds, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Oxford, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Max Planck Society (Collaboration)
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (Collaboration)
- Italian Institute of Technology (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia IIT) (Collaboration)
- Yale University (Collaboration)
- Pompeu Fabra University (Project Partner)
Publications

Prescott, T. J.
(2018)
Archtekt Ist Tot (The Architect is Dead)

Martinez-Hernandez U
(2016)
Bayesian perception of touch for control of robot emotion

Collignon F
Cold War Legacies: Systems, Theories, Aesthetics

Prescott T
(2014)
Editorial
in Connection Science

Szollosy M
(2017)
EPSRC Principles of Robotics: defending an obsolete human(ism)?
in Connection Science

Martinez-Hernandez U
(2016)
Expressive touch: Control of robot emotional expression by touch

Szollosy M
(2016)
Freud, Frankenstein and our fear of robots: projection in our cultural perception of technology
in AI & SOCIETY

Prescott, T. J.
(2015)
Me, myself and iCub: Meet the robot with a self
in New Scientist
Title | Software Garden |
Description | A performance from Rory Pilgrim and in collaboration with poet Carol Kalled, singer Robyn Haddon and dancer Casper-Malte Jørgensen. This performance explores connections between technology, disability and care as a way of looking at larger political frameworks. Interweaving poetry, speech, song and choreography, this will be the first performance as part of a larger new body of work built on Pilgrim's first experimental music album. Unfolding somewhere between Kabuki theatre, a pop concert and a political social space of action, this performance will attempt to bring together a variety of people from different ages, backgrounds, human and robotic, to propose the creation of an embodied system of care and kindness as a software garden. |
Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Impact | A robot was programmed to perform as an integral part of a performance examining the connections between technology, disability and care. As part of the Block Universe 2017 season - a London-wide festival of performance, dance, visual art and music - it enjoyed a significant live audience at the Light, Euston Rd., London, and was steamed online. |
URL | http://blockuniverse.co.uk/software-garden/ |
Description | Achievements: (i) We have developed novel scientific and cultural methodologies for exploring the experience of virtual reality and immersion in a humanoid robot. (ii) We have completed an analysis of the ethical challenges relating to virtual reality and telepresence particularly pertaining to moral responsibility for action at a distance and ethical codes governing virtual acts. (iii) We have engaged with the public via demonstrations, film events and public lectures, to explore public attitudes towards immersive technologies. (iv) We have organised an international workshop on cyberselves technologies. (v) We have published results from virtual reality and telepresence experiments and conduct further experimental studies. (vi) We have developed a robotics and telepresence "roadshow" that we are taking to multiple events in the UK and abroad supported by AHRC follow-on for Impact and Engagement Funding for this project. |
Exploitation Route | Other researchers can use our methodologies to study immersive technologies. The ethical and societal issues identified in the project can be further explored and could influence public debate and future legislation around immersice technologies. |
Sectors | Creative Economy,Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
URL | https://cyberselves.wordpress.com/ |
Description | Developing mutiple paths to social and cultural impact via public engagement events, beyond the 25 events noted here, there are additional and future ones that are continuing under our AHRC follow-up funding. |
First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
Description | AHRC Follow-on Funding for Impact and Engagement |
Amount | £78,493 (GBP) |
Funding ID | AH/R004811/1 |
Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2017 |
End | 09/2018 |
Description | Anticipatory governance in response to new technological horizons |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | School of Geography and the Environment |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Joint Principal Investigator on a funding bid with PIs: Marina Jirotka - Professor of Human Centred Computing, Department of Computer Science PI Julian Savulescu - Uehiro Professor of Practical Ethics, Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics PI Eric Meyer - Professor of Social Informatics, Oxford Internet Institute |
Collaborator Contribution | All PIs developed the application together |
Impact | Joint funding bid Multi-disciplinary: Computer Science, Philosophy, Social Informatics |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Augmenting the Body |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Department | Leeds Humanities Research Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Wellcome Seed Award in Humanities and Social Science, 'Augmenting the Body: Disability, Care and the Posthuman', 205336/Z/16/Z, P.I. Professor Stuart Murray, University of Leeds. |
Collaborator Contribution | This was a collaborative network which organised several workshops and has led to a Wellcome Collaborative award bid |
Impact | Successful first round bid for a Wellcome Collaborative Award "Imagining Technologies for Disability Futures" |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Collaboration on Horizons of Intelligence: AI Safety and Governance |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Department of Computer Science |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Professor Julian Savulescu and Dr. Hannah Maslen (Philosophy) have entered into a collaboration with Professor Michael Osborne (Engineering), Professor Stephen Roberts (Engineering), Professor Nick Bostrom (Philosophy), Professor Allan Dafoe (Politics & International Relations), commencing with a joint £1 million funding bid |
Collaborator Contribution | All collaborators worked together on the funding bid |
Impact | Funding bid Multi-disciplinary: Engineering, Philosophy, Politics and International relations |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Collaboration on Horizons of Intelligence: AI Safety and Governance |
Organisation | Yale University |
Department | Department of Neuroscience |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Professor Julian Savulescu and Dr. Hannah Maslen (Philosophy) have entered into a collaboration with Professor Michael Osborne (Engineering), Professor Stephen Roberts (Engineering), Professor Nick Bostrom (Philosophy), Professor Allan Dafoe (Politics & International Relations), commencing with a joint £1 million funding bid |
Collaborator Contribution | All collaborators worked together on the funding bid |
Impact | Funding bid Multi-disciplinary: Engineering, Philosophy, Politics and International relations |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Sapiens 5.0 |
Organisation | Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Co-development of a FET Flagship EU first round proposal "Sapiens 5.0" |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-development of a FET Flagship EU first round proposal "Sapiens 5.0" |
Impact | First round application to the EU Commission FET Flagship call |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Sapiens 5.0 |
Organisation | Italian Institute of Technology (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia IIT) |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Co-development of a FET Flagship EU first round proposal "Sapiens 5.0" |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-development of a FET Flagship EU first round proposal "Sapiens 5.0" |
Impact | First round application to the EU Commission FET Flagship call |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Sapiens 5.0 |
Organisation | Max Planck Society |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Co-development of a FET Flagship EU first round proposal "Sapiens 5.0" |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-development of a FET Flagship EU first round proposal "Sapiens 5.0" |
Impact | First round application to the EU Commission FET Flagship call |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Autonomous robots at Mobile University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Hands-on demonstrations for the public of autonomous flying robots, including virtual reality interface. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/mobileuni/fridayprogramme |
Description | BBC Free Thinking - Being Human Debate at Fact, Liverpool: Man and Animals |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Michael Szollosy appeared on BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking programme, a debate at Fact, Liverpool on Man and Animals, as part of Being Human 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b082kwsl |
Description | BBC Ratio 4 - The World This Weekend |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Recorded interview with Mark Mardell on The World this Weekend, BBC Radio 4, Sun 19 Feb |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08fd9rj |
Description | BETT talk and showcase |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Talk and demonstrations of robotics and their possible uses in education, through EASEL and (AHRC-funded) Cyberselves in Immersive Technologies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.bettshow.com/ |
Description | Back to the Future Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A talk on robotics and new technologies, hosted at the Curzon Cinema in Sheffield as part of their Back to the Future Day celebrations, looking at how advances in robotics, virtual reality and related technologies have transformed our lives (or failed to do so) since 1985. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.curzoncinemas.com/film-info/back-to-the-future-part-ii |
Description | Being Human 2016, Robots: Hope or Fear? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Tony Prescott and Michael Szollosy organised at spoke at an event in Sheffield called on Robots: Hope or Fear? as part of the Being Human Festival 2016 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/robots-and-ai-hope-or-fear-tickets-29480937277# |
Description | CSN Blogs |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Blog posts on the culture of robotics, including social perceptions and impacts. Material related to Cyberselves in Immersive Technologies and EASEL. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
URL | http://csnblog.specs-lab.com/ |
Description | Culture of Robotics MOOC |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We are presently producing a MOOC (a Massively Open Online Course), a course that will be hosted on the learning website FutureLearn and will be available to any member of the public from anywhere in the world. Based on previous enrolment on such courses, we are expecting at least 10,000+ participants. The six-week course will be presented through a combination of articles, videos and other elements that encourage the participation of the students. (Delivery will be September 2016.) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Cyberselves Symposium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | The symposium will be multi-disciplinary, with contributions from technologists, psychologists, philosophers, literary and cultural theorists, with a particular focus on the future societal and cultural impacts of immersive technologies. It will also include a showcase of new technologies and current research into virtual reality, augmented reality and teleoperation |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Cyberselves at the Being Human Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Cyberselves in Immersive Technologies (an AHRC-funded project) took part in the national Being Human Festival 2016, offering a night to interact with robots, try virtual reality demonstrations and think about how new technologies are changing what it means to be 'human'. The 'Cyberselves exhibition' encourages visitors to experience cyber-worlds with cutting-edge technology and be involved in the debate around issues such as, 'How are we being transformed by our participation in cyber-spaces?', 'What are the consequences for our conceptions of self when we can transport ourselves to virtual worlds?' and 'How have we imagined such transformations of the self through technology in popular media?'. This hands-on demonstration and talk by Dr Michael Szollosy and team from Sheffield Robotics will take your thinking to a whole new level about how our everyday lives are being transformed by our participation in cyber-worlds. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://beinghumanfestival.org/event/cyberselves/ |
Description | Festival of the Mind - Dancing with Robots |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Ran an exhibit demonstrating robot technology and human-robot interactions |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYxju4VCEvc&t=6s |
Description | Guardian Live and Manchester International Festival. 8th July 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | "Interdependence: We need to talk" (panel discussion). Guardian Live and Manchester International Festival. 8th July. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://membership.theguardian.com/event/interdependence-we-need-to-talk-32658407175 |
Description | ICA Fear of Missing Out |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Chaired by Berlin artist and theorist Hito Steyerl, this three-day event at the Institute of Contemporarty Art in London brought together leading international theorists, academics, social thinkers and artists to discuss postdigital anxieties and the social condition. Tony Prescott gave a talk entitled "Human Selves ~ Robot Selves" considering the impact of advanced AI and Robotics technologies on our understanding of the human condition and the potential for robots with self-awareness. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://www.ica.org.uk/whats-on/fomo-tony-prescott-and-zeno-eleanor-saitta |
Description | Interview in El Prisma |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview with Spanish language online magazine El Prisma on robots, virtual reality, and other topics related to Cyberselves in Immersive Technologies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://diarioelprisma.es/construimos-robots-michael-szollosy |
Description | Interview in the Sheffield Telegraph |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview about the Robosapiens film series at the Showroom Cinema, Sheffield, and about Cyberselves in Immersive Technologies more generally. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/what-s-on/cinema/reality-of-movie-nightmares-1-7687555 |
Description | Jordan Wolfson, Amsterdam |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Through a glass, darkly; then face to robot face, Talk to a public symposium in honour of the Artist Jordan Wolfson at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, February 18th 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.stedelijk.nl/en/events/jordan-wolfson-sculpture-and-the-surrogate-self-2 |
Description | Meet Tomorrow's World: A Meeting on the Ethics of Emerging Technologies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public Talk, Hannah Maslen. Caveat Emptor: Mind Enhancing machines in your Home. At San Diego Event Meet Tomorrow's World: A Meeting on the Ethics of Emerging Technologies Julian Savulescu participated as panelist. Sparked discussion. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Mindshare Huddle |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | In partnership with behavioural insight and brand consultancy firm Canvas8, we presented a 'Science of Cute' discussion at the Mindshare Huddle 2015, helping media and marketing professionals understand the rational behind the anthropomorphisation of robots and human-robot interactions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.mindshareworld.com/uk/about/huddle |
Description | RoboHub |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Two blogs (Dreaming Robots and one run for the AHRC_funded Cyberselves in Immersive Technologies project) have be noted and picked up by international blog RoboHub, with wide international audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
URL | http://robohub.org/ |
Description | Robosapiens |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Robosapiens is a film series that focusses on cultural representations and ideas of robots, virtual reality and cyberselves in film. Undertaken with money provided by the AHRC-funded Cyberselves in Immersive Technologies project, each month (form September 2015) the Showroom cinema in Sheffield hosts an evening screening of a film selected and introduced by an academic or expert in the field of robotics, virtual reality or other new technology. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
URL | http://www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/robosapiens |
Description | Robosapiens Film Series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A monthly series of Science Fiction films, presented with the Showroom cinema in Sheffield, each introduced by an academic working on the science, engineering or cultural aspects of related technologies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
URL | http://sheffield.ac.uk/ris/publicengagement/robosapiens |
Description | School outreach |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Outreach to local schools, demonstrating robots and their educational possibilities. Undetaken through both EASEL and (AHRC-funded) Cyberselves in Immersive Technologies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
Description | Sheffield DocFest Alternate Realities Summit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | A talk given by Michael Szollosy and Tony Prescott at the Sheffield International Documentary film festival |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://sheffdocfest.com/articles/386-2016-alternate-realities-summit |
Description | Talk at from Robots: From Imagination to Market |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A talk on the history of robotics, including cultural influences and social perceptions, in Bristol as part of the EU Robotics Week. The days' discussions were themed around 'Robots: from Imagination to Market', and my talk was the first of the day, to contextualise the way in which robots are created and perceived in the imagination. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/robots-from-imagination-to-market-tickets-19205164163 |
Description | TelFest IC |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Sheffield Robotics and the AHRC-funded Cyberselves in Immersive Technologies project helped organise and present the very popular Innovation Corner at the University of Sheffield's Technology Enhanced Learning Festival (TELFest), where new technologies (particularly robotics and virtual reality) were demonstrated and explained to educational professionals. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/cics/telfest/programme-sept-2015 |