By Alex Elias…
Despite the challenges posed by Storm Bert, I was determined to attend the HAI24 conference. The 12th International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction, held at Swansea University November 24th-27th, 2024, was a vibrant gathering of researchers and practitioners from diverse fields such as engineering, computer science, psychology, and sociology. The theme, “Hybrid Society,” emphasised the growing interdependence between humans and interactive technology. The conference featured insightful keynote speeches, engaging workshops, and thought-provoking sessions that explored the ethical implications and innovative ways to interact with intelligent agents in our daily lives.
I was honoured to run my first workshop titled “Challenges and Opportunities for the Adoption and Integration of Human-Robot Interaction Technologies.” The level of engagement was incredible, and it was fantastic to network with so many researchers in the field. However, the experience was not without its complications. From navigating the storm to dealing with unforeseen issues during the workshop, there were moments when I doubted if I could pull it off. Yet, these challenges underscored the importance of thinking on your feet and coming up with quick solutions—a critical skill for any PhD student.
In my workshop, “Challenges and Opportunities for the Adoption and Integration of Human-Robot Interaction Technologies,” we explored the various hurdles and potential benefits of integrating Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) technologies. The workshop provided a platform for researchers, developers, and stakeholders to discuss issues such as privacy concerns, ethical considerations, and potential job displacement while also highlighting advantages like improved efficiency and enhanced safety. We aimed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, establish best practices, and inform policies for responsible HRI integration. It was a great opportunity to share insights and collaborate on addressing these critical issues and the outline for the workshop can be found here: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3687272.3691359.
Highlights of the Conference
The HAI24 conference in Swansea was packed with captivating keynote speeches and presentations. One of the highlights was Helen Hastie’s keynote on “Trustworthy Human-Robot Interaction.” Professor Hastie, from the University of Edinburgh, discussed various aspects of trust in HRI, including language, social cues, embodiment, transparency, mental models, and theory of mind. Her insights into how trust is established, lost, and regained between humans and robots were particularly enlightening.
Additionally, several presentations delved into the social factors affecting HRI adoption, exploring how societal attitudes, cultural norms, and workforce dynamics impact the integration of HRI technologies. These discussions underscored the importance of understanding social factors to foster better collaboration and acceptance in various industries. The emphasis on these social factors aligned perfectly with my research, and it was encouraging to see other approaches to similar issues I am working on.
These sessions, among many others, highlighted the critical role of trust and social dynamics in successfully adopting human-robot interaction technologies, sparking engaging discussions and inspiring future research directions.
Although it was stressful at times, and there were moments when I didn’t think I’d be able to run the workshop, the overall experience was immensely rewarding. Organizing the event and coordinating with multiple institutions while handling various issues as they arose tested my resilience and adaptability.
A big thank you to the organising committee, my co-organisers, and everyone who made this experience so rewarding. Thank you also to the AgriFoRwArdS CDT Outreach and Dissemination Fund, which funded my attendance and the workshop. The support and collaborative spirit of the community were truly inspiring. Here’s to many more productive discussions and successful collaborations in the future!
Thank you to Alex for sharing his experience of this Conference. Student’s who may wish to use the Outreach and Dissemination Fund like Alex did, can find out more information here – https://agriforwards-cdt.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/outreach-and-dissemination/.
If you have something you want to share with the AgriFoRwArdS community, please get in touch at agriforwards.cdt@lincoln.ac.uk.