Skip to main content
Top

2018 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

The Ethics of Inherent Trust in Care Robots for the Elderly

Authors : Adam Poulsen, Oliver K. Burmeister, David Kreps

Published in: This Changes Everything – ICT and Climate Change: What Can We Do?

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

The way elderly care is delivered is changing. Attempts are being made to accommodate the increasing number of elderly, and the decline in the number of people available to care for them, with care robots. This change introduces ethical issues into robotics and healthcare. The two-part study (heuristic evaluation and survey) reported here examines a phenomenon which is a result of that change. The phenomenon rises out of a contradiction. All but 2 (who were undecided) of the 12 elderly survey respondents, out of the total of 102 respondents, wanted to be able to change how the presented care robot made decisions and 7 of those 12 elderly wanted to be able to examine its decision making process so as to ensure the care provided is personalized. However, at the same time, 34% of the elderly participants said they were willing to trust the care robot inherently, compared to only 16% of the participants who were under fifty. Additionally, 66% of the elderly respondents said they were very likely or likely to accept and use such a care robot in their everyday lives. The contradiction of inherent trust and simultaneous wariness about control gives rise to the phenomenon: elderly in need want control over their care to ensure it is personalized, but many may desperately take any help they can get. The possible causes, and ethical implications, of this phenomenon are the focus of this paper.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe




 

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Literature
1.
go back to reference Moor, J.: Why we need better ethics for emerging technologies. Ethics Inf. Technol. 7(3), 111–119 (2005)CrossRef Moor, J.: Why we need better ethics for emerging technologies. Ethics Inf. Technol. 7(3), 111–119 (2005)CrossRef
2.
go back to reference Draper, H., Sorell, T.: Ethical values and social care robots for older people: an international qualitative study. Ethics Inf. Technol. 19(1), 49–68 (2017)CrossRef Draper, H., Sorell, T.: Ethical values and social care robots for older people: an international qualitative study. Ethics Inf. Technol. 19(1), 49–68 (2017)CrossRef
3.
go back to reference Sharkey, A., Sharkey, N.: Granny and the robots: ethical issues in robot care for the elderly. Ethics Inf. Technol. 14(1), 27–40 (2012)CrossRef Sharkey, A., Sharkey, N.: Granny and the robots: ethical issues in robot care for the elderly. Ethics Inf. Technol. 14(1), 27–40 (2012)CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Sharkey, A., Sharkey, N.: The eldercare factory. Gerontology 58(3), 282–288 (2011)CrossRef Sharkey, A., Sharkey, N.: The eldercare factory. Gerontology 58(3), 282–288 (2011)CrossRef
5.
go back to reference Sparrow, R., Sparrow, L.: In the hands of machines? The future of aged care. Mind. Mach. 16(2), 141–161 (2006)CrossRef Sparrow, R., Sparrow, L.: In the hands of machines? The future of aged care. Mind. Mach. 16(2), 141–161 (2006)CrossRef
6.
go back to reference Tokunaga, S., et al.: VirtualCareGiver: personalized smart elderly care. Int. J. Softw. Innov. 5(1), 30–43 (2017)CrossRef Tokunaga, S., et al.: VirtualCareGiver: personalized smart elderly care. Int. J. Softw. Innov. 5(1), 30–43 (2017)CrossRef
7.
go back to reference Garner, T.A., Powell, W.A., Carr, V.: Virtual carers for the elderly: a case study review of ethical responsibilities. Digital Health 2, 1–14 (2016)CrossRef Garner, T.A., Powell, W.A., Carr, V.: Virtual carers for the elderly: a case study review of ethical responsibilities. Digital Health 2, 1–14 (2016)CrossRef
8.
go back to reference Landau, R.: Ambient intelligence for the elderly: hope to age respectfully? Aging Health 9(6), 593–600 (2013)CrossRef Landau, R.: Ambient intelligence for the elderly: hope to age respectfully? Aging Health 9(6), 593–600 (2013)CrossRef
9.
go back to reference Vallor, S.: Carebots and caregivers: sustaining the ethical ideal of care in the twenty-first century. Philos. Technol. 24(3), 251–268 (2011)CrossRef Vallor, S.: Carebots and caregivers: sustaining the ethical ideal of care in the twenty-first century. Philos. Technol. 24(3), 251–268 (2011)CrossRef
10.
go back to reference Burmeister, O.K.: The development of assistive dementia technology that accounts for the values of those affected by its use. Ethics Inf. Technol. 18(3), 185–198 (2016)CrossRef Burmeister, O.K.: The development of assistive dementia technology that accounts for the values of those affected by its use. Ethics Inf. Technol. 18(3), 185–198 (2016)CrossRef
11.
go back to reference Bhupinder, C., Rachna, K.: Role of Technology in Management of Health Care of Elderly. J. Gerontol. Geriatr. Res. 6(1), 1–3 (2017) Bhupinder, C., Rachna, K.: Role of Technology in Management of Health Care of Elderly. J. Gerontol. Geriatr. Res. 6(1), 1–3 (2017)
14.
go back to reference Sayago, S., Blat, J.: Telling the story of older people e-mailing: an ethnographical study. Int. J. Hum Comput Stud. 68(1–2), 105–120 (2010)CrossRef Sayago, S., Blat, J.: Telling the story of older people e-mailing: an ethnographical study. Int. J. Hum Comput Stud. 68(1–2), 105–120 (2010)CrossRef
15.
go back to reference Burmeister, O.K.: Websites for seniors: cognitive accessibility. Int. J. Emerg. Technol. Soc. 8(2), 99–113 (2010) Burmeister, O.K.: Websites for seniors: cognitive accessibility. Int. J. Emerg. Technol. Soc. 8(2), 99–113 (2010)
16.
go back to reference Seals, C.D., et al.: Life long learning: seniors in second life continuum. J. Comput. Sci. 4(12), 1064–1070 (2008)CrossRef Seals, C.D., et al.: Life long learning: seniors in second life continuum. J. Comput. Sci. 4(12), 1064–1070 (2008)CrossRef
18.
go back to reference van Wynsberghe, A.: Healthcare Robots: Ethics, Design and Implementation. Ashgate Publishing Ltd., Farnham (2015) van Wynsberghe, A.: Healthcare Robots: Ethics, Design and Implementation. Ashgate Publishing Ltd., Farnham (2015)
19.
go back to reference van Wynsberghe, A.: Designing robots for care: care centered value-sensitive design. Sci. Eng. Ethics 19(2), 407–433 (2013)CrossRef van Wynsberghe, A.: Designing robots for care: care centered value-sensitive design. Sci. Eng. Ethics 19(2), 407–433 (2013)CrossRef
20.
go back to reference de Graaf, M.M.A., Allouch, S.B., Klamer, T.: Sharing a life with Harvey: exploring the acceptance of and relationship-building with a social robot. Comput. Hum. Behav. 43, 1–14 (2015)CrossRef de Graaf, M.M.A., Allouch, S.B., Klamer, T.: Sharing a life with Harvey: exploring the acceptance of and relationship-building with a social robot. Comput. Hum. Behav. 43, 1–14 (2015)CrossRef
21.
go back to reference Poulsen, A., Burmeister, O.K.: Overcoming carer shortages with carebots: dynamic value trade-offs in run-time. Australas. J. Inf. Syst. 22 (2018) Poulsen, A., Burmeister, O.K.: Overcoming carer shortages with carebots: dynamic value trade-offs in run-time. Australas. J. Inf. Syst. 22 (2018)
22.
go back to reference Friedman, B., Kahn, P.H.J., Borning, A.: Value sensitive design and information systems. In: Zhang, P., Galletta, D. (eds.) Human-Computer Interaction and Management Information Systems: Foundations, pp. 348–372. M. E. Sharpe, New York (2006) Friedman, B., Kahn, P.H.J., Borning, A.: Value sensitive design and information systems. In: Zhang, P., Galletta, D. (eds.) Human-Computer Interaction and Management Information Systems: Foundations, pp. 348–372. M. E. Sharpe, New York (2006)
23.
24.
go back to reference Manders-Huits, N.: What values in design? The challenge of incorporating moral values into design. Sci. Eng. Ethics 17(2), 271–287 (2011)CrossRef Manders-Huits, N.: What values in design? The challenge of incorporating moral values into design. Sci. Eng. Ethics 17(2), 271–287 (2011)CrossRef
25.
go back to reference Beauchamp, T.L.: Does ethical theory have a future in bioethics? J. Law Med. Ethics 32(2), 209–217 (2004)CrossRef Beauchamp, T.L.: Does ethical theory have a future in bioethics? J. Law Med. Ethics 32(2), 209–217 (2004)CrossRef
26.
go back to reference Upton, H.: Moral theory and theorizing in health care ethics. Ethical Theor. Moral Pract. 14(4), 431 (2011)CrossRef Upton, H.: Moral theory and theorizing in health care ethics. Ethical Theor. Moral Pract. 14(4), 431 (2011)CrossRef
27.
go back to reference Tronto, J.C.: Creating caring institutions: politics, plurality, and purpose. Ethics Soc. Welfare 4(2), 158–171 (2010)CrossRef Tronto, J.C.: Creating caring institutions: politics, plurality, and purpose. Ethics Soc. Welfare 4(2), 158–171 (2010)CrossRef
28.
29.
go back to reference Vanlaere, L., Gastmans, C.: A personalist approach to care ethics. Nurs. Ethics 18(2), 161–173 (2011)CrossRef Vanlaere, L., Gastmans, C.: A personalist approach to care ethics. Nurs. Ethics 18(2), 161–173 (2011)CrossRef
30.
go back to reference Baars, B.J., Franklin, S.: An architectural model of conscious and unconscious brain functions: Global workspace theory and IDA. Neural Netw. 20(9), 955–961 (2007)CrossRef Baars, B.J., Franklin, S.: An architectural model of conscious and unconscious brain functions: Global workspace theory and IDA. Neural Netw. 20(9), 955–961 (2007)CrossRef
31.
go back to reference Baars, B.J., Franklin, S.: Consciousness is computational: the LIDA model of global workspace theory. Int. J. Mach. Conscious. 01(01), 23–32 (2009)CrossRef Baars, B.J., Franklin, S.: Consciousness is computational: the LIDA model of global workspace theory. Int. J. Mach. Conscious. 01(01), 23–32 (2009)CrossRef
32.
go back to reference Checkland, P.: Information systems and systems thinking: time to unite? Int. J. Inf. Manage. 8, 239–248 (1988)CrossRef Checkland, P.: Information systems and systems thinking: time to unite? Int. J. Inf. Manage. 8, 239–248 (1988)CrossRef
33.
go back to reference Kreps, D.: Matter and memory and deep learning. In: Hirai, Y., Fujita, H., Abiko, S. (eds.) Berukuson Busshitsu to Kioku wo Shindan suru: Jikan Keiken no Tetsugaku, Ishiki no Kagaku, Bigaku, Rinrigaku eno Tenkai (Diagnoses of Bergson’s Matter and Memory: Developments Towards the Philosophy of Temporal Experience, Sciences of Consciousness, Aesthetics, and Ethics), pp. 196–225 (2017) Kreps, D.: Matter and memory and deep learning. In: Hirai, Y., Fujita, H., Abiko, S. (eds.) Berukuson Busshitsu to Kioku wo Shindan suru: Jikan Keiken no Tetsugaku, Ishiki no Kagaku, Bigaku, Rinrigaku eno Tenkai (Diagnoses of Bergson’s Matter and Memory: Developments Towards the Philosophy of Temporal Experience, Sciences of Consciousness, Aesthetics, and Ethics), pp. 196–225 (2017)
34.
go back to reference Chalmers, D.J.: The Conscious Mind. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1996)MATH Chalmers, D.J.: The Conscious Mind. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1996)MATH
35.
go back to reference Noë, A.: Action in Perception. MIT Press, London (2006) Noë, A.: Action in Perception. MIT Press, London (2006)
36.
go back to reference Burmeister, O.K.: Professional ethics in the information age. J. Inf. Commun. Ethics Soc. 15(2), 348–356 (2017)CrossRef Burmeister, O.K.: Professional ethics in the information age. J. Inf. Commun. Ethics Soc. 15(2), 348–356 (2017)CrossRef
37.
go back to reference Burmeister, O.K.: Achieving the goal of a global computing code of ethics through an international-localisation hybrid. Ethical Space Int. J. Commun. Ethics 10(4), 25–32 (2013) Burmeister, O.K.: Achieving the goal of a global computing code of ethics through an international-localisation hybrid. Ethical Space Int. J. Commun. Ethics 10(4), 25–32 (2013)
38.
go back to reference Bowern, M., et al.: ICT integrity: bringing the ACS code of ethics up to date. Australas. J. Inf. Syst. 13(2), 168–181 (2006) Bowern, M., et al.: ICT integrity: bringing the ACS code of ethics up to date. Australas. J. Inf. Syst. 13(2), 168–181 (2006)
39.
go back to reference Burmeister, O.K., Weckert, J.: Applying the new software engineering code of ethics to usability engineering: a study of 4 cases. J. Inf. Commun. Ethics Soc. 3(3), 119–132 (2003)CrossRef Burmeister, O.K., Weckert, J.: Applying the new software engineering code of ethics to usability engineering: a study of 4 cases. J. Inf. Commun. Ethics Soc. 3(3), 119–132 (2003)CrossRef
47.
go back to reference Koldrack, P., et al.: Cognitive assistance to support social integration in Alzheimer’s disease. Geriatr. Mental Health Care 1, 39–45 (2013)CrossRef Koldrack, P., et al.: Cognitive assistance to support social integration in Alzheimer’s disease. Geriatr. Mental Health Care 1, 39–45 (2013)CrossRef
49.
go back to reference Bernoth, M., Dietsch, E., Davies, C.: Forced into exile: the traumatic impact of rural aged care service inaccessibility. Rural Remote Health 12(1294), 1–8 (2012) Bernoth, M., Dietsch, E., Davies, C.: Forced into exile: the traumatic impact of rural aged care service inaccessibility. Rural Remote Health 12(1294), 1–8 (2012)
50.
go back to reference Bernoth, M., et al.: The impact of a participatory care model on work satisfaction of care workers and the functionality, connectedness and mental health of community-dwelling older people. Issues Mental Health Nurs. 37(6), 429–435 (2016)CrossRef Bernoth, M., et al.: The impact of a participatory care model on work satisfaction of care workers and the functionality, connectedness and mental health of community-dwelling older people. Issues Mental Health Nurs. 37(6), 429–435 (2016)CrossRef
55.
go back to reference Bernoth, M., et al.: Information management in aged care: cases of confidentiality and elder abuse. J. Bus. Ethics 122, 453–460 (2014)CrossRef Bernoth, M., et al.: Information management in aged care: cases of confidentiality and elder abuse. J. Bus. Ethics 122, 453–460 (2014)CrossRef
61.
Metadata
Title
The Ethics of Inherent Trust in Care Robots for the Elderly
Authors
Adam Poulsen
Oliver K. Burmeister
David Kreps
Copyright Year
2018
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99605-9_24

Premium Partner