Living Better with Robots May 29, 2007

Distinguished Lecture Series Jointly organized by: Faculty of Engineering, NUS Social Robotics Lab, IDM Institute, NUS IEEE Singapore R&A Chapter, subcommittee on Intelligent Personal and Edutainment Robotics Singapore Science Centre The Distinguished Lecture Series, Faculty of Engineering, NUS is an initiative of the Faculty to bring in foreign experts and academics who could help to enhance the learning environment for innovation and entrepreneurship as well as the capabilities to teach and do research in cross-disciplinary areas which are relevant to all engineering disciplines.

LIVING BETTER WITH ROBOTS
Cynthia Breazeal Associate Professor Media Arts & Sciences, MIT Media Lab

30 May 2007 10am to 11am
Lecture Theater 1
NUS Faculty of Engineering
Engineering Drive 1
Singapore 117576
Abstract
Introduction: The emerging field of Human-Robot Interaction is undergoing rapid growth, motivated by important societal challenges and new applications for robotic technologies for the general public. In this talk I present five projects currently under development in the Robotic Life Group at the Media Lab. Two projects explore “invisible robot” applications where we have integrated robotic technologies into everyday artifacts like clothing or desktop computers, and the rest focus on more anthropomorphic social robots. These projects are motivated by the promise of social robotics and related technologies to play a beneficial role in the daily lives of people. An important goal of this work is to leverage scientific understanding of human brains, bodies, and behavior to design robotic technologies that can enhance human performance, learning, communication, and quality of life. Specific applications in eldercare, health, education, and social networking will be highlighted.


About the Speaker www.media.mit.edu/~cynthiab

Cynthia Breazeal is an Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the MIT Media Lab . She is Director of the Robotic Life Group and holds the LG Group career development chair. Cynthia has been building autonomous robots for over a decade ranging from insect-like planetary micro-rovers , to robotic terrariums and gardens of interative flowers , to highly expresssive anthropomorphic robots , and more. Her work is informed by scientific theories of natural behavior and incorporates artistic insights to create capable and appealing robot creatures that can socially interact and communicate with people in a manner that intrigues us intellectually and touches us emotionally. Her current research extends these themes in the area of human-robot relations to create cooperative anthropomorphic robots that work and learn in partnership with people.

Registration
To register, please email your name and organization to: [email protected] by 25 May 2007.

Official Website: http://web.media.mit.edu/~cynthiab/