Co-Designing the Imagination: Exploring Cultural Imaginaries of Robots
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Co-Designing the Imagination: Exploring Cultural Imaginaries of Robots with Children with Brittle Bones
IRAS ID
321857
Contact name
Christina Stimson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Sheffield
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 6 days
Research summary
This study is titled 'Co-Designing the Imagination: Exploring Cultural Imaginaries of Robots with Children with Brittle Bones'. It will blend the Fictional Inquiry ('FI') technique with Science Fiction Prototyping ('SFP') to explore and develop the imaginaries of robotics and assistive technology of children with brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta ('OI')) and their families/carers over multiple workshops (virtual, in-person and hybrid). The study is part of the Wellcome Trust-funded project 'Imagining Technologies for Disability Futures', which is exploring
connections between design, technology, disability and culture. The project is particularly interested in robotics and assistive technology in everyday contexts and how (disabled) people see these featuring in their own personal futures. The choice to include children with brittle bones was made owing to the project's focus on disability contexts and as this demographic is underrepresented in Participatory Design ('PD') efforts/research; it also stands to benefit significantly from future innovations in robotics (for example, exoskeletons and companion robots). Furthermore, including entire family units should boost the value and enjoyment of the undertaking, as well as avoiding tokenism or pathologisation of disabled participants.The study is the first in a series; as such, this ethics application covers two online-only preparatory sessions, three in-person (hybrid optional) workshops, and a 'robot home visit'. The in-person workshops will involve some interaction with a small commercial robots that have been designed for use by children and have passed all relevant commercial safety tests. Future workshops will be determined by participant interest; a new ethics application will be made if they decide to continue. The workshops will combine direct contact with robots with collaborative storytelling (in accordance with the five steps of Science Fiction Prototyping) to produce fictional stories that act as examples of participants' thoughts regarding how technology might feature in their own futures.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NW/0181
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jul 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion