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In 1999 Kerstin Dautenhahn proposed a new multidisciplinary research direction encompassing robotics, psychology, assistive technology, interaction design, human-robot interaction and autism therapy. In 2005 she began developing the humanoid robot Kaspar, whose evaluations suggested therapeutic suitability for children with autism. Ongoing research a) led to the development of appropriate human-robot interaction technology, interaction scenarios and methodological approaches b) stimulated national and international public discourse on robot-assisted therapy for children with autism; and c) informed practitioners' views on using robot technology in autism therapy. A former doctoral student also exploited her Hertfordshire training via an international robotics start-up marketing toys for children with autism.
Prof. Noel Sharkey's research into the legal, ethical and technological basis for the use of autonomous weapon systems in warfare has had significant impact on public debate and policy worldwide. Impact on the policy debate includes briefings and reports to the UN Special Rapporteur and the EU Parliament, briefings to UK, German and French decision makers, as well as talks to senior military in 26 countries, of which 4 have incorporated the research findings into their officer training. The research has influenced the work of NGOs and charities, providing key evidence for a report commissioned by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The findings of Sharkey's research led to a new NGO, International Committee for Robot Arms Control (ICRAC), made up of legal, technological and political experts whose aim is to stimulate the debate on robots in warfare. Together with a steering committee of 8 other NGOs including HRW and the Nobel Women's peace initiative, ICRAC has spearheaded an international campaign for a new internationally legally binding treaty to prohibit the use and development of autonomous weapons. Over 340 articles/appearances by Sharkey in national and international media have fuelled public debate.
The Cybernetics team at the University of Reading works at the frontier of human-machine interaction. The group carries out research on therapy and human enhancement in collaboration with medical professionals, to research new therapeutic treatments for patients with paralysis. Our work has led to the first human implantation of BrainGate, an intelligent deep brain stimulator, and the culturing of neurons within a robot body. Our work has been used by neurosurgeons in experimental human trials with the aim to enhance the standard of living of paralysed individuals. This ground breaking, and sometimes controversial work, has sparked widespread discussion and debate in the public sphere, within the media and at the government level, on the use of machines to enhance humans and vice versa.
The research has explored the impact of welfare transformations on the activities of social workers on the frontline. A key concern has been to explore the gap between, on the one hand, social work ethical statements and the commitments of practitioners on entering the field and, on the other, the workplace reality of marketization, austerity driven cuts and a range of restrictions placed on workers by new regulatory regimes. The research explores the potential, internationally, for a new `engaged' social work practice that draws service users, carers, academics, and practitioners together in defence of good quality, value driven social work.