Searching for questions, original thoughts, or advancing theory: Human-machine communication

摘要

The study of Human-Machine Communication (HMC) has the potential to impact a variety of contexts and influence multiple aspects of everyday life. Robots and other machine communicators are increasingly performing social and workplace roles such as teachers, caregivers, surveillance, decision-makers and personal companionship. They have the ability to improve quality of human life through assistance, enabling for instance, independent living or providing support in work-intensive, difficult and possibly complex situations. Moreover, they have the ability to fill social roles. With social machines becoming more common, research into Human-Machine Communication is also expanding. Issues of how HMC is situated in the academic discussion alongside of the role of theory and directions concerning future research are offered.