CS 4002
Robots and Society
Schedule

Some readings are not firm as of now, and many will be added the week before the class. Remember: there is no excuse for ignorance of the assigned reading material. Visit this page frequently. Bring a friend.

Date

Topic

Reading for
Class Discussion (Read PRIOR to Class)

Assignment

Jan 8

Introduction I

 Robot Ethics – The Economist

 

Jan 10

Introduction II/Ethical Foundations I

Robo Sapiens (RS), Introduction

Why the future doesn't need us (Bill Joy)

A Robot in Every Home (Bill Gates)

 

Jan 15

Ethical Foundations II

Introduction to Ethics Article (Class Handout)

Moral Machines (MM), Chapter 1

In class exercise 1

Jan 17

Ethical Foundations III

A survey

Digital People (DP), Chapter 1

 

Jan 22

Argumentation

Using the Toulmin Model (Class Handout)

DP, Chapter 2

HWK #1: Introduction to Ethics

DUE 1/31

Jan 24

Asimov's Laws

MM, pp. 91-99

Three laws and Metaethics

Beyond Asimov

Uncanny Valley

Term paper assignment #1

 DUE 2/7

Jan 29

Defense: Killer Applications

RS, Remote Possibilities

Military Robots and Ethics

Armed Robot Operations 

In class exercise 2

Jan 31

Defense II

RS, Serious Fun

Review of Code with explanation of the 4 regulatory forces (Focus on section titled 'What Regulates and How)

 HW #1 DUE!

HWK# 2 OUT: DUE  2//12

Feb 5

Entertainment/Companion Robots

If you kick a robotic dog, is it wrong?

The March of the Robot Dogs

Do People really want Robots?

Dangers

Where are they?

 

Feb 7

Lab Tour 

Meet at TSRB LOBBY 9:30AM

 

MM, Chapter 3

RS, Electric Dreams

TP#1 DUE!

Feb 12

Medical and Assistive Robotics

Robots and Rehabilitation

Robots and Autism

Exoskeletons

 HW #2 DUE!

Feb 14

Cyborgs

Brains and Robots

Implant tumors

Mind reading

In class exercise 3

Feb 19

Robots and Jobs

RS, Workmates

World Robotics Summary

Droids take your jobs

Robots and the Workforce

Term paper Outline and

Debate topics

(BOTH DUE 3/7)

Feb 21

Robots and Privacy

Socio-ethics (Read at least sections 3 and 5)

Security and Privacy

In Class Exercise 4

Feb 26

Midterm Exam

Past Midterm NOTE: This is not necessarily a guide for the future!

Feb 28

Religion and Robots I

DP, Chapter 4

Robot: Child of God

Technoethics

 

March 5

Religion and Robots II

DP, Chapter 5

Commander Data: A Candidate for Harvard Divinity School?

 

March 7

Sexual Activity and Robots I

 DP, Chapter 8

Legal Implications of Intimacy with Machines

OUTLINE AND DEBATE TOPICS DUE!

Term Paper (DUE 4/23)

March 12

Drop Day is March 13

Sexual Activity and Robots II

Robot Prostitutes

Robot Sex Tourism

 

March 14

Social and Cultural Distinctions I

DP, Chapter 7

Who is Afraid?

Culture in Neuro-robotics

Debate Assignments

(Due 4/9)

Homework #3

DUE 11:59 PM Monday before 3/28

March 19
March 21

Spring Break

March 26

Social and Cultural Distinctions II

Cultural Acceptance: West versus Japan

Cross-cultural Robot Design

 

March 28

Intelligent Beings I (aka The Singularity)

DP, Chapter 9,

I … am a Robot

Student presentations

April 2

Intelligent Beings II

MM, Chapter 4

Ethical Treatment of Robots

Student presentations

April 4

Intelligent Beings III

RS, Robo Sapiens

MM, Chapter 12

Student presentations

April 9

Debates I

All debate documents for all debates are due at the beginning of class 4/9.

Student debates

April 11

Debates II

 

Student debates

April 16

Debates III

 

Student debates

April 18

Professional Ethics

 Using the new ACM code of Conduct for Decision Making

ACM Code of Conduct

IEEE Code of Conduct

IEEE Plagiarism

AUVSI Code of Conduct

 

April 23

Guest Lecture

 

TERM PAPER DUE!  

April 25

What's Next? A Challenge

 

Out: Take-Home Exam

Oral Schedule

April 29 – May 3

Final Exam