It was October, 2022, when Catharina von Koskull, Virpi Roto and I (Rebekah Rousi) decided to embark on a book project about humane autonomous technology. Each one of us came into the discussion from our own multidisciplinary perspectives. Catharina, an Associate Professor (Tenure Track) of Marketing at the University of Vaasa, has a background in Service marketing and management research. More recent, Catharina’s work lies in the area of Transformative Consumer/Service research (TCR/TSR), where she is exploring the intersection of aging consumers, technology, and wellbeing. Additionally, Catharina is passionate about participatory outreach methods, such as ethnodrama, which she uses to engage and communicate research findings in an inclusive way. Professor of Practice at Aalto University, Virpi Roto, is a highly esteemed and recognisable scholar in the field of human-computer interaction. She is especially well-known for the work she has undertaken in the realm of user experience, and is both Vice Dean of Impact at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture (Aalto) and Chair of the Aalto Experience Platform. Before her time in academia, Roto was an active user experience and usability specialist at the Nokia Research Center. And, I, an Associate Professor (Tenure Track) of Communication and Digital Economy, enter the picture along with a background in Cognitive Science (semiotics, human-technology interaction), Cultural Studies (digital culture and design history), and visual art (printmaking and performance).
With not only our varying points of departure, but also our diverse networks, we sought a way to capture a glimpse of the discourse, concerns and advantages of what the ‘humane’ could look like in the future of autonomous technology. The timing of the book project coincided with the closing of another project, Sea4Value Fairway (funded by DIMECC) that focused on researching and developing blueprints for digitilisation, service innovation and information flows in maritime transport. Virpi was responsible for Codesign and Human-Centered Design in the project. I had been working as a Senior Researcher in Pekka Abrahamsson’s team at the StartUp Lab, University of Jyväskylä, focusing on the ethical implications of AI implementation in the fairway. Based on this, and in combination with another fruitful event, the AI and Wellbeing Seminar organised by Catharina, that we came together to imagine the humane, through multi-disciplinary lenses, across sectors in society, from maritime, to factory work, service, the home, public transport, as well as design and creative art.
In celebration of its launch we will hold a book party and seminar, on November 28th, 2024, at 13:05-15:00 EEST, at Aalto University, Otaniemi. Click here, for more information about the event and registration.
Our book has four main parts: labour and co-work; cognition and emotion; humanness and values; and art and design and is available Open Access.
Please grab a copy here.
