Responsible Engineering, Design & Innovation (REDI)

Which way forward?

 

With the advent of technology that can learn and change itself, and the integration of vast data sources tracking every detail of human lives, engineering now entails decision-making with complex moral implications and global impact.  As part of daily practice, technologists face values-laden tensions concerning privacy, justice, transparency, wellbeing, human rights, and questions that strike at the very nature of what it is to be human.

We recently edited a Special Issue of IEEE Transaction on Technology and Society about “After Covid-19: Crises, Ethics, and Socio-Technical Change”

"Our research works to understand the paths toward a future in which technology benefits all of humankind and the planet. We collaborate with social scientists to develop practical methods and socio-technical solutions to equip engineers and designers with the tools necessary for practicing responsibly through every step of the development process. "

Partners

Centre for the Future of Intelligence

We are core members of the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, an AI Ethics research centre bringing together world leading AI researchers in technology and the social sciences and based at Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and University of California, Berkeley.

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Digital Catapult

Rafael Calvo is a member of Digital Catapult's 'Machine intelligence Garage' Ethics Committee, which was created to convene experts in AI and data ethics to 1. oversee the development of principles and tools to facilitate responsible AI in practice, and 2. work closely with startups developing through Digital Catapult’s Machine Intelligence Garage programme.

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Projects

UNESCO - The Future of Work

Professor Rafael Calvo is working with an international team of researchers in industrial relations, psychology, history, education and sociology on advising UNESCO in relation to the future of education and work in a world of AI and uncertainty.

Report

AI, Bias & Disability

New technologies can advance the lives of people with disabilities, but evidence is emerging that some AI may be entrenching bias or even generating new forms of injustice. For the research project "Designing AI to stop disability bias" we have partnered with colleagues at NTU in Singapore to ensure responsible AI in relation to people with disabilities.

Project Website

Responsible AI in the workplace

We work on designing technologies in ways that support precisely these factors that fuel motivation, engagement and wellbeing and we have methods for conducting design and research together with the people impacted. Our experience in doing so has made it clear that without addressing this human psychological layer, even the cleverest technology can fail.

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Culturally Appropriate Language Models and Systems (CALMS)

The Imperial team is working together with rural communities across four distinct regions of Peru to co-design responsible technologies that can help improve dementia care. This includes creating a dementia screening tool and an intervention program to support informal carers. The aim is to develop effective, accessible, and culturally sensitive solutions that can address the unique challenges posed by dementia in low- and middle-income countries.

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Responsible Tech Design Library

Find out more about tools and methods for more ethical practice in technology design

Staff

Prof. Rafael Calvo

Rafael Calvo

Prof. Rafael Calvo

Dr Celine Mougenot

Celine Mougenot

Dr Celine Mougenot

Prof. Sebastian Deterding

Prof. Sebastian Deterding

Dr Fangzhou You

Dr Fangzhou You

Laura Moradbakhti

Laura Moradbakhti

Dr Juan Pablo Bermudez

Juan Pablo Bermudez

Dr Juan Pablo Bermudez

Marco Da Re

Marco Da Re

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Sadek:2023:10.1016/j.destud.2023.101230,
author = {Sadek, M and Calvo, R and Mougenot, C},
doi = {10.1016/j.destud.2023.101230},
journal = {Design Studies},
title = {Co-designing conversational agents: a comprehensive review and recommendations for best practices},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2023.101230},
volume = {89},
year = {2023}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - This paper presents a comprehensive review of fifty-two studies co-designing conversational agents (CAs). Its objectives are to synthesise prior CA co-design efforts and provide actionable recommendations for future endeavours in CA co-design. The review systematically evaluates studies' methodological and contextual aspects, revealing trends and limitations. These insights converge into practical recommendations for co-designing CAs, including (1) selecting the most suitable design technique aligned with desired CA outcomes, (2) advocating continuous stakeholder involvement throughout the design process, and (3) emphasising the elicitation and embodiment of stakeholder values to ensure CA designs align with their perspectives. This paper contributes to standardising and enhancing co-design practices, promising to improve the quality of outcomes in the case of CAs while benefiting stakeholders and users.
AU  - Sadek,M
AU  - Calvo,R
AU  - Mougenot,C
DO  - 10.1016/j.destud.2023.101230
PY  - 2023///
SN  - 0142-694X
TI  - Co-designing conversational agents: a comprehensive review and recommendations for best practices
T2  - Design Studies
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2023.101230
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/108000
VL  - 89
ER  -
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