Robotics as an Instrument for Social Mediation

Abstract

The relationship of a community with a robotic device happens by means of a social discourse comprised of social values, practices and representations of this device. But the robot that connects with the user community also brings with it values, practices and representations coming from the communities responsible for its idea, design, development and manufacturing, marketing, commercialization and distribution. This artefactual discourse, brought to life in the device, is present in the environments where it is used and might come to modify the discourse in the community. As devices that mediate actions, robots not only transforms the practices carried out in an environment, but also its characteristic values.