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Case Study on Ethics and Social Issues Arising due to Technological Developments in Various Sectors
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Added on 2019-11-29
Case Study on Ethics and Social Issues Arising due to Technological Developments in Various Sectors
Added on 2019-11-29
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1Ethics and Social Issues<Student ID><Student Name><University Name>
2ContentsIntroduction:...............................................................................................................................3Technology Overview:...............................................................................................................3Stakeholders:..............................................................................................................................4Intellectual property protection:.................................................................................................5Opportunities and benefits:........................................................................................................9Risks and drawbacks:...............................................................................................................11Summary:.................................................................................................................................13Conclusion:..............................................................................................................................14References................................................................................................................................15
3Introduction:The concerns of ethical and social issues arising with the evolving scenario in technologicaldevelopments have been observed across various sectors. One of the profound implications ofunderstanding the ethical aspects of new technology development is observed in itsattractiveness for potential investors. It is imperative that investors are always looking forpromising financial returns albeit with the indications of potential emphasis on the socialresponsibilities realized by the invention. In certain exceptional cases, the investors have beenknown to discard the emphasis on profits owing to higher social contributions derived fromtheir investments (Adams, van Veghel & Dekker, 2015). The following report aims to illustrate the possible social, legal and ethical dimensionsrelated to the product ‘Robear’, a robotic nurse developed by the company Riken. Thecomprehensive highlights of the report would comprise of a reasonable description of thetechnology and the stakeholders involved alongside a discussion on the intellectual propertyprotection measures adopted by the organization. The report also expresses the review ofpossible opportunities and pitfalls that could be observed in context of the use of theROBERT NURSE. The final section of the report facilitates a credible summarization of theobservations in the report which should be inclined towards convincing the investors. Technology Overview:The explicit observation of technical pitfalls and staff shortages could be accounted as acredible substrate for design and development of robotic technology for service delivery inhealthcare. As per Alexander, the applications of robotic technology in healthcare have beenobserved profoundly over the course of the last decade with improvements leading tointegration of robotics in delivery of primary healthcare. Some of the common examples ofrobots which could serve the applications of primary healthcare include lifting robots amongwhich ‘Robear’ tends to be the latest invention (Alexander, 2014). The Robear can be described as a robotic nurse as an outcome of joint efforts of RIKEN-SRKCollaboration Center for Human-Interactive Robot Research and Sumitomo Riko Company.The machine cannot be termed as a standard caregiver although it’s primary function is tohelp individuals in transferring from their wheelchairs and beds. The machine can also betermed as the third entry in the series of RIBA (Robot for Interactive Body Assistance)ROBERT NURSEs which followed RIBA that was launched in 2009 and RIBA II that was
4launched in 2011 (AYENI, 2014). The technology and the fabrication of Robear could beconsidered as explicit indicators of its efficiency over its predecessors. For example, theweight of Robear is 309 pounds which is substantially lower than that of its predecessorRIBA II which weighed 507 pounds. The technology implemented in the case of Robearenables it to provide gentle care especially through the rubber that is used in themanufacturing of Robear as well as the installation of force sensing components all over itsstructure (Baase & Sen, 2013). The smaller size and light weight of the robot are liable for providing additional advantagesin primary healthcare such as the flexibility of manoeuvres within the physical healthcaresetting such as home or hospital. An in-depth exploration of the technology reflects on theactuator units which have a comprehensively low gear ratio. The lower gear ratio isresponsible for allowing quick and precise movement of the joints alongside flexiblefeedback of force encountered by actuators back into the system which facilitates softermovement. The desired outcomes from Robear include lifting almost 40 patients in a day andthe pressure on the robot vary according to the requirements of the patients (Barrow, 2015). Therefore, Robear has to ensure that the patients do not experience any additional physicalpain due to the consistent transportation. Therefore, Robear’s technology also facilitates theintegration of three different types of sensors in its design which include tactile sensors and
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