Human-Machine Communication: Applications and Future

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Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

13 weeks, 1 hour a week
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Intermediate
Subtitles

English

Found in

Part of

The Sage Handbook of Human–Machine Communication

Overview

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Investigate the practical applications, emerging trends, and societal implications of human-machine communication across diverse domains such as education, healthcare, marketing, and beyond. This course highlights how HMC technologies are transforming everyday life and shaping the future. This course explores the real-world impact of human-machine communication, focusing on conversational assistants, child-robot empathy, haptics, virtual and augmented reality, and the integration of HMC in sectors like education, healthcare, journalism, marketing, retail, and transportation. Learners will analyze cultural, ethical, and legal challenges, including issues of deception, accountability, and religious practices. By the end of the course, learners will be equipped to evaluate the opportunities and challenges presented by HMC technologies and anticipate future developments in the field. Through a combination of topical readings, expert video insights, and interactive quizzes, learners will connect theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios and emerging trends. The course encourages forward-thinking analysis and critical evaluation of HMC applications in society. This course is part three of a three-course Specialization designed to build a complete and cohesive understanding of the subject. While it offers valuable skills on its own, you'll gain the most benefit by progressing through all three courses as a structured learning journey. This course is based on The Sage Handbook of Human–Machine Communication, by Andrea L. Guzman, Rhonda McEwen and Steve Jones. Copyright ©2023 by Sage Publications Limited. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies. Published by Sage Publications Limited, London. Used by arrangement with Sage Publications Limited.

Syllabus

Communicating with Conversational Assistants: Uses, Contexts, and Effects
- This module explores the growing role of conversational assistants in daily life, examining user reactions, ethical considerations, and privacy challenges. It provides insights into how humans interact with AI and the societal implications of these interactions. Learners will gain a deeper understanding of the technology and its impact on communication.
Conceptualizing Empathic Child–Robot Communication
- This module explores how social robots can influence child empathy through communication, focusing on designing empathic behaviors and evaluating their impact on emotional development. Learners will examine the ethical and psychological implications of robot-mediated interactions with children.
Haptics, Human Augmentics, and Human–Machine Communication
- This module delves into the field of haptics and human augmentics, exploring how these technologies expand human capabilities and interact with human-machine communication. It examines the historical and modern applications of haptic systems and encourages a deeper understanding of their potential in enhancing human-machine interactions through tactile experiences.
HMC in Love, Sex and Robots
- This module explores the intersection of human-machine communication, focusing on the ethical implications and empirical research surrounding sex robots. Learners will examine how communication scholars and robotics professionals can collaborate to address philosophical and ethical challenges. The module also highlights current research trends and potential future directions in this emerging field.
Virtual Reality as Human–Machine Communication
- This module explores how virtual reality (VR) systems facilitate human-machine communication through sensory feedback, motion tracking, and user interactions. It covers the evolution of VR from solitary experiences to social, embodied interactions and examines the role of VR devices in shaping user experiences. Learners will gain insights into the technological and social dimensions of VR applications.
HMC in the Educational Context
- This module explores the integration of machine actors, such as AI and virtual/augmented reality, into educational settings. It examines how these technologies impact pedagogical methods and learning environments. Learners will gain insights into the potential and challenges of human-machine communication in education.
Human–Machine Communication in Healthcare
- This module explores the role of interactive machines in healthcare, focusing on how they enhance patient engagement and service delivery. It covers the use of socially assistive robots and highlights the importance of effective human-machine interactions. Learners will also examine future research directions to improve these technologies.
Why Human–Machine Communication Matters for the Study of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism
- This module explores the significance of human-machine communication (HMC) in understanding the role of artificial intelligence in journalism. It covers the functional, relational, and ontological dimensions of AI in media, helping learners critically evaluate its impact on communication and society.
Human–Machine Communication in Marketing and Advertising
- This module explores how digital systems act as communication agents in marketing, focusing on behavioral targeting, contextual marketing, and the role of algorithms in delivering personalized ads. Learners will understand the impact of mobile communication and the theoretical shifts in advertising research. The content provides insights into how marketers can leverage real-time data for more effective campaigns.
Human–Machine Communication in Retail
- This module explores the evolving role of human-machine communication in retail, focusing on how automation and technology enhance customer interactions. It covers the historical development of communication models and the impact of chatbots and in-store robotics on consumer experiences. Learners will gain insights into the challenges and opportunities of integrating machines into retail environments.
Autonomous Vehicles: Where Automation Ends and the Communication Begins
- This module explores the intersection of autonomous vehicles and human-machine communication, examining how automation challenges traditional human-machine interaction concepts and introduces new philosophical and practical questions. Learners will gain insights into the definitions, implications, and ethical considerations of machine autonomy in transportation contexts.
HMC in Space Operations
- This module explores the critical role of human-machine communication (HMC) in space operations, covering operational practices, communication methods, and analytical approaches. Learners will gain an understanding of how control teams interact with spacecraft and the socio-technical systems that support these interactions. The module also introduces frameworks for analyzing HMC in complex space environments.
Religious Human–Machine Communication: Practices, Power, and Prospects
- This module explores the intersection of religion and robotics, examining how faith-based robotic agents are designed, their cultural implications, and the ethical challenges involved in cross-cultural human-machine interactions. Learners will gain insight into the emerging field of religious human-machine communication and its potential future developments.