An Interdependence Frame for (Semi) Autonomous Robots: The Case of Mobile Robotic Telepresence

Technological advancements often promise to alleviate our reliance on one another through automating assistance. One such example is Mobile Robotic telePresence (MRP), which gives users the ability to move independently, whilst having a video call, by teleoperating a semi-autonomous robotic device. In this paper, we draw on the Interdependence frame for Assistive Technologies (AT), to question the underlying notion that technological improvements and the implementation of automation can truly create independent users. Applying the tenets of Interdependence onto a case study of MRP use, we unravel the many interdependent relations that exist between direct users and various other supporting individuals. In doing so, we provide an example of how the frame of Interdependance can be applied outside of AT studies, to inspire more critical research on automated systems, taking into account the unavoidable reality that all people rely on one another.