| Date | November 2017 | Marks available | 2 | Reference code | 17N.1.SL.TZ0.4 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 1 | Time zone | no time zone |
| Command term | Identify | Question number | 4 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Social robots
When many people think of robots, they think of them in large-scale industrial settings, such as manufacturing automobiles (cars), but this is not always the case. Figure 2 shows an image of Robbi, the first social robot for the home. Robbi can be purchased for US$699.
Figure 2: Robbi
Robbi is connected to the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT is “the network of physical objects – or ‘things’ – embedded with electronics, software, sensors and network connectivity, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data”1.
Robbi is able to carry out simple tasks, such as reminding someone when they have an important meeting, or turning the heating or air conditioning on or off in a person’s house while they are away.
1 Wikipedia, “Internet of things” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_of_things)
Identify two sensors that Robbi could use.
Identify the steps Robbi would take in order to turn the air conditioning on and off.
It has been decided to provide only online access to documentation for Robbi. There will be no downloadable PDFs.
Analyse this decision.
Robbi’s website claims that, “Robbi is friendly, helpful and intelligent. He can sense and respond, and learns as you engage with him”. Some of the customers who own Robbi are considering whether they could extend the range of tasks Robbi could perform, or whether they should allow Robbi to make decisions for them.
To what extent should individuals rely on social robots like Robbi to act as decision-makers for them?
Markscheme
Answers may include:
- Obstacle sensor
- Temperature sensor / heat sensor
- Light sensor
- Proximity sensor
- Humidity sensor
- Sound sensor
Award [1] for identifying each sensor that Robbi could use up to a maximum of [2].
Answers may include:
- Detect the room temperature / senses the change in temperature.
- Compare the temperature to a pre-set value.
- If the temperature detected is more than the pre-set value, switch on the AC.
- If the temperature detected is less than the pre-set value, switch off the AC.
- Robbi collects data from temperature sensors at a set interval, and when a room reaches a desired temperature, Robbi lowers the intensity or turns the AC off.
- If the owners have set a time for the AC to be turned off, Robbi sends a signal for all the AC units to be turned off.
Award [1] for identifying each step Robbi would take in order to turn on and off the air conditioning up to a maximum of [4].
Answers may include:
- Only producing online data may mean that there is only one master copy of the information, which means that it will be more straightforward to update the information than if it is stored in more than one place (systems).
- Having information in more than one place may lead to issues, such as version control, and staff may find that even relatively minor amendments require a significant amount of staff time and cost (systems).
- The rapid rate of evolution of Robbi may mean that by the time the PDFs are produced, the next iteration will be released, making their production surplus to requirements (change).
- The design of the website will be critical to the updating of the content. A poorly designed website may not be appropriate for using this method of updating documentation (systems).
- Many users will prefer to have PDF documentation that they can download and use when they are not connected to the internet. Online documentation will require that the user is connected to the internet and may be less convenient to use (systems).
- Using PDFs may require a well-organized library system where the previous versions of the PDF are stored, whereas meta-data trails may be used to show when the website is updated (systems).
- Some functions of Robbi work without access to the internet (using the local network), so if the internet goes down, there is no access to the documentation (access, systems).
Keywords: skills, connectivity, access, change, systems
Answers may include:
Reasons why individuals could rely on robots such as Robbi to act as decision-makers for them: ·
- Customers can log into Robbi from their internet or their mobile phone, which will give them a feeling of security that they have control over events/activities that are occurring remotely (systems).
- With greater decision-making capabilities, Robbi can free up individuals so they can concentrate on less mundane activities (automation, systems).
- Robbi is reflecting on the development of society as a whole. If the delegation of decision-making to robots such as Robbi is more common, this should not be an issue (values).
Reasons why individuals should not rely on robots such as Robbi to act as decision-makers for them:
- Robbi may not be connected at all times, for example in power outages or a router failure (systems).
- Robbi does not have human intuition, so customers could find Robbi is making decisions that are not appropriate for the situation.
- If Robbi makes a bad decision, there may legal issues that may arise should there be a problem/accident, etc. (accountability, transparency, power).
- Robbi could eventually reduce the decision-making capabilities of the customer (autonomy).
- Robbi may not be seen as neutral by customers, and if used to supervise others, Robbi could be seen as a method of surveillance.
- The data that is associated with Robbi may be highly sensitive, and there may be concerns about its security if it is easily accessible.
- Decision-making can take place at a number of levels. Robbi may be appropriate for some tasks, but not for others. Customers must use their judgement when determining what constitutes an appropriate task for Robbi.
- Robbi may make decisions that may not be considered to be ethical (values).
In part (c) of this question it is expected there will be a balance between the terminology related to digital systems and the terminology related to social and ethical impacts.
Keywords: automation, connectivity, social robots, change, power, systems, values, ethics, accountability, transparency, autonomy, decision-making, judgement
Refer to SL/ HL paper 1, part c markbands when awarding marks. These can be found under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials > Digital society markbands and guidance document.
Examiners report
Syllabus sections
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21M.1.SL.TZ0.4a.i:
In addition to a voice sensor, identify two sensors that would be found in Pepper.
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19M.1.SL.TZ0.3a.i:
In addition to adaptable font size, identify two features of the e-voting graphical user interface (GUI) that could be customized to make it accessible for all voters.
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19M.2.SL.TZ0.4:
To what extent do you agree that the advantages of implanting microchips in humans outweigh the concerns? Use all the sources and your own knowledge.
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22M.1.SL.TZ0.2a.i:
Identify three sensors that may be used to detect data about the weather conditions.
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21N.1.HL.TZ0.6:
Smart warehouse
Greenwood Industries’ warehouse uses a smart storage solution for the picking of products from the shelves of the warehouse. Robots are used in this automated picking process.
Currently, these robots are programmed to access a knowledge base* that enables these robots to use the most efficient route for the picking of products.
Greenwood Industries claims the picking process would be improved if the expert system was replaced by an artificial neural network (ANN).
Discuss whether Greenwood Industries should replace the existing system with one that uses an artificial neural network (ANN).
* knowledge base: a set of rules that are manually input into an expert system.
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20N.1.SL.TZ0.3c:
The development of mobile health apps has changed the way citizens manage their own health and well-being.
Discuss whether citizens like Jaime should rely only on the advice of a health app to manage their own health and well-being.
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18M.3.HL.TZ0.3:
The students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) want to be included in school activities and have appropriate access to the curriculum.
The two interventions influence a student’s identity in the classroom.
Evaluate the impact of educational digital technologies, such as social robots and assistive technologies, on the identity of students with SEND in Tayton School.
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18N.1.HL.TZ0.5:
App or intuition?
Apps have been developed that allow a customer to submit a trip request to a taxi company on their smartphone. These apps allow the customer to select the starting point and final destination of the journey as well as add other information, such as the time of journey and number of passengers.
The developers of the taxi journey app claim it can capture the real-time details of a journey, including the starting point, route, distance travelled, the speed of the car and the final destination. The app integrates this information with real-time traffic information, such as closed roads or accidents. Fares can be estimated before the journey, and the customer can pay digitally with their credit card or by PayPal.
Some traditional taxi drivers in cities such as Paris and Rio de Janeiro have campaigned against the introduction of these apps in taxi companies. Based on previous journeys recorded by the app, the taxi company recommends that their taxi drivers rely on the taxi journey app rather than their own knowledge of the city when determining the best route.
Discuss whether the taxi driver should rely on the taxi journey app, rather than their own knowledge of the city, when determining the best route.
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18M.1.HL.TZ0.5:
Can digital technologies be used sustainably?
Many organizations claim that the most efficient use of information technology (IT) equipment, such as laptops and printers, is to replace them on a regular basis. For example, an organization’s strategy may be to do this every three years.
Other organizations purchase IT equipment that can easily be upgraded by increasing the storage and memory or upgrading the processing capabilities only when required. They claim they do not need to replace their IT equipment on such a regular basis and believe this is a more sustainable practice.
Evaluate the sustainability of these two strategies.
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20N.1.SL.TZ0.4a.ii:
Identify two sensors that the passenger’s bracelet may use.
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19N.1.SL.TZ0.3b:
There are two possible methods for ensuring students use the TailorEd online learning system responsibly. They are:
- restricting access to sites that may be considered inappropriate
- educating the students about acceptable use.
Analyse these two methods.
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19M.3.HL.TZ0.2a:
Explain how Miketon Town Council could encourage its citizens to use the ride-sharing app.
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18M.3.HL.TZ0.4:
With reference to the stimulus material and your own inquiries, recommend whether Tayton School should use social robots and/or assistive technologies to ensure students with SEND can be further integrated into the school.
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19M.3.HL.TZ0.1b:
Identify two characteristics of ride-sharing apps that have made them popular
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19M.1.SL.TZ0.1a.i:
Identify two characteristics of a haptic interface.
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19M.1.HL.TZ0.5:
How to appropriately interact in an online environment
Increasing numbers of parents are claiming digital technologies that monitor online activities are the best way to protect their children from offensive content. A number of companies, such as mSpy and Qustodio, have developed online monitoring apps.
Other parents claim it is not necessary to monitor their children’s online behaviour, preferring to encourage their children to develop the knowledge and skills to make appropriate choices.
Parents can consider two different interventions to ensure their children use the online environment appropriately:
- Monitor their children’s online behaviour using apps
- Encourage their children to develop the knowledge and skills to use the online environment and make appropriate choices.
With reference to real-life scenarios, evaluate these two interventions.
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21N.1.SL.TZ0.1a.i:
Identify two hardware devices that Rajesh could use to view his internet protocol television (IPTV) channels.
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21N.1.HL.TZ0.5:
Smart farming
A government in East Africa is using the expertise of scientists at a university in the region to promote the culture of smart farming and increase the productivity of farmers (see Figure 5). To do this, they have developed an app that the farmers can use to assist them in their decision-making.
Figure 5: An example of farming in East Africa
[Palmer, N., 2010. A farmer at work in Kenya’s Mount Kenya region [image] [online] Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2DU_Kenya_86_(5367322642).jpg (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en [Accessed 18 May 2020].]
Unfortunately, the scientists who developed the app have received many complaints from farmers who have been unable to use it. They are considering two options:
- making the existing system more user-friendly
- educating the farmers to use the existing system.
The scientists claim by making changes to the app it will make the app more user-friendly for the farmers. However, the farmers claim it would be better to provide them with education, such as training, so they can use the existing app.
Evaluate these two claims.
