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Date November 2017 Marks available 8 Reference code 17N.1.SL.TZ0.4
Level SL Paper 1 Time zone no time zone
Command term To what extent 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.

[2]
a.i.

Identify the steps Robbi would take in order to turn the air conditioning on and off.

[4]
a.ii.

It has been decided to provide only online access to documentation for Robbi. There will be no downloadable PDFs.  

Analyse this decision.

[6]
b.

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?

[8]
c.

Markscheme

Answers may include:

Award [1] for identifying each sensor that Robbi could use up to a maximum of [2].

a.i.

Answers may include:


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]

a.ii.

Answers may include:

 


Keywords: skills, connectivity, access, change, systems

b.

Answers may include:

Reasons why individuals could rely on robots such as Robbi to act as decision-makers for them: ·   

Reasons why individuals should not rely on robots such as Robbi to act as decision-makers for them: 

 

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.

c.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.i.
[N/A]
a.ii.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.

Syllabus sections

Topic 5: HL extension » 5.1 Global well-being
Topic 2: Concepts » 2.1 Change
Topic 4: Contexts » 4.2 Economic
Topic 2: Concepts » 2.3 Identity
Topic 4: Contexts » 4.4 Health
Topic 2: Concepts » 2.4 Power
Topic 2: Concepts » 2.6 Systems
Topic 3: Content » 3.7 Robots and autonomous technologies
Topic 2: Concepts » 2.7 Values and ethics
Topic 2: Concepts
Topic 3: Content
Topic 4: Contexts
Topic 5: HL extension

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