Ying Zeng , Xinyi Liu , Xinyuan Zhang , Zhiyong Li
{"title":"Retrospective of interdisciplinary research on robot services (1954–2023): From parasitism to symbiosis","authors":"Ying Zeng , Xinyi Liu , Xinyuan Zhang , Zhiyong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102636","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Social distancing and low-touch services have been fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a paradoxical dilemma for service providers to balance high-quality service and low-touch demand. The introduction of robot services has emerged as a possible solution, yet its full potential in fostering a user-friendly modern society remains underexplored. Our goal is to address this gap via a comprehensive analysis of 16,255 interdisciplinary articles published between 1954 and 2023, elucidating the intellectual, social, and conceptual frameworks underpinning robot service research. Using a parasitical evolutionary lens, which incorporates various stages from low-level parasitism to symbiosis, we investigated the dynamic relationship between robot services and related technologies. Furthermore, we pinpointed six primary application areas for robot services, and charted their historical development, current status, and evolving issues. Additionally, we analysed robot service applications in contemporary society, offering both cross-domain and domain-specific insights. Theoretically, our research combines the integrated interdisciplinary narrative with the evolutionary technological parasitism perspectives on deconstructing robot services research. This contributes to bridging the gap between theory and practice, and expanding the boundaries of applying technology parasitism theory in answering real-world questions. Empirically, this study provides valuable insights for shaping management and innovation policies in this field. Specifically, the opportunities, threats, and future research agendas highlighted in this study can aid the work of policymakers, strategists, and technology implementation teams.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47979,"journal":{"name":"Technology in Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":10.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Technology in Society","FirstCategoryId":"90","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X24001842","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"SOCIAL ISSUES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Social distancing and low-touch services have been fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a paradoxical dilemma for service providers to balance high-quality service and low-touch demand. The introduction of robot services has emerged as a possible solution, yet its full potential in fostering a user-friendly modern society remains underexplored. Our goal is to address this gap via a comprehensive analysis of 16,255 interdisciplinary articles published between 1954 and 2023, elucidating the intellectual, social, and conceptual frameworks underpinning robot service research. Using a parasitical evolutionary lens, which incorporates various stages from low-level parasitism to symbiosis, we investigated the dynamic relationship between robot services and related technologies. Furthermore, we pinpointed six primary application areas for robot services, and charted their historical development, current status, and evolving issues. Additionally, we analysed robot service applications in contemporary society, offering both cross-domain and domain-specific insights. Theoretically, our research combines the integrated interdisciplinary narrative with the evolutionary technological parasitism perspectives on deconstructing robot services research. This contributes to bridging the gap between theory and practice, and expanding the boundaries of applying technology parasitism theory in answering real-world questions. Empirically, this study provides valuable insights for shaping management and innovation policies in this field. Specifically, the opportunities, threats, and future research agendas highlighted in this study can aid the work of policymakers, strategists, and technology implementation teams.
期刊介绍:
Technology in Society is a global journal dedicated to fostering discourse at the crossroads of technological change and the social, economic, business, and philosophical transformation of our world. The journal aims to provide scholarly contributions that empower decision-makers to thoughtfully and intentionally navigate the decisions shaping this dynamic landscape. A common thread across these fields is the role of technology in society, influencing economic, political, and cultural dynamics. Scholarly work in Technology in Society delves into the social forces shaping technological decisions and the societal choices regarding technology use. This encompasses scholarly and theoretical approaches (history and philosophy of science and technology, technology forecasting, economic growth, and policy, ethics), applied approaches (business innovation, technology management, legal and engineering), and developmental perspectives (technology transfer, technology assessment, and economic development). Detailed information about the journal's aims and scope on specific topics can be found in Technology in Society Briefings, accessible via our Special Issues and Article Collections.