The self-perpetuation of the promise of care robots: how doubtful application scenarios become promising. (7th April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schulz-Schaeffer, Ingo; Wiggert, Kevin; Meister, Martin; Clausnitzer, Tim
• Is Part Of: Work, organisation, labour & globalisation. Volume 17:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 117
• Page End: 135
• Publication Date: 2023-04-07
• Subjects: care robots -- collaborative robots -- sensemaking -- narratives -- promising technology -- self-perpetuation -- nursing crisis -- prototype scenarios -- application scenarios -- real-world application; Work -- Periodicals; Labor -- Periodicals; Division of labor -- Periodicals; Industrial relations -- Periodicals; Division of labor; Industrial relations; Labor; Work; Periodicals; 331
• DOI: 10.13169/workorgalaboglob.17.1.0117
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-6428

Abstract

Abstract : This article employs a narrative approach to explain the self-perpetuation of the promise of care robots. For two decades, care robots have been viewed as a promising digital innovation that will relieve care workers from service tasks and thus improve the situation in the care sector. Though they still show a rather poor performance in real-world applications, the expectations are as high as ever. To explain the self-perpetuation of the promise of care robots, we investigate sensemaking practices in the discourse about care robots and show how a predominant overarching narrative as well as project-related sensemaking practices play out.