Kirsten Brukamp, MD, MS, MA, is a professor of health sciences at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences in Ludwigsburg, Germany. She studied medicine, philosophy, and cognitive science, and she later pursued training in clinical medicine and biology. Her current research is focused on social and ethical aspects of health care and the life sciences. Projects include investigations of human-machine interaction in the research and development of brain-computer interfaces, robotics for neurorehabilitation, and novel technologies for health applications.
The Material Re-Turn of the Avatar–Computational Commemoration of the Deceased via Social Robots
Commemoration of the dead is a cultural phenomenon that undergoes social and personal changes over time, involving changes that are mediated by technology. Computational commemoration of the deceased has expanded alongside the extended use of modern network media, which have recently been utilised to give consolation to the bereaved. Traits may be reenacted by a virtual or physical avatar. The construction of a material avatar yields a humanoid robot, which represents a deceased human. A case study regarding contemporary narratives aids in understanding the implications of future scenarios. Serious challenges concern the realms of technology, sociology, psychology, law, and ethics.
