Respectful Things: Adding Social Intelligence to 'Smart' Devices
2026-06-01 • Human-Computer Interaction
Human-Computer Interaction
AI summaryⓘ
The authors suggest that making smart personal devices show 'respect' to users could improve how these devices interact with people. They explore what respect means and identify four types of respect that could guide device behavior: directive, obstacle, recognition, and care respect. These ideas come from philosophy and relate to how respectful behavior shapes human relationships. The authors believe simulating respect in devices could make them more helpful and user-friendly.
smart devicesuser interactionrespectdirective respectobstacle respectrecognition respectcare respecthuman-computer interactionphilosophy of respect
Authors
Max Van Kleek, William Seymour, Reuben Binns, Nigel Shadbolt
Abstract
In this paper, we propose that the idea of devices respecting their end-users may serve as a strong design goal for highly personal and intimate smart devices. We ask what respect is, how it shapes interaction, and how good-faith simulation of respect might inform user-friendly smart device design. Respect is a natural and integral part of natural human relationships that is seen to shape work and personal relations. In a basic sense, this is the core purpose of smart things: we expect them to be ready and willing to help us. In this vein, we distil the characteristics of more complex respectful behaviours into 4 main types relevant to smart devices, drawing from philosophical analyses of the conceptual dimensions of respect: directive respect, obstacle respect, recognition respect, and care respect. We discuss the implications of each of these kinds of respect for the future of smart personal devices.