JKUAT Social Robotics Lab
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Responsible Computing

Responsible Computing

Embedding Responsible Computing and Ethical Considerations in Robotics Development

Social robots are increasingly gaining prominence in education—particularly in tutoring and social training—as well as in healthcare and social care settings. As robots become more integrated into these environments, it is crucial to ensure that they can build trusting relationships with people and operate in ethically and culturally acceptable ways.

Funding:Mozilla Foundation and USAID
Period:2023–2025

Project Goal

The Responsible Computing project seeks to embed responsible computing and ethical considerations in robotics design and development.

Teaching Responsible Computing - Methodology

Teaching Responsible Computing - Methodology

Training Approach

Our methodology emphasizes hands-on learning and real-world design scenarios to make Responsible Computing and ethics both practical and engaging.

  • Team-Based Responsible Computing Projects – Students collaborate in teams to design projects that integrate Responsible Computing principles, fostering critical thinking and ethical awareness.
  • Ethical Training Workshops – We conduct structured workshops incorporating design scenarios, case studies, and expert guest lectures to provide a comprehensive understanding of Responsible Computing.
  • Industry and Academic Engagement – Guest lecturers from both industry and academia share insights on responsible technology development.
  • Applied Learning – Students apply the Responsible Computing knowledge gained to their projects, enabling them to internalize ethical principles and implement them in real-world scenarios.

Core Principles

Inclusivity and Accessibility

Ensuring robots are designed to serve diverse populations, including individuals with disabilities and those from different cultural backgrounds.

Ethical Design

Prioritizing fairness, transparency, trust, and privacy in robotic interactions.

Societal Impact

Considering the economic and social aspects, ensuring that they promote empathy.

Responsible Computing Challenge Projects

Our flagship projects funded by the Mozilla Foundation focus on embedding ethical considerations into robotics and computing education.

Teaching Responsible Computing Through Designing Robotics Applications to Kenyan Computer Science Students

Teaching Responsible Computing Through Designing Robotics Applications to Kenyan Computer Science Students

JKUAT received a 2023 Responsible Computing Challenge (RCC) award from the Mozilla Foundation to train and embed ethical considerations into the development of robotics. This project focuses on teaching responsible computing through designing robot applications.

Mozilla Foundation2023RCC Computing Challenge Award
Mainstreaming Responsible Computing in ICT Student Innovations - with a Focus on Final Year ICT Student Projects

Mainstreaming Responsible Computing in ICT Student Innovations - with a Focus on Final Year ICT Student Projects

The first part of this project aims to integrate responsible computing and ethics in the design process of final-year student ICT Innovations. The second part involves integrating responsible computing and ethics in the assessment criteria and supervision of final-year student projects.

Design and Use a Responsible Computing Industry-led Final-year Project Framework

Design and Use a Responsible Computing Industry-led Final-year Project Framework

The project aims to examine past Final Year computing projects with the intention of building a responsible computing framework for future ICT projects, with input from industry stakeholders. This project aims to further integrate responsible computing into final-year ICT projects by developing a responsible computing framework, training faculty, and guiding students in applying these principles. We will also engage stakeholders, expand the initiative to other programs, and develop a software tool to support the responsible computing framework implementation.

Learn More About Our Work

Interested in this research area? Explore our team and other projects.

Meet Our TeamView All Projects