Cars and Contemporary Communication| How the Rise of Autonomous and Robotized Cars is Perceived and Felt in Europe

Authors

  • Leopoldina Fortunati Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Physics, University of Udine
  • Giuseppe Lugano University Science Park, UNIVERSITY OF ŽILINA
  • Anna Maria Manganelli Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua

Keywords:

driverless cars, robotized cars, comfort toward driverless cars, imaginary and perception of car robotization, trust in driverless cars

Abstract

This article explores users’ attitudes, perceptions, views, and emotions toward car automation and robotization, two processes increasingly affecting society in different ways––namely, the rise of autonomous and robotized cars (and vehicles in general) and the increasing level of robotization of current cars. To address these questions, we investigated the feeling of trust and comfort toward driverless cars among Europeans using two Eurobarometer surveys. Making use of two representative samples of the European population, we aimed to explore citizens’ attitudes and opinions about automation and digitization. The two surveys involved, respectively, 27,801 and 27,901 participants from all EU-28 countries. Furthermore, we investigated, in Northern Italy, the perception of robotization of cars and other technologies of everyday use, as well as the attitudes and opinions of children and preteens (n = 740), and adolescents (n = 801)—relevant social groups not covered in the Eurobarometer surveys.

Author Biographies

Leopoldina Fortunati, Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Physics, University of Udine

Prof. Leopoldina Fortunati is the director of the Laboratory of Research on New Media "NuMe" at the University of UdineMobile phone: +39 348 3028000

Giuseppe Lugano, University Science Park, UNIVERSITY OF ŽILINA

Dr. Giuseppe Lugano is senior researcher at the University of Žilina,University Science Park, Slovakia. His mobile phone is +421 944 931 080

Anna Maria Manganelli, Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua

Prof. Anna Maria Manganelli is full professor of Social Psychologymobile phone is +39 338 6405127

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Published

2019-06-23

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Section

Special Sections