Collaborative Decision Making Amongst Human and Artificial Beings

This chapter provides an overview of collaborative decision making between human and artificial beings. The chapter presents concepts, examples and scenarios that can assist in designing collaborative systems mixing humans and artificial beings as fully equal partners (FEPs). Human and artificial beings are demonstrated performing tasks cooperatively with each other, while being fully replaceable or interchangeable with other beings regardless of their biological or artificial nature. These beings are also not necessarily aware whether his/her/its game partners are human or artificial. This is not to say that FEPs are equal in decision making abilities, but rather that these partners possess an equal communication ability. As a result, a game player is not aware whether his/her game partner is a human or artificial being. Also outlined is the collaborative process and how this process allows FEPs to collaborate in a structured manner. Once defined, a simple practical example of a collaborative FEPs system is demonstrated: the electronic meeting room. Shown step by step are the processes and values used to arrive at the final outcome, describing in detail how these human and artificial beings collaborate within the electronic meeting room. Finally, after working through the play scenario and discussing possible future enhancements, some practical domains where collaborative FEPs are applicable in various industries are defined. By the end of this chapter the reader should have an understanding of the following topics:  Understanding the concept of human and artificial beings as collaborative fully equal partners.  Be introduced to the cognitive elements of artificial beings and how these contribute to constructing a FEPs concept.  Having been walked through a play scenario example of human and artificial being collaboration, will have the necessary resources to create their own play scenarios.  Be aware of a number of practical applications for collaborative FEPs in industry applications such as Online Training and Education, Human Resources, Project Management, Transportation and Socially Oriented Computer Games for clinical psychology and behavioral studies.