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Ph.D.

Arizona State University

Computer Science

Master of Informatics

Kyoto University

Social Informatics

Bachelor of Engineering

NED University of Engineering and Technology

Electronic Engineering

Investigation of Low-Moral Actions by Malicious Anonymous Operators of Avatar Robots

ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction

Avatar robots allow a teleoperator to interact with the people and environment of a remote place. Malicious operators can use this technology to perpetrate malicious or low-moral actions. In this study, we used hazard identification workshops to identify low-moral actions that are possible through the locomotor movement, cameras, and microphones of an avatar robot. We conducted three workshops, each with four potential future users of avatars, to brainstorm possible low-moral actions. As avatars are not yet widespread, we gave participants experience with this technology by having them control both a simulated avatar and a real avatar as a malicious anonymous operator in a variety of situations. They also experienced sharing space with an avatar controlled by a malicious anonymous operator. We categorized the ideas generated from the workshops using affinity diagram analysis and identified four major categories: violate privacy and security, inhibit, annoy, and destroy or hurt. We also identified subcategories for each. In the second half of this study, we discuss all low-moral action subcategories in terms of their detection, mitigation, and prevention by studying literature from autonomous, social, teleoperated, and telepresence robots as well as other fields where relevant.

Graduate Teaching Associate

School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, Arizona State University

Taught lectures and helped undergraduate students with study material, programming exercises, and technical issues for CSE 230 Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming class.

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Department of Social Informatics, Kyoto University

Helped graduate students with study material, programming exercises, technical issues, and final class project for Information System Analysis class. Covered basic machine learning and data mining.

Graduate Researcher

Human-Robot Interaction Lab, Kyoto University

Investigated misuse of avatar robots by anonymous malicious operators. Designed and executed hazard-identification workshops with users to generate a taxonomy of possible low-moral actions. Wrote and submitted manuscript which proposed detection and prevention mechanisms for each low-moral action.

Research Assistant

National Center for AI, NED University of Engineering and Technology

Engineered two low-cost socially assistive robots and investigated their use in autism therapy. Collaborated with Center for Autism, Rehabilitation & Training Sindh (C-ARTS), Dow Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Dow-IPMR), and Center for Autism Karachi. Guided 12 undergraduate engineering students whose final-year projects were associated with robotics and autism.

Volunteer Assistant

ROSCon 2022, Kyoto, Japan

Helped organizers set up the welcome booth. Guided participants, exhibitors, and speakers.

Volunteer Assistant

IROS 2022, Kyoto, Japan

Helped organizers during the pre-planning phase and set up PCs and Zoom Webinars for online streaming of the conference. Assisted session chairs and speakers, and handled the functioning of equipment and computers during the conference.

International Student/Guide

WAK Japan, Kyoto, Japan

Guided Japanese high school students hailing from different prefectures of Japan through tours in Kyoto. Interacted in English to increase students' confidence in speaking a foreign language. Introduced them to Pakistani culture. Introduced patrons of Sekai Cafe (World Cafe) in Kyoto to Pakistani culture, traditions, language, and clothing through presentations and conversations.

Field Officer

1947 Partition Archive and Stanford University Libraries

Supervised and assisted three volunteers in rural Sindh and Karachi in recording and preserving the life stories and oral histories of witnesses of the 1947 Partition of British India. Collectively recorded 90 stories.

Oral History Apprentice

1947 Partition Archive

Located and interviewed 83 witnesses of the 1947 Partition of British India to preserve their life stories and oral histories. Organized two events called Voices of Partition where witnesses and survivors of the 1947 Partition told their stories. First was at Habib University in Karachi and the second was at Sindh Rural Support Organization in Sukkur. Also spoke about my personal experience of recording these life stories at these events. Interviewed by BBC Radio for my volunteer work.

• The documentary titled 'Pakistan, Partition And The Present' can be found at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2017/32/the-documentary-pakistan-partition-and-the-present and https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05b70f4

Distinguished Master's Thesis Award

Kyoto University

The Distinguished Master's Thesis Award is an award given by the Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, to recognize the outstanding achievements of master's students in their research. The award is based on the quality and originality of the thesis, as well as the academic contribution and social impact of the research.

MEXT (文部科学省) Research Scholarship

Japanese government

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) offers scholarships to international students who wish to study in graduate courses at Japanese universities as research students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program.

Final Year Project Grant

Naim Siddique Final Year Project Fund

The Naim Siddique Final Year Project Fund is a fund established by the NED Alumni Association at Southern California to support the final year projects of undergraduate engineering students at NED University of Engineering and Technology. The fund grants 10,000 USD annually to ten teams for best proposals and on recommendation of faculty project advisor.