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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/T024666/1
Title: Opening Up Minds: Engaging Dialogue Generated From Argument Maps
Principal Investigator: Piwek, Dr P
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Toshiba
Department: Faculty of Sci, Tech, Eng & Maths (STEM)
Organisation: Open University
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 18 January 2021 Ends: 17 January 2023 Value (£): 243,085
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Artificial Intelligence Computational Linguistics
Human-Computer Interactions
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Information Technologies
Related Grants:
EP/T023414/1 EP/T023554/1
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
10 Feb 2020 Responsible NLP for Intelligent Interfaces Panel 2020 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
The idea is to design a "dialogue system" interface to existing databases of the arguments surrounding controversial topics such as "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?" or "Should all humans be vegan?". In particular, a user can have a "Moral Maze" style chat with the dialogue system.

"Moral Maze" is a longrunning popular BBC 4 Radio programme in which a panel discusses a controversial topic with the help of witnesses and a host who chairs the conversation. The dialogue system consists of a panel of Argumentation Bots (ArguBots) who present arguments for or against the topic under discussion (the pro and con ArguBots), a host ArguBot and a witness ArguBot (that can provide detailed evidence). The user is invited to join the panel and voice their views on the topic under discussion. Thus the user can explore what they thought and what others thought about the controversial topic.

An important part of the projects will be to evaluate the effects on people's appreciation of the complexity of debate and attendant ability to comprehend the world from other people's point of view or perspective.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
Date Materialised
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Organisation Website: http://www.open.ac.uk