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Children and robot dogs
The British Psychological Society blog has a nice summary of a recent study looking at how children reason about, and interact with, robot pets. I've always been fascinated by what I like to call "human interaction with interactive non-humans" (how we relate to technology, animals, fictional characters, religious entities) so this is sort of like that squared: not only how we relate to dogs, or robots, but robot dogs:
The picture that emerged was mixed. On the one hand, the children clearly saw the real dog as more real and alive than the robot dog ... "These children were surprisingly willing to treat the robot dog as 'dog like'," the researchers concluded. "...[S]uch findings may be evidence of the emergence of a new ontological category, neither artifact nor living being."
Had to laugh at this quote, though:
They also examined the robot dog as if it were an object rather than a creature - prodding it and picking it up.
As the owner of a real dog, who likes children very much, I can tell you that picking up and prodding are NOT activities children will restrict to robot dogs!
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About Miss Conduct Robin Abrahams writes the weekly "Miss Conduct" column for The Boston Globe Magazine.
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Robin Abrahams writes the weekly "Miss Conduct" column for The Boston Globe Magazine. Robin, who has a PhD in psychology from Boston University, has worked as a theater publicist, organizational-change communications manager, editor, stand-up comedian, and professor of psychology and English. She lives in Cambridge with her husband, Marc Abrahams, founder of the Ig Nobel Prizes, which are given annually for achievements that first make people laugh and then make them think.
Who is Miss Conduct?
Robin Abrahams writes the weekly "Miss Conduct" column for The Boston Globe Magazine. Robin, who has a PhD in psychology from Boston University, has worked as a theater publicist, organizational-change communications manager, editor, stand-up comedian, and professor of psychology and English. She lives in Cambridge with her husband, Marc Abrahams, founder of the Ig Nobel Prizes, which are given annually for achievements that first make people laugh and then make them think.
