The New Pet Craze: Robovacs
Scientists believe that robot pets trigger a hard-wired nurturing response in humans. It appears robot vacuums tap into the same instincts.
MIT anthropologist Sherry Turkle, one of the leading researchers in the field, is conducting studies on how children perceive smart toys like the Aibo, Furby, Tamagotchi and My Real Baby. She says humans are programmed to respond in a caring way to creatures, even brand-new artificial ones.
When Sony first released its robot dog, the Aibo, it was surprising to many that owners bonded with their mechanical pets in ways akin to how they would relate to cats and dogs.
Since then, the attachment to Aibos and other mechanical toys has become the subject of academic inquiry.
Researchers at the University of Washington are also examining how children and the elderly interact with the Aibo.
Scientists believe that robot pets trigger a hard-wired nurturing response in humans. It appears robot vacuums tap into the same instincts.
MIT anthropologist Sherry Turkle, one of the leading researchers in the field, is conducting studies on how children perceive smart toys like the Aibo, Furby, Tamagotchi and My Real Baby. She says humans are programmed to respond in a caring way to creatures, even brand-new artificial ones.
When Sony first released its robot dog, the Aibo, it was surprising to many that owners bonded with their mechanical pets in ways akin to how they would relate to cats and dogs.
Since then, the attachment to Aibos and other mechanical toys has become the subject of academic inquiry.
Researchers at the University of Washington are also examining how children and the elderly interact with the Aibo.
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