even robots know that resistance to those creatures is futile

[sergebroom]

"Socialization between toddlers and robots at an early childhood education center"
(Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

A state-of-the-art social robot was immersed in a classroom of toddlers for >5 months. The quality of the interaction between children and robots improved steadily for 27 sessions, quickly deteriorated for 15 sessions when the robot was reprogrammed to behave in a predictable manner, and improved in the last three sessions when the robot displayed again its full behavioral repertoire. Initially, the children treated the robot very differently than the way they treated each other. By the last sessions, 5 months later, they treated the robot as a peer rather than as a toy. Results indicate that current robot technology is surprisingly close to achieving autonomous bonding and socialization with human toddlers for sustained periods of time and that it could have great potential in educational settings assisting teachers and enriching the classroom environment.

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/0707769104v1.pdf

Comments

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Now, why do I find that scary?

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

It worries me too. Like kids need less interaction with real people. Unless the robot is the one from Lost in Space. (What nerd wouldn't want a faithful friend who can zap those who pick on him?)

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

It seems to me almost as if someone wants to replicate the Spacer worlds of Asimov's robot stories.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

And without the Laws of Robotics. I'm more worried though by kids learning how to interact from how they deal with machines.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

That is something to worry about.

[tania-c.livejournal.com]

Makes me think of The Jetsons.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

I understand that many of their devices tended to malfunction. I hope that didn't apply to their maid. Well, even if she tore the kids to shreds, they could always be rebuilt using a transporter room thingie.

[tania-c.livejournal.com]

I almost lost my composure in an audioconference while reading your comment.

Kids should socialize with a variety of age groups, or you end up with scary Lord of the Flies scenarios. I tend to think of the robots as being treated more like pets than peers, even though the paper says otherwise.

ooh. I just remembered that Outer Limits episode with Tom Arnold as the workaholic dad that gets replaced by an android, and eventually the whole family gets put in line, by the android.

I have to go to a meeting now. ick. :(

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Yeah... Kids don't need less socializing.