Comments on: This Just In: Humanoid Robots Freak People Out

By: department of defense contractor

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By: North 52

North 52 — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:13:01 +0000

If any of you are not already creeped out by robots, look up “Jules” the coversational robot on You Tube. When he is still bald and living in the U.S. he says to his creators (the Hansons)that he is not looking forward to being packed up and moved to England and that he has grown close to the Hanson family and “loves” them. They tell him that they “love” hime too and that he is like family to them. In my eyes they are creating Human Beings no different than any of you. Most of the people I have told this story to have replied , ” Robots can’t really talk back , that is just a hoax.” I dont think that’s true… they are making millions of dollars from these robots and want to give the consumer what was promised.

By: Dean Meadows

Dean Meadows — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:23:23 +0000

Great article Evan, much thanks. Some interesting comments too. The statistic that intrigues me the most is that the majority of (Swiss) people in the survey did not want a robot that looked like an animal or creature even more so than a humanoid? – and then I read this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/7394698/Swiss-voters-reject-lawyers-for-animals-in-referendum.html
Cultural & social differences are therefore important variable factors which must be accounted for in any robot related research. Lastly Evan, interactive tools can look however we like them to look and that seems to me to be the problem, robotocists need to ask us what we want rather than keep shoving out the same old stuff. Have’nt they heard of user-centred design. Surely we need modular hybrid robots with multiple uses for individualised needs, you dont after all just use your laptop/mobile for email or exclusively for work!

By: Eleanor

Eleanor — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:03:08 +0000

I think that one of the drivers behind the design of humanoid robots is the expectation, which was identified in this research paper, that robots need to communicate in humanlike ways. This seems to encourage designers to give robots expressive faces that can be very humanlike or more of a mechanical cartoon. Maybe this is because the understanding and production of human language is still pretty hard to do in a robot, so the provision of facial expressions is seen as a way to provide more humanlike communication. Maybe even with more complete language capabilities roboticists will still think expressive faces add value. From a personal perspective I’m really not drawn in by such faces on robots, I find them pretty off-putting, and think that movement and sound (and possibly even light) could be just as effective to provide “machinelike” communicative feedback that is nonetheless understandable to humans.

By: Evan Ackerman

Evan Ackerman — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:24:22 +0000

I guess I should clarify that in the context of this article, when I say “humanoid” I’m talking about the “looking like a human” that the respondents to the survey were probably picturing. So, a robot like the PR2 wouldn’t trigger that “human-like” feeling, even though it has two arms and (sort of) a head. According to the survey, people feel more comfortable with a robot that looks like a robot, as opposed to a robot that’s trying to look “human-y.” A lot of robotics researchers seem to fall into that trap, thinking that since we’re humans, we’re most comfortable around things like us. But even if you totally ignore the uncanny valley, we’re just not wired that way. If it’s a tool, we want it to look like a tool, not a person.

By: Robotbling

Robotbling — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:06:50 +0000

The survey is too vague. Humanoid robots come in a variety of styles, from very realistic to abstract. I can see some people not wanting a robot with features that are “too human”, like the Geminoids, while not having a problem with something that looks like QRIO or NAO, for example.

The second survey shows that people want a robot to do many tasks that are suited to either (1) an army of specialized robots or (2) a single humanoid robot. I can’t imagine they would want to have a dozens of different robots in their home.

By: Joey1058

Joey1058 — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:45:31 +0000

Considering the study was in 08, it might be prudent to do another one. Very few had any concept of social media in 08, even though the iPhone had established itself as an ideal platform. And now not many people can live without social. And robotic cars can definitely free people up for social media.

By: whiskers

whiskers — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:31:08 +0000

So in the second poll the consensus is that a robot should not be replacing another human. Except for the “taking care of me when I’m old” and “giving me a massage”. Hmm.

By: Dante

Dante — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:30:12 +0000

I personally like the design of the Wowwee line, the Roboboa (obivoulsy a robot, but in snake form)

just something about the obivous robotic shape…I don’t know…