Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Wrong Conclusions

Interesting study coming out of Germany. 40 people were tested there to gauge their reactions toward seeing a robot tortured. The study showed  a robot dinosaur tortured and almost all the participants showed signs of distress at the torture. When the robots were tortured and humans tortured they showed the same responses. The participants had identical neurological responses.

That's all find and dandy, We talk to both the perfect binder and the cutter every time we turn 'em on and use them; we pat them and make them feel loved as they've been with us for so long they might as well be Trolls!

But this conclusions is spooky!

"Ultimately, this type of research can teach scientists how to build robots that we can more fully identify with and even deeply trust with tasks such as preparing our food and teaching our children."

This is just what the robots want us to do! Its all fine and dandy when the robot, like the binder, can't walk or talk, but once they become self aware . . . all hands on deck or the love fest leads to this:


Scienceshot

3 comments:

jeff hallett said...

Yes, I find it odd, this tendency to impose our emotions onto lifeless objects. And it's interesting how some of the most beloved characters in science fiction are often bereft of emotion or even life. Mr. Spock, Mr. Data, Seven-of-Nine, Robot (Lost in Space). Perhaps it is the emotional helplessness of these things that triggers our own call to sympathy or empathy. Still -- odd.

Philo Pharynx said...

Hmmm... So when you find out your child has disassembled the Roomba is there any way to tell if he's a future engineer or a future serial killer?

Troll Lord said...

Hadn't thought of that Jeff. That is rather interesting how much we like emotionless creatures; perhaps emotion is as much a burden as a benefit.

Philo you just entered the realm of Do Androids dream of electric sheep . . . only just barely with the roomba! haha

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