Robot Becomes One of the Kids

An anonymous reader writes "Researchers have found that toddlers treat a small robot as a peer rather than a toy. A team from the University of California, San Diego, placed Sony's QRIO in a classroom of kids aged 18 months to 2 years and watched them interact. Over time the children grew to treat the robot as one of them — playing games with the robot, hugging it, and covering it up with a blanket when its batteries ran down."

Cue "Robot Overlord" jokes!

[iknownuttin]

...but a new study shows that a giggling robot is sophisticated enough to get toddlers to treat it as a peer.

"Robot Overlord" jokes are actually on topic!

A brain the size of a planet

[stoolpigeon]

and they put me in the middle of a room full of toddlers.

Life? Don't talk to me about life.

Wait what did that researcher say

[techpawn]

Over time the children grew to treat the robot as one of them -- playing games with the robot, hugging it, and covering it up with a blanket when its batteries ran down."

Some researcher said sex with robots in the next 20 years right? Might as well start em early...

Too bad Sony cancelled the QRIO...

[Mysticalfruit]

They looked like really slick pieces of technology. Though, if I ever got one, I'd be too tempted to program it to act like Gir...

May I be the first to say...

[the0]

Awwwww.

"...and covering it up with a blanket when its batteries ran down."

Re:They do the same with a dog..

[joshuac]

I still think my Mom likes her Roomba more than me....

Wrong appliance.

Alphie

[kisrael]

I was an only child in a neighborhood without many kids.
I really liked "Alphie", this game playing robot (circa 1979).
Had him for years, then let some other kids play with him and he broke.

Lesson learned: other kids suck.

Re:They do the same with a dog..

[blindd0t]

These days, it's generally preferred that there's not even a carpet that needs cleaning.

Re:They do the same with a dog..

[dajak]

I imagine that I will teach my 10 months old son my prejudices later, just like I am teaching him right now not to torture the cat.

Peers

[Karl0Erik]

Over time the children grew to treat the robot as one of them -- playing games with the robot, hugging it, and covering it up with a blanket when its batteries ran down.

As a kid, I don't recall covering my friends with blankets when their batteries ran down.

Re:They do the same with a dog..

[corifornia2]

I saw we give the robot lasers and a buzz saw and see how the kid treat it then.

Re:Awww......

[mstahl]

Nah it's not just you. I'm a guy and I seriously awww'd loud enough that the whole office took notice. It's seriously the most adorable thing I've read in a few days.

Re:yeah..

[glittalogik]

...who also received far more rough treatment.

Proof that defilement of corpses is a naturally evolved trait.

Eventually ...

[PPH]

... robots will become so lifelike that the teachers will try to have sex with them.

Re:Wait what did that researcher say

[aphexcoil2]

So you're saying Slashdotters will be able to lose their virginity in 20 years? Sweet!

I can hear it now...

[maciarc]

"Teacher, I gave Robby my milk cause he didn't have any. Now he's making funny noises..."