Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Robot Pets Almost as Good as Real Ones?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the cutting-your-hand-on-a-loose-bolt dept.

Gallamine writes "Many people claim that pets are good for their owners. But, what about robot pets? Some scientists at the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue's Veterinary school say yes, robot pets can benefit humans. Petting an AIBO caused the human stress hormone cortisol to decrease in patients, much like a real dog, although the effects weren't as pronounced. Also, AIBOs sent to nursing homes caused the residents to be less depressed and lonely. Similar research is being done by Dr. Dr. Takanori Shibata with his robotic seal named Pero."

3 of 229 comments (clear)

  1. of course by Janek+Kozicki · · Score: 3, Interesting

    of course robot pets will work, just like teddy bear works. And is much cheaper.

    --
    #
    #\ @ ? Colonize Mars
    #
  2. Well, duh! by MoThugz · · Score: 3, Interesting

    They don't get sick, thus don't have vet fees amounting to hundreds a year (if not thousands). They don't pee, they don't shit. They don't cause lawsuits from the paper boy who just got his gonads chewed. And you can silent a yapping robot pet by taking out its batteries and not get the SPCA on your ass.

    So hell yeah... robot pets are definitely better than those damn pesky biological ones!

    --
    Welley Corporation - SLM Scammers
  3. Re:No comparison by david.given · · Score: 4, Interesting
    No, a robot pet can never learn love, loyalty, hate or other emotions. It can at best closely mimic the behaviour caused by these emotions in real animals.

    Are you sure? Can you prove that? Can you state what it is makes a 'real' animal different from a robot, other than several orders of magnitude of complexity?