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Robot Becomes One of the Kids

Posted by kdawson on from the everybody-say-awwww dept.

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."

5 of 186 comments (clear)

  1. Cue "Robot Overlord" jokes! by iknownuttin · · Score: 5, Funny
    ...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!

    --
    I prefer Flambe as apposed flamebait.
  2. A brain the size of a planet by stoolpigeon · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    Life? Don't talk to me about life.

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    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  3. Re:They do the same with a dog.. by joshuac · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    Wrong appliance.
  4. Alphie by kisrael · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

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    SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death
  5. Re:Awww...... by mstahl · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.