You may not have a home robot yet (vacuum cleaner?) – but 20 years ago you didn’t have a “smart phone” either; you didn’t even know such a remote control could exist; and now you can’t imagine life without it.
Consequently, everything in its own time… And it’s good to know from now that for years there have been scientists and other specialists who deal with the relationships you can (and should) create with your household robots.
Due to demographic changes and the related shortage of specialized workers, as well as the increased penetration of technology into our private and professional lives, social robots and successful human-robot interaction are becoming increasingly important. Human-robot interaction (HRI) and research in this field constitute a multidisciplinary area. It involves “the study of humans, robots, and the ways in which they influence each other.” HRI brings together various scientific disciplines, such as robotics, engineering, computer science, human-computer interaction, cognitive sciences, and psychology. These specific robots are created precisely to interact with humans or to evoke emotional responses from them. Social robots appear in various roles, such as museum guides, receptionists, educators, household task assistants, and caregivers for individuals with various difficulties…
If the above seems too futuristic to you, take another look at your mobile phone, not just as a “functional” device but mainly as an emotional machine – as a machine, it’s nothing more than a first approximation. Voice-activated “home assistants” are already commonplace in other parts of the planet. And children (especially only children) would certainly like a companion-that-cares-for-them (and instantly alerts parents if needed…) that also resembles a toy.
Attention only to the hacking! (Nothing is simply what it says in the digital universe!…)