University debate will ask if we can be friends with robots
COULD you make friends with a robot?
Experts from Plymouth University's psychology and robotics departments will be debating whether robots could be companions for humans.
The discussion at the university's Peninsula Arts Gallery on Thursday, December 6 is free and open to the public.
Prof Susan Denham, head of Plymouth University's Cognition Institute, said that over millions of years we humans have evolved to socially interact with each other.
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But the skill at interpreting social signals has served us so well that we keep doing it – even with machines.
Prof Tony Belpaeme, who is co-ordinating a pan-European project to develop a robot that will be a companion and teacher for sick children, will debate with Dr Tim Auburn, deputy head of the university's School of Psychology.
They will consider questions such as: Should we allow people to bond with robots?
What about children, or adults with dementia who may not realise the limitations of the machine? Can robots substitute for human social interaction?
The debate starts at 6pm and is expected to finish at 7pm.
Comments
by CharlieDodd
Sunday, November 11 2012, 8:27PM
“..Jabba said- 'People have made friends with adult looking rubber dolls'..
But they're inflatable and spring a leak after a short while (so i've heard), so hopefully the Uni's offerings will be made of warm synthetic flesh or something”
by jabbathebutt
Sunday, November 11 2012, 7:43PM
“I dont know why the have to debate this . People have made friends with adult looking rubber dolls ... surely a robot isnt out of the question .”
by joseph_k
Sunday, November 11 2012, 6:11PM
“The debate had nothing to do with the stupid headline!”
by CharlieDodd
Saturday, November 10 2012, 4:01PM
“To keep costs down I'd like to be able to buy a single robot body with a selection of interchangeable heads such as Pippa, Reese, Dr.Quinn, Nadine Dorries, Theresa May etc”
by CantBeArsed
Saturday, November 10 2012, 12:18PM
“I can't believe our "Enterprising" University is even considering giving this the time of day. Why not teach your students simple things. Like how to add up properly, or spell correctly. Because believe me, the majority of them cannot even do the simplest of tasks.”
by CharlieDodd
Saturday, November 10 2012, 12:16PM
“Is the robotics dept taking advance orders? If so I'd like to order a Reese Witherspoon bot programmed to sing "Wildwood Flower"”
by trudie2010
Saturday, November 10 2012, 11:46AM
“I would love to have a robot, it would be far better than having to live with a person. I can't see what the problem is, our homes are full of machines anyway, at least the robot would be some sort of company. If you look on you-tube, you can find "Assimo" he is the coolest robot ever, and I think he's cute.”
by Nevman
Saturday, November 10 2012, 10:11AM
“Do you really think that's funny? That's just disturbing. Are you just sick in the head, or is there something you want to tell us?”
by CharlieDodd
Saturday, November 10 2012, 1:09AM
“Hopefully the robotics people will be able to give the robots a realistic pulse, I kept trying to find my old flame June's to check if she was alive but was never able to.”
by Nevman
Friday, November 09 2012, 8:19PM
“Yeah, sure, CharlieBob. I remember when the internet was new, spotty little teenagers would barge in on other people's conversations and boast about the "hundreds of girlfriends" they'd had.
You remind me of them - always seeking attention, always trying to pretend you're the big man. What you really need to do is grow up.”