SoylentNews

butthurt [soylentnews.org] writes:

Various news outlets report on a study of ten people who were asked by a 58 cm (23-inch), speaking, humanoid robot to touch various parts of its structure.

Changes in the conductivity of the participants' skin were measured, along with reaction time. When they touched parts of the robot corresponding to the eyes, buttocks, or crotch, changes in conductivity and reaction time were greater than when the robot's head, neck or hands were touched. The investigators say that this indicates an "emotional response."

The results are to be presented in June at the International Communication Association Conference in Fukuoka, Japan.

A video [youtube.com] depicting the experimental procedure is available. Wikipedia has a page [wikipedia.org] about the robot.

coverage:

• Gizmodo [gizmodo.com]
• Daily Mail [dailymail.co.uk]
• Medical Daily [medicaldaily.com]
• New York Post [nypost.com]
• Wired UK [wired.co.uk] (archived copy [archive.is])
• UPI [upi.com]

related stories:

• Artificial Sexuality: A Round-Table Discussion on Screwing Robots [soylentnews.org]
• Sex With Robots: the Debate [soylentnews.org]
• Buyers of Hit 'Emotional Robot,' Pepper, Sign Contract Vowing to Not Have Sex With It [soylentnews.org]
• Makers of 'Mindblowing' Sex Robot With Virtual Vagina Swamped With Orders [soylentnews.org]

Original Submission