2004/04/24 by Peter H. Kahn, Batya Friedman, Deanne R. Pérez-Granados +1 · 2 citations
Psychology · Computer Science · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Social Robot Interaction and HRI #Innovative Human-Technology Interaction #Human-Animal Interaction Studies
paper · doi:10.1145/985921.986087
openalex publication_date 2004/04/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
This study examined preschool children's reasoning about and behavioral interactions with one of the most advanced robotic pets currently on the retail market, Sony's robotic dog AIBO. Eighty children, equally divided between two age groups, 34-50 months and 58-74 months, participated in individual sessions that included play with and an interview about two artifacts: AIBO and a stuffed dog. Results showed similarities in children's reasoning about the two artifacts, but differences in their behavioral interactions. Discussion focuses on how robotic pets, as representative of an emerging technological genre in HCI, may be (a) blurring foundational ontological categories, and (b) impacting children's social and moral development. More broadly, results inform on our understanding of the human-robotic relationship.