I’m not sure this is surprising to anyone: Dogs don’t like robots that zoom around their floor sucking up dirt. They don’t like human-powered vacuum cleaners either. And they don’t like robotic pets, which they see as a threat.
Human beings anthropomorphize robots even though they know bots are machines. So why wouldn’t animals do the same? (Anima-morphize?)
The interesting bit in this story is:
Seeking help, [dog-owner] Mr. Hearn found an online forum dedicated to the hundred-dollar Roomba buzzing with similar stories of pet assailants. Owners were offering advice. Among the most popular: Chastise the vacuum in front of the dog.
And so, with Argos [his dog] looking on, Mr. Hearn shook his finger at his gadget and sternly called it “a bad Roomba.” Argos appeared to be mollified. “After that, he never tried nipping at it again,” says Mr. Hearn.
But what about the Roomba? Was it upset after that wholly unjustified negative reinforcement? Apparently Mr. Hearn didn’t care. Not one bit. Poor robot.
Link:
- “When Dogs and Robots Collide, Somebody Needs a Talking To”