Abstract
In this study, 53 pairs of 5-6 year-old children were videotaped playing with a robot dog ("AIBO" or "DOG.COM") for five minutes, and interviewed about their understanding of a dog's "mind and life." DOG.COM spoke in human words and AIBO is characterized by electronic sounds and smooth movements. The results showed that children communicated well with the robots. Age group comparisons indicated that 6-year-olds spoke to the robots more frequently and a larger number of 6-year-olds referred to AIBO's mental state. In comparing the two types of robots, children interacted with each robot in a different way but responded similarly in the interviews. Half of the children responded that the robot dogs were alive, and depending on the questions over 90% of the children attributed mental states to the robots. These findings suggested the possibility that children perceive robots as having a new type of existence distinct from that of both living beings and inanimate objects.
