A glimpse into how robots can make an emotional connection with humans
Going back to the topic of art and the observer, art and robots, this article highlights a robotic plaster sculpture that interacts with viewers. The creator’s goal, Dr. Mari Velonaki, was to make something that was approachable and would give off a vibe similar to the impulse you get to hug your own child. Velonaki’s goal with the sculpture was to show us “how robots can make an emotional connection to engage humans”. The robot-sculpture is equipped with off-board cameras and lasers so it can roam around the room and appear autonomous. Visitors were able to touch, stroke, poke the sculpture with most spending at least ten minutes with it. Velonaki had done another robot installation earlier that had two empty wheelchairs that could move around and would print out love letters with poetic gab (”my heart is broken”). As the viewer spends more time with the robotic wheelchairs, the more intimate the notes get. The intention is to invoke empathy in viewers via robot. I’m wondering how the role of observer changes when the art, in real time and specific to you, provokes certain feelings. This goes beyond what the Tate Sensorium was after (but in the right way) of interaction with viewers and generating a better understanding and reaction to the art. I’d be interested to see how something like this could leak into that juicy uncanny valley.