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 Are Alexa, Siri, and Roomba making up the members of your ‘Sex-and-the City”-like posse? Are you confiding in or laughing with them? Or are you treating them like pets?
Researchers from the University of Michigan interested in the increased rates of feelings of loneliness and isolation recently being reported, conducted a series of experiments to determine if interactive products are capable of filling a social void for lonely people.
In a series of experiments, the results of which are published in the Journal of Consumer Research, Carolyn Yoon, professor of marketing, found that more and more people are relying on these devices for social interaction, in some cases treating the devices like pets (Roomba) by naming them or referring to them as “he” or “she.”
In one of the experiments, participants were asked how many Facebook friends they had. When a participant reported the number to another person, it was exaggerated (a tell-tale sign of loneliness). However, the participant was more likely to confide the actual number of Facebook friends he or she had to a device.
Although researchers found that people were relying on the devices for social interaction, they also report that once the participant was reminded that the product was just a device, the effect vanished.
Concerned that people will not pursue relationships outside of the ones they have created with these products as long as they continue to become more realistic, researchers are urging product designers to consider the harmful consequences of creating devices that mimic humans.
On the flip side, however, researchers do see the benefit of humanized devices in terms of future healthcare related scenarios. For example, using the device as a nurse, home health aide, or health monitor.
So while your imagined “Sex-and-the-City” brunch with Siri, Roomba, and Alexa isn’t likely for now, it may soon be a reality as these devices become more and more realistic.
Do you talk to your devices? Do you treat them like a friend or a pet?
Image credit:
Tibor Antalóczy / CC BY-SA 3.0
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