Wednesday 24 April 2013

Robotic Hugs!

I think there are enough comments on the page that I only need to share the link:

http://designtaxi.com/news/357002/In-Japan-A-Robotic-Coat-That-Hugs-You-Like-A-Real-Girlfriend/#.UWbaEj5mrNk.twitter

Still, I can't help having so many questions:
1- Could technology ever replace the social interaction and relationships between humans in the physical world?
2- Could technology become a damaging factor to our social skills and abilities creating a variety of handicaps?
3- Could we have guidelines to ensure that technology enable and enhance our social interactions with minimum side effects?
4- Would the physical world ever diminish and be redefined as a result of technological advances esp in augmented reality?

I am sure there are more questions like these that will require philosophers, moralists, law makers, psychologists, sociologists and others, to be answered.