[Washington Post] 'Please do not switch me off!': An experiment with a begging robot shows people hesitate to pull the plug
‘Please do not switch me off !’: An experiment with a begging robot shows people hesitate to pull the plug
If a little humanoid robot begged you not to shut it off, would you show compassion?
In an experiment designed to investigate how people treat robots when they act like humans, many participants struggled to power down a pleading robot, named Nao, either refusing to shut it off or taking more than twice the amount of time to pull the plug. The experiment was conducted by researchers in Germany whose findings were published in the scientific journal PLOS One, the Verge reported this month.
“No! Please do not switch me off! I am scared that it will not brighten up again!,” Nao said to about half of the participants. Nao did not object in the other half of the tests so that researchers could measure if his pleas affected how people reacted.
The study builds on existing research that shows humans are inclined to treat electronic media as living beings. In one prior experiment, researchers found that test subjects preferred interacting with robots with complementary personality traits to their own. And since robots can exhibit social traits such as speaking with human voices or taking the shape of a human body, the research suggests that people tend to react “especially social to them.”
The researchers said that a possible explanation for their results was that people interpreted Nao’s objections as “a sign of autonomy.” In turn, this may have boosted the perception of the robot as an entity with humanlike traits, according to the study. By expressing emotions and desires, the experiment showed that the robot played on the participants’ inclination to treat electronic media as a social entity, and respond to Nao as if it were alive.
- switch (sth.) off:(phrasal v) 關掉; 切斷(電源), if you switch off a light or other electrical device, you stop it working by operating a switch. back
She switched off the coffee-machine. 她关掉了咖啡机.
- hesitate:(v) [‘hezɪteɪt] 猶豫, if you hesitate, you do not speak or act for a short time, usually because you are uncertain, embarrassed, or worried about what you are going to say or do. back
The telephone rang. Catherine hesitated, debating whether to answer it. 电话响了. Catherine 迟疑着, 考虑是否接听.
- pull the plug:() 結束, 終止業務, come to an end, conclude. back
I think we have to pull the plug on this thing. 我觉得我们应该停止这一切.
The television company pulled the plug on the series after only five episodes. 這部電視劇只撥出了5集就被電視公司停播了.
Having lost three times in a row, Noel was ready to pull the plug on his running career. 連續三次之後, Noel 已經準備放棄自己的跑步生涯.
- humanoid:(a) [‘hjuːmənɒɪd] 像人的, having a human shape and human qualities. (n) 人形機器人 back
The robot was humanoid in appearance. 那个机器人具有人类的外形.
In one video, Atlas, the humanoid robot, goes for a jog in a grassy yard.
- shut (sth.) off:(phrasal V) 切斷; 關掉, if you shut off something such as an engine or an electrical item, you turn it off to stop if from working. back
They pulled over and shut off the engine. 他们把车停到路边并关掉了发动机.
- compassion:(n) [kəm’pæʃ(ə)n] 同情; 憐憫, a strong feeling of sympathy for someone who is suffering, and a desire to help them. back
I was shocked by the doctor’s lack of compassion. 我对这个医生如此缺乏同情心感到震惊.
- struggle:(v) [‘strʌg(ə)l] to try extremely hard to achieve something, even though it is very difficult. back
She’s struggling to bring up a family alone. 她独自一人艰难地养活一家人.
- plead:(v) [pliːd] 懇求, to ask for something that you want very much, in a sincere and emotional way. back
‘Do something!’ She pleaded. “帮帮忙吧！”她央求道.
pleading eyes. 乞求的眼神
A man pleaded to be let into a locked police station then lunged with a knife at officers inside.
- conduct:(v) [‘kɒndʌkt] 實施, 執行, to carry out a particular activity or process, especially in order to get information or prove facts. back
We are conducting a survey of consumer attitudes towards organic food. 我们在进行一项顾客对有机食品态度的调查.
- journal:(n) [‘dʒɜːn(ə)l] 期刊, a serious magazine produced for professional people or those with a particular interest. back
the British Medical Journal.
- brighten up:(phrasal v) [‘braitən] 變得明亮, 發亮 back
It should brighten up in the afternoon. 到下午天就该放晴了.
The morning sunshine brightened up the room. 清晨的阳光照亮了房间.
- object:(v) [‘ɒbdʒɪkt; -dʒekt] 反對; 拒絕, to feel or say that you oppose or disapprove of something. back
Robson strongly objected to the terms of the contract. Robson 强烈反对合同中的条款.
- plea:(n) [pliː] 懇求, a request that is urgent or full of emotion. back
Caldwell made a plea for donations. Caldwell 恳求捐款.
- be inclined to:(v) [ɪn’klaɪn] 傾向於, to think that a particular belief or opinion is most likely to be correct. back
I would not, if I were you, be inclined to discuss private business with the landlady. 我要是你，就不会跟房东太太谈私事.
- being:(n) [‘biːɪŋ] 生命, a living thing, especially a person. back
a story about alien beings who invade Earth. 外星生物入侵地球的故事
- prior:(a) [‘praɪə] 在先的, existing or arranged before something else or before the present situation. back
Some prior experience with the software is needed. 要求事先熟悉这个软件.
- complementary:(a) [kɒmplɪ’ment(ə)rɪ] 互補的, complementary things go well together, although they are usually different. back
The computer and the human mind have different but complementary abilities. 电脑与人脑各不相同, 却又互为补充.
The painter uses bold complementary colors, pitting red against green or purple against yellow. 畫家用大膽的互補色, 紅色和綠色, 或紫色和黃色相映成趣.
- personality:(n) [pɜːsə’nælɪtɪ] 個性, 性格, someone’s character, especially the way they behave towards other people. back
Despite their different personalities, they became the best of firends. 尽管个性不同, 他们还是成了最好的朋友.
- trait:(n) treɪt; treɪ特徵, 品質, a particular quality in someone’s character. back
Creativity is a human trait. 创造力是人类的一种特性.
The longing for homeland is a common enough trait. 对祖国的渴望是一个普遍存在的人类特性.
- exhibit:(v) [ɪg’zɪbɪt; eg-] 顯示, 展示(品質, 情感或能力), to clearly show a particular quality, emotion, or ability. back
He has exhibited symptoms of anxiety and overwhelming worry. 他表现出焦躁不安和过度忧虑的症状.
- autonomy:(n) [ɔː’tɒnəmɪ] 自治, freedom that a place or an organization has to overn or control itself. back
Five years ago, all of our units were much freer to do what they wanted to local autonomy; now we see the value of being global as well as local. 5年前, 我们的单位都是能可以自由地做任何他们想要为地方自治权而做的事; 现在我们看到的是全球和当地的价值.
- in turn:(adv) 依次, 轉而 back
In the city squares the neon lights flashed in turn. 在城市广场上，霓虹灯依次闪烁.
That, in turn would increase pressure for higher wages and that, in turn, would impact on inflation and competition. 那样就会增加工资上涨的压力, 而那样又会对通货膨胀和竞争产生影响.
- boost:(v) [buːst] 增加, 推動, to increase or improve something and make it more successful. back
The new resort area has boosted tourism. 新的度假区促进了旅游业的发展.
- perception:() [pə’sepʃ(ə)n] 看法, your perception of something is the way that you think about it or the impression you have of it. back
He is interested in how our perceptions of death affect the way we live. 他对我们的死亡观如何影响我们的生活方式感兴趣.
- entity:(n) [‘entɪtɪ] 實體, something that exists as a single and complete unit. back
Good design brings a house and garden together as a single entity. 优秀的设计能把一所房子和花园合为一体.
- express:(v) [ɪk’spres; ek-] 表達, to tell or show what you are feeling or thinking by using words, looks, or actions. back
Parents have expressed their concerns about their children’s safety. 父母对自己孩子的安全表示忧虑.
- played on:(phrasal v) 利用別人的情感, if you play on someone’s fears, weaknesses, or faults, you deliberately use them in order to persuade that person to do something, or to achieve what you want. back
I felt guilty saying that, playing on her generosity. 我说这话是利用了她的慷慨. 对此我感到愧疚.
- inclination:(n) [ɪnklɪ’neɪʃ(ə)n] 傾向, a feeling that makes you want to do something. back
My natural inclination was to say no. 我生性爱说“不”.