Potsdam robot enthusiastic: Nao now speaks Berlin dialect!

Potsdam robot enthusiastic: Nao now speaks Berlin dialect!

In research on robots and its acceptance among humans, Katharina Kühne, an emerging scientist at the University of Potsdam, has made remarkable progress. Your current project aims to research the relationship between humans and robots, especially the language that these machines use. Kühne works with the robot Nao, a cognitive robot about half a meter tall, which is able to speak both High German and the Berlin dialect. Nao recently published a video in which he commented on a painting by Pablo Picasso to demonstrate how language variations can influence the perception of robots.

First studies show that people perceive Nao as competent and trustworthy regardless of the language used. It is particularly interesting that people who speak a dialect themselves provide the Berlin dialect of the robot more trust than High German. These findings raise exciting questions, when and where it makes sense to let robots speak in the dialect, for example in old people's homes or in sales.

social robots and their influence

Kühne, which has a master in linguistics and cognitive psychology and is doing her doctorate from Martin Fischer at the University of Potsdam, deals with the effect of artificial agents. Her research complements the theory of the "Uncanny Valley", which was formulated by the Japanese robotic Masahiro Mori. This theory states that the more it resembles human characteristics, but decreases when this resemblance becomes almost perfect and creates a feeling of uncanny. These phenomena are crucial to understand why people often attribute robots to emotions and intentions, even though they know about their emotional shortcomings.

This topic is becoming increasingly important in nursing. Companion robots, such as NAO or the humanoid robot pepper, are increasingly used in German nursing homes. A study on the acceptance of robots in older people illuminates that the appearance, behavior and the expression of emotions are crucial for the interaction. Residents of the Airfield Residential and Care Center in Böblingen expressed preferences for the humanoid robot Pepper, which is equipped with artificial intelligence in order to be able to react appropriately as a moderator or player.

ethical questions and challenges

However, the implementation of robots in care also raises considerable ethical questions. In order to further research the possible uses of social robots, the Nika project was initiated. Subjects are to be actively looked after by the robots in order to test their practical suitability. The first observations show that the residents were concentrated during the interactions and showed positive emotions, but there were also limits in the communication skills of the robots. The challenges regarding the operation, especially in older people with poor eyesight or other physical restrictions, should not be underestimated.

The acceptance of robots can be promoted by appropriate training, the development of a behavioral repertoire and an improved expression of robots. Here too, bold research could be important to define more precise fields of application for social robots in everyday life. However, further research projects such as yours are essential for successful integration into society.

Overall, it can be seen that the relationship between man and machine, especially in nursing, has both opportunities and challenges. Understanding human perception in dealing with robots will continue to be a central topic in research.

More on the work of Katharina Kühne can be read in the article by Britannica offer revealing insights over the human affinity for robots. In addition, the Welfare work The acceptance and possible uses of robots in detail.