Kids see robots as the fix for what's wrong with their world
Those behind the survey – a research company called Latitude and LEGO – say its results demonstrate that “robots are helping to reveal a potential shift in kids’ social and learning psychologies, suggesting new opportunities for educators and technologists to better address common hurdles children encounter in the learning process to inspire self-direction and creative risk-taking and to enhance kids’ experiences with technology more broadly.”
Translation: Kids think robots are cool and that if they had one it would help them learn. Some 350 children, ages 8 through 12 and from all corners of the globe, participated. You can read a short report on the results here and see more of their drawings here.
It’s interesting stuff. But as I read the comments written by children about the prospect of actually having their own robot, a recurring theme became obvious: To many of them, a robot would be just like a parent or a teacher … only better, more reliable and without all the bad parts.
A few admittedly cherry-picked samples (emphasis mine):
- “The robot is like a new friend for me. It helps me with my homework. It can do it much better than my parents because it knows exactly how to explain the lessons to a kid like me. …”
- “The robot helps you with the homework and then he plays with you. My parents were happy that they now no longer had to help me with the homework. …”
- “I have a few problems in spelling. The robot shall support me and improve me until I am at the same level as my classmates. … He continually encourages me even when I have not done so well.“
- “… It could do everything – play soccer, build Legos, read, do math, write and all the movements a person can make. Since my parents really are always at work a lot, they can’t always help me or play with me or cook something. Now the robot helps them with that.“
- “When I got to school this morning, my teacher surprised me by giving me a robot to help me with my schoolwork. … He keeps my secrets. I can tell him anything, and he gives me advice.”
- “My mum didn’t know what to make to eat, so we asked the robot to look in the fridge and suggest a meal. It was excellent. Then we went to my room to do my homework and he helped me understand a math problem.”
- “At school, this robot helped or played with everyone near me. Everyone was a little scared at the start but accept the presence of this new ‘friend’. … He helps with everyday problems, mum overworked with her job and the house (making meals). He winks his eye when we share a secret.”
My three children are already 10 and I’m quite certain they’ll reach adulthood without my having to compete with one of these oh-so-perfect parental replacements. However, by the time they have children – or perhaps by the time their children do – Moms and Dads may want to think about carving out a little more time for helping with homework.
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