Should paint them in the colors of the rainbow, that would solve any problem
5 years ago by giantstalker · 830 Likes · 10 comments · Popular
Report
Comments
Follow Comments Sorted by time
demon_razgriz
· 5 years ago
· FIRST
"New Research"
6
guest_
· 5 years ago
This came up before on this site. The study being discussed want talking about “white” robots like a freaking fridge white. It was talking about “white” as in humanoid robots in flesh tones, and how most flesh tone robots seem to be lighter complexion. The study tested for various biases and also used focus groups and a test where people were quickly shown armed and unarmed robots and given a light gun; then told to shoot the armed robots. As has been shown with other “shooter bias” tests, people were far more likely to shoot an unarmed “dark” robot than an unarmed “light robot” and almost as likely to shoot an unarmed “dark” robot as an armed “light” robot.
5
guest_
· 5 years ago
So much of the information in the study as far as bias by skin tone isn’t “new” as there is an established body of evidence to show a general subconscious bias on tone already. It showed that these biases extend past human interaction with humans to our interaction with machines. The results don’t necessarily paint people as racist or even confirm subconscious racial bias as much as they show there is some mechanism which causes certain reactions on a subconscious level to certain visual cues.
1
guest_
· 5 years ago
The fact that these reactions extend to robots can indicate human racial bias is transferred to machines, it could indicate we see anthropomorphic machines as some degree of “human,” or it could also indicate that these biases exist independent of subject and are a reaction to dark- which is a fundamental fear of humans as “dark” is often associated with the unknown, the sinister, being difficult to discern detail with our eyes, and human ancestors who survived likely knew or were naturally afraid of the dark, which is commonly used by predators as camouflage.
▼
Show All
guest_
· 5 years ago
So the headline is a bit salacious, and the conclusion is more open than that. The bias of humans with robot “skin tone” isn’t some pointless SJW experiment. As we move towards things like robot customer service agents or robot caretakers and rescuers, understanding the hows, what’s, whys, etc. and specifics of human reaction to robots and how to design robots which people can feel comfortable with is of ever growing importance.
▼
guest_
· 5 years ago
So this study isn’t here to try and make you feel bad about choosing a “white” phone over a “black” one. It isn’t a comprehensive study of race in technology. It didn’t dive into the demographics creating most robots and their racial make ups or cultures, nor did it seek to find a bias in those making design decisions for robots. Scientific method. Someone noticed a statistical bias towards light toned humanoid robots and sought to confirm said bias.
▼
guest_
· 5 years ago
That’s all such a study is. An observation, an attempt to prove an observation. The next step would be to explore the questions raised in this study as applicable to the needs of the researcher following up. No need to scoff at science “wasting resources” as the study is pertinent to human robot interaction. No need to feel “white guilt” over some robots yet. There is a bias. Why is as yet to be determined.
▼
bethorien
· 5 years ago
Oughta just make all the human contact robots pastel green
guest_
· 5 years ago
Lol. Perhaps. Although I suspect studies would show that might diminish the perceived quality or comfort of human machine interactions. And sheesh. Someone felt the need to take the time to downvote this all without bothering to comment. I’m somehow not surprised.
▼
flyingoctopus
· 5 years ago
Well, white is a futury colour.
