(October 14, 2010) Andrew Meltzoff, co-director of the University
of Washington’s Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, and Rajesh Rao,
University of Washington associate professor of computer science and
engineering, with the humanoid robot used to demonstrate “social” interactions
to babies.
Neural Networks
Diagram of the test phase. Top
panel: The baby sits across from the robot. Middle panel: Robot turns its
“head” toward a toy. Babies who did not watch the robot play games with the
researcher did not look to see where the robot looked. Bottom panel: Babies who
had watched the robot play games with the researcher followed the robot’s
“gaze.” They wanted to see what the robot was seeing.
Babies are curious about nearly
everything, and they’re especially interested in what their adult companions
are doing. Touch your tummy, they’ll touch their own tummies. Wave your hands
in the air, they’ll wave their own hands. Turn your head to look at a toy,
they’ll follow your eyes to see what’s so exciting.