The Future of Loneliness

[ericgregory]

Watch this concept video for a robotic pet and never ever sleep again:

You can watch this video on www.livejournal.com

Stefan Ulrich, who hates us all enough to design and build that Creeping Grub of Despair, "envisions that [in the future] people will turn to robots for the illusion of a living presence to satisfy their emotional needs." Over at Futurismic, Paul Raven has some doubts:

It seems

Comments

[gram_negative]

While I actually think the robot is kind of cute, I am not in the best state of mind, anyway, and the abject, sterile loneliness of this video really got under my skin. It's like his only company is an imaginary friend that he can't even envision clearly enough to give it any kind of shape or definition.

In fairness, the creator did note:The ambiguity of this scenario is, that it could be understood as a solution to a wide range of different kinds of loneliness. But it might as well be understood as a scenario which should be avoided by all means possible.

[ericgregory]

Yeah, in total seriousness, it's a very effective piece of art.

Especially if the intent is to end all joy.

[gram_negative]

No kidding. The part where he's cuddled up to the breathing robot blob and sleeping made me want to go find a large stuffed animal.

[thegerald]

I saw this earlier--really, really creepy!

Hey, I think I'm going to be there Friday and Saturday night. Does that work? Also, I realize I don't really have your number because I called it and it wasn't really you...