"Need a friend? Get a dog."
This morning a newspaper article and a friend’s pictorial email got me thinking of dogs. The companionship of animals has therapeutic effects on us – easing of loneliness, lowering of blood pressure are known benefits. Those of us who spend time with animals know that very well. Nursing homes and hospitals are increasingly using dogs and cats for the palliative effects of their presence on the health of their residents and patients. A new research study published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association shows that for the benefits to accrue, it doesn’t even have to be a real dog! So reports the aptly named Tim Barker in St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
ST. LOUIS — First, horses were replaced with cars. Then carrier pigeons were put out of work by radios. Now it’s dogs who may need to look over their shoulders. They have reason to worry, according to a St. Louis University study that pitted a robotic canine against the real thing in a contest to see which was better at relieving the loneliness of nursing home residents.
In a final analysis likely to shock dog lovers — lovers of real dogs, that is — the two creatures finished in a virtual tie. Among the shocked dog lovers is the study’s author, Dr. William Banks, a professor of geriatric medicine at St. Louis University.
"I kind of assumed the live dog would do better," Banks said.
It doesn’t make it any easier knowing it was his own dog, Sparky, a 35-pound, sandy-red, floppy-eared pooch, who failed to outdo the robotic Aibo, which was made by Sony until 2006. And it’s not like Sparky was a novice in this arena. The 9-year-old animal is a trained therapy dog. He’s been taught to make people feel good.
"He’s a pro," Banks said. "He’s got this incredible personality."
But it wasn’t enough to overcome a hairless robot programmed to mimic the behavior of real dogs. It barks, wags its plastic tail and learns basic commands. It can even chase a ball.
"It’s really frightening," Banks said. "Whoever engineered the behavioral software — they must have some insight into the human psyche."
If you don’t have time for a real dog and can’t afford a robo-dog, how about going into the backyard and creating your own? (thanks to my friend Linda for the pictures of the floral doggies )
Accidental Blogger 
5 responses to “Canine Options”
With apologies to Samuel Johnson: A robot’s acting like a dog is like a dog’s walking on his hinder legs. It’s not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.
LikeLike
I’m sure there could be a high-earning, muss-free life partner, too, who picked up his socks and picked no quarrels. Would have to be a Droid, of course, but from a certain perspective that needn’t constitute a downside. I mean, if it works, use it! Could they fix it so that I had one of those — just to try out? As long as I can still have my hot, wriggling, befurred and preferred doggy — veridical and not virtual — I’ll bet I’d feel well set up.
LikeLike
Elatia, you are in luck. The Japanese are hard at work in creating a “muss-free” life partner – at least the female version seems to be up and running. Earning power not known.
As for finding comfort with a Droid, one expert claims that there is no downside!
LikeLike
Actually, I’m not looking for intimate relations — only an economic arrangement that will materialize more leisure for me without inciting the other party to grumpiness. You know, I could use two of those Droids, and — on breaks from labor — they could have at one another whilst I play with that warm wriggling puppy. Sounds well worth hanging around till 2050 for.
LikeLike
I can’t get this story out of my head. I’m naming my Droids Bill and Hill. After making a fortune for me in the ‘Stans, the algorithm will break down, and they will not resort to one another but kill one another off. This, I’ll watch. And I and my puppy won’t have to wait till 2050.
LikeLike