Why are robots creepy?

October 4, 2004 10:31 AM

What is the name of the curve or theory illustrating humans' comfort level with robots that look like people? Example: the more a robot looks like a person, the more uncomfortable people are in its presence, but the moment an artificial being is absolutely indistinguishable from the real thing, the comfort level goes back to normal. My Googling leads me nowhere, but I seem to recall reading about this somewhere on MeFi...
posted by Robot Johnny to Science & Nature (6 answers total)

Best answer: The Uncanny Valley
posted by GeekAnimator at 10:34 AM on October 4, 2004

Response by poster: Thanks GeekAnimator!
posted by Robot Johnny at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2004

Yeah, thanks GeekAnimator !
posted by troutfishing at 3:37 PM on October 4, 2004

Gee, thanks GeekAnimator!
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:16 PM on October 4, 2004

Why do you ask, Robot Johnny?
posted by louigi at 8:53 PM on October 4, 2004

previously on metafilter...
posted by caution live frogs at 12:08 PM on October 5, 2004