The uncanny valley is a hypothesis in the field of robotics that posits that there is a point at which a robot becomes so lifelike that it becomes disturbing to humans. The concept is based on the work of Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori, who first proposed it in a 1970 paper.
The uncanny valley is often used to describe the feeling of unease that people experience when they encounter a robot that is almost, but not quite, human. The term can also be applied to other lifelike things, such as computer-generated characters in movies or video games.
The uncanny valley hypothesis has been used to explain why some people are uncomfortable with the idea of human-like robots, and why some people find them disturbing. The hypothesis has also been used to account for the popularity of certain types of robots, such as those that are designed to look like animals or cartoon characters.
The uncanny valley is a controversial hypothesis, and there is no scientific consensus on whether it exists. Some researchers have argued that the concept is not supported by empirical evidence, while others have suggested that the valley may not be as deep or as wide as Mori originally proposed.
Is uncanny valley a feeling?
Yes, uncanny valley is a feeling, and it is the feeling of unease or discomfort that people experience when they encounter an artificial being that looks and acts almost, but not quite, like a real human being. This effect is named after the Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori, who coined the term in a paper published in 1970.
Mori's paper described a hypothetical scenario in which a robot resembling a human being in every way but one (such as having a slightly different facial expression) would provoke a sense of unease in the observer. He called this the "uncanny valley" effect.
The uncanny valley effect has been used to explain why people may react negatively to robots that look and act almost, but not quite, like humans. It is thought that the closer a robot comes to looking and acting like a real human, the more its imperfections are magnified and the more discomfort they cause.
There is some evidence that the uncanny valley effect is real and that it can influence people's reactions to robots. A study published in 2008 found that people were more likely to attribute human-like characteristics to a robot if it was slightly imperfect in its appearance, compared to a perfect robot or a robot with more obvious flaws.
The uncanny valley effect is an important consideration in the design of humanoid robots. If a robot is too perfect, it may creep people out; if it is too imperfect, it may be seen as less capable and competent
Why is it called the uncanny valley?
The term "uncanny valley" was coined in 1970 by Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori to describe the unsettling feeling we get when we encounter an artificial human that is almost, but not quite, lifelike.
When an artificial human looks and behaves almost like a real human, it can trigger a feeling of unease or revulsion in some people. This is because we are used to seeing humans that look and behave like humans, so anything that is close but not quite right can appear strange or even creepy.
Some researchers believe that the uncanny valley effect is caused by our brain's natural tendency to anthropomorphize, or attribute human qualities to non-human objects. When we see an artificial human that is almost like a real human, our brain tries to make sense of it by attributing human qualities to it, which can cause a feeling of unease.
So far, there is no consensus on why the uncanny valley effect exists, but it is clear that it can have a powerful impact on how we perceive and interact with artificial humans.
What is the fear of the uncanny valley?
The uncanny valley is the name given to the phenomenon whereby a robot or other artificial entity appears almost human, but not quite, causing a sense of unease or revulsion in the observer. The term was first coined in 1970 by Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori, and has since been widely used in discussions of artificial intelligence and robotics.
The uncanny valley effect is thought to occur because our brains are wired to respond to human-like stimuli in a certain way, and when we see something that is close to being human but not quite, it triggers a negative response. This response is thought to be due to the fact that we are instinctively wary of things that could potentially be dangerous, and anything that is not quite human falls into that category.
So, the fear of the uncanny valley is the fear of artificial entities that appear almost human, but not quite, causing a sense of unease or revulsion in the observer. This fear is thought to be due to the fact that our brains are wired to respond to human-like stimuli in a certain way, and when we see something that is close to being human but not quite, it triggers a negative response.