Socially robotic: making useless machines

Abstract As robots increasingly become part of our everyday lives, questions arise with regards to how approach them and understand in social contexts. The Western history human–robot relations revolves around competition control, which restricts ability relate machines other ways. In this study, we take a relational explore different manners socializing robots, especially those that exceed an instrumental approach. nonhuman subjects study are built non-purposeful behavior, attempt break away from the assumptions utility underlie hegemonic human–machine interactions. This breakaway is accompanied by ‘learning be attuned’ on side human subjects, facilitated continuous at level life. Our paper highlights ground for emergence meanings could not subsumed frameworks control domination. research-creation project Machine Ménagerie serves as case these ideas, demonstrating designer co-constitute each through sustained interactions, becoming attuned one another performance research. attempts produce affective playful—if unruly—nonhuman entities invite interaction yet have no intention serving or physical needs. We diverge robotics research creating do mimic behaviours.