Robots can peer pressure kids, but don’t think for a second that we’re immune

University of Plymouth

To slightly modify the title of a well-known TV show: Kids do the darndest things. Recently, researchers from Germany and the U.K. carried out a study, published in the journal Science Robotics, that demonstrated the extent to which kids are susceptible to robot peer pressure. TLDR version: the answer to that old parental question: “If all your friends told you to jump off a cliff, would you?” may well be “Sure. If all my friends were robots.”

The test reenacted a famous 1951 experiment pioneered by the Polish psychologist Solomon Asch. The experiment demonstrated how people can be influenced by the pressures of groupthink, even when this flies in the face of information they know to be correct. In Asch’s experiments, a group of college students were gathered together and shown two cards. The card on the left displayed an image of a single vertical line. The card on the right displayed three lines of varying lengths. The experimenter then asked the participants which line on the right card matched the length of the line shown on the left card.

“The special thing about that age range of kids is that they’re still at an age where they’ll suspend disbelief.”

So far, so straightforward. Where things got more devious, however, was in the makeup of the group. Only one person out of the group was a genuine participant, while the others were all actors, who had been told what to say ahead of time. The experiment was to test whether the real participant would go along with the rest of the group when they unanimously gave the wrong answer. As it turned out, most would. Peer pressure means that the majority of people will deny information that is clearly correct if it means conforming to the majority opinion.

In the 2018 remix of the experiment, the same principle was used — only instead of a group of college age peers, the “real participant” was a child, aged seven to nine years old. The “actors” were played by three robots, programmed to give the wrong answer. In a sample of 43 volunteers, 74 percent of kids gave the same incorrect answer as the robots. The results suggest that most kids of this age will treat pressure from robots the same as peer pressure from their flesh-and-blood peers.

In the experiment, participants were presented with a group of lines and asked to pick the one with the greatest length. The robotic participants would then unanimously give an incorrect answer in an attempt to influence the answer of the human participant. Anna-Lisa Vollmer, Robin Read, Dries Trippas, and Tony Belpaeme

“The special thing about that age range of kids is that they’re still at an age where they’ll suspend disbelief,” Tony Belpaeme, Professor in Intelligent and Autonomous Control Systems, who helped carry out the study, told Digital Trends. “They will play with toys and still believe that their action figures or dolls are real; they’ll still look at a puppet show and really believe what’s happening; they may still believe in [Santa Claus]. It’s the same thing when they look at a robot: they don’t see electronics and plastic, but rather a social character.”

Interestingly, the experiment contrasted this with the response from adults. Unlike the kids, adults weren’t swayed by the robots’ errors. “When an adult saw the robot giving the wrong answer, they gave it a puzzled look and then gave the correct answer,” Belpaeme continued.

So nothing to worry about then? So long as we stop children getting their hands on robots programmed to give bad responses, everything should be fine, right? Don’t be so fast.

Are adults really so much smarter?

As Belpaeme acknowledged, this task was designed to be so simple that there was no uncertainty as to what the answer might be. The real world is different. When we think about the kinds of jobs readily handed over to machines, these are frequently tasks that we are not, as humans, always able to perform perfectly.

This task was designed to be so simple that there was no uncertainty as to what the answer might be.

It could be that the task is incredibly simple, but that the machine can perform it significantly faster than we can. Or it could be a more complex task, in which the computer has access to far greater amounts of data than we do. Depending on the potential impact of the job at hand, it is no surprise that many of us would be unhappy about correcting a machine.

Would a nurse in a hospital be happy about overruling the FDA-approved algorithm which can help make prioritizations about patient health by monitoring vital signs and then sending alerts to medical staff? Or would a driver be comfortable taking the wheel from a driverless car when dealing with a particularly complex road scenario? Or even a pilot overriding the autopilot because they think the wrong decision is being made? In all of these cases, we would like to think the answer is “yes.” For all sorts of reasons, though, that may not be reality.

Nicholas Carr writes about this in his 2014 book The Glass Cage: Where Automation is Taking Us. The way he describes it underlines the kind of ambiguity that real life cases of automation involve, where the problems are far more complex than the length of a line on a card, the machines are much smarter, and the outcome is potentially more crucial.

Nicholas Carr is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, best known for his books “The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains” and “The Glass Cage: How Our Computers are Changing Us”

“How do you measure the expense of an erosion of effort and engagement, or a waning of agency and autonomy, or a subtle deterioration of skill? You can’t,” he writes. “These are the kinds of shadowy, intangible things that we rarely appreciate until after they’re gone, and even then we may have trouble expressing the losses in concrete terms.”

“These are the kinds of shadowy, intangible things that we rarely appreciate until after they’re gone.”

Social robots of the sort that Belpaeme theorizes about in the research paper are not yet mainstream, but already there are illustrations of some of these conundrums in action. For example, Carr opens his book with mention of a Federal Aviation Administration memo which noted how pilots should spend less time flying on autopilot because of the risks this posed. This was based on analysis of crash data, showing that pilots frequently rely too heavily on computerized systems.

A similar case involved a 2009 lawsuit in which a woman named Lauren Rosenberg filed a suit against Google after being advised to walk along a route that headed into dangerous traffic. Although the case was thrown out of court, it shows that people will override their own common sense in the belief that machine intelligence has more intelligence than we do.

For every ship there’s a shipwreck

Ultimately, as Belpaeme acknowledges, the issue is that sometimes we want to hand over decision making to machines. Robots promise to do the jobs that are dull, dirty, and dangerous — and if we have to second-guess every decision, they’re not really the labor-saving devices that have been promised. If we’re going to eventually invite robots into our home, we will want them to be able to act autonomously, and that’s going to involve a certain level of trust.

“Robots exerting social pressure on you can be a good thing; it doesn’t have to be sinister,” Belpaeme continued. “If you have robots used in healthcare or education, you want them to be able to influence you. For example, if you want to lose weight you could be given a weight loss robot for two months which monitors your calorie intake and encourages you to take more exercise. You want a robot like that to be persuasive and influence you. But any technology which can be used for good can also be used for evil.”

What’s the answer to this? Questions such as this will be debated on a case-by-case basis. If the bad ultimately outweighs the good, technology like social robots will never take off. But it’s important that we take the right lessons from studies like the one about robot-induced peer pressure. And it’s not the fact that we’re so much smarter than kids.

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Lenovo Yoga Chromebook: MrMobile is in awe at the size of this lap(top)

Bias alert: when I see the word “Chromebook,” normally I think either low-cost low-capability devices for schoolkids … or super-premium, super-portable Pixelbooks for, well, Google employees. The notion of a massive desktop-replacement laptop never enters my mind – but Lenovo’s Yoga Chromebook is just that.

The Yoga Chromebook is an utter monster of a machine, with a four-pound aluminum chassis that looks big enough to accommodate a 17-inch display (though it settles for a 15.6″ panel instead). The battery carries a similar surprise, coming in at 56 Wh when the casing seems large enough to accommodate a power pack nearly double that size. But Lenovo didn’t build this behemoth so you could take it around town in your totebag; instead it envisions a life of recumbent luxury for the Yoga Chromebook, staying mostly plugged-in while its user enjoys a little Netflix or YouTube with their web surfing. If you spring for the model with a 4K panel, that almost makes sense at $749 – assuming you’re willing to pick up a MicroSD card to complement the anemic 64GB/128GB storage options. And also assuming you think a massive Chromebook is a good investment.

Check out MrMobile’s Yoga Chromebook Hands-On from IFA 2018 in Berlin, and be sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel so you don’t miss the full review when it goes live later this season!

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The best screen protectors for the Galaxy S8

Keep it scratch-free — for good.

It can be a little trickier to adhere a screen protector to the curved display of the Galaxy S8 and phones like it, but if you’re worried about a cracked or scratched screen it’s well worth the hassle. We’ve rounded up some of the most highly-recommended screen protectors for the Galaxy S8!

• Whitestone Dome Glass
• i-Blason Tempered Glass Screen Protector
• Spigen NeoFlex Screen Protector (2-pack)
• IQShield Case Friendly Film Screen Protector (2-pack)
• Ringke Invisible Defender Full Coverage Screen Protector
• Armorsuit MilitaryShield Galaxy S8 Screen Protector

Whitestone Dome Glass

Top Pick

The Whitestone Dome Glass screen protector is arguably the best screen protector you can buy for your Galaxy S8. The kit includes a UV light which is used in the curing process to ensure a perfect installation that covers the curved edges of the screen. It’s expensive for sure at $45, but you get what you pay for with quality protection.

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The Whitestone Dome Glass has proven to be a very popular screen protector and is currently on sale for $45, down from $60.

Check out this review and installation guide to get an idea of how this tempered glass screen protector uniquely adheres like no other screen protector you’ve seen before. If the worst case scenario has already occurred and your screen is cracked, think of this as a second chance screen before dropping hundreds of dollars on a proper replacement screen. With a UV light packaged to complete the curing process, this is a pricier option than other screen protectors out there but also more reliable based on user reviews.

i-Blason Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Budget Option

i-Blason makes a tempered glass screen protector that’s designed to conform to the Galaxy S8’s curve display. it’s also slightly shorter than the full height of the phone so that the edges won’t be lifted by a case. Get this case-friendly screen protector for just $10.

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This recommendation came from an AC reader in our comment section and is a great option if you also want to use a case to keep your phone protected. It features everything you’d want from a tempered glass screen protector at a very reasonable price.

Spigen NeoFlex screen protector (2-pack)

Best for Cases

Spigen makes plenty of great cases for the Galaxy S8, so it only makes sense that they’d also offer a screen protector that’s case compatible. Because it’s a flexible film, the NeoFlex can offer full protection for your screen without affecting the touch responsiveness. Get this two-pack for just $9.

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This recommendation also came from the AC community and is a good pick if for a film protector that requires a wet installation. If you’re comfortable with taking the time to properly for a film screen protector with a wet installation, you should be happy dropping $9 for a two-pack.

Spigen recommends installing the screen protector with a case already on, which might be a marketing ploy to get you to buy one of their cases, too, but they make some great cases and paired with a Spigen case, your Galaxy S8 will be protected from drops and also safe from scratches on the screen.

IQShield Case Friendly Film Screen Protector (2-pack)

Best Value

IQShield offers a two-pack of plastic film screen protectors that are compatible with even the most rugged cases. This is a paper-thin screen protector that you will hardly notice after a clean installation. Get your two-pack of case-friendly screen protectors from IQShield for just $8.

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These screen protectors have an oleophobic coating to help prevent fingerprints and smudges and are easy to install. With over 100 5-star reviews on Amazon, you can buy with confidence.

Ringke Invisible Defender Full Coverage Screen Protector

Best Coverage

Ringke makes some quality accessories and their screen protector for the Galaxy S8 stands out from the rest for the wings that wrap around the sides of your phone. Since the film wraps around the edges, you have the button cutouts to help you achieve the perfect fit, even with a case installed. Get a two-pack for just $10.

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The kit includes everything you’ll need for a clean installation, along with an extra screen protector in case your first one takes a beating and needs to be replaced. You can also get a two-pack for the Galaxy S8+, too, if you’re rocking the larger device.

Armorsuit MilitaryShield Galaxy S8 Screen Protector

Best Protection

Made with a durable military-grade film, the Armorsuit MilitaryShield is a thin screen protector that offers edge-to-edge protection. It requires a wet installation, with all the required tools and wipes included in the box. It’s available for just $8.

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Armorsuit claims that this protector is virtually scratch-proof, with self-healing technology that will help eliminate any minor scratches from keys or pocket sand. As with most wet install screen protectors, you need to let this thing sit and dry for a good long time (up to 12 hours) to ensure proper adhesion and get a nice clean fit. Attempt to put on a case too soon and you’ll have issues around the edges. If you ever have an issue with it, you’ll want to follow suit and contact Armorsuit’s customer service to take advantage of that lifetime replacement warranty.

Update August 2018: Removed options no longer available and updated formatting and pricing information. These are still your best options for the Galaxy S8!

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The $48 Philips Hue Bloom LED smart lamp adds ambient light to your room

Smart lighting for every part of the house.

The Philips Hue Bloom Dimmable LED smart table lamp is down to $47.89 on Amazon. That price is more than $12 off the street price and the lowest it has reached this year. This matches an all-time low.

The sale on the Bloom is part of a much larger sale on Philips Hue products in general. You can save tons of money on starter kits, bulbs, and other accessories.

The Bloom is designed for indirect ambient lighting in your room. Use it to light up a piece of furniture or something like that. It is just as simple as plugging it in and turning it on, but if you want to add some extra control via your smartphone or a voice control ecosystem like Amazon’s Alexa, you’ll want to add it to a Philips Bridge. If you don’t have one, there are plenty of starter kits on sale right now that have them. The Bloom also works with other systems like Nest and Samsung’s SmartThings. Users give it 3.8 stars based on 177 reviews.

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Every PlayStation VR game compatible with a steering wheel

Get your steering wheel ready, it’s time for the long ride.

So you love racing games in VR but wanted to take things to the next level. Now you’ve scoured up and down Amazon and finally found the best HOTAS controller for your PlayStation VR. You’ve unboxed the beautiful thing, it’s set up at the end of your couch, but now you’re faced with a problem. What games are even comparable with the PlayStation VR?

Well, I’m here to show you them all!

The line-up

• Gran Turismo Sport
• Dirt Rally VR
• Drive Club VR

Best option

Gran Turismo Sport

This racing title has to be one of the most immersive options you can choose. A $41 price tag might seem a little high, but it’s absolutely worth every penny. You can see the absolute dedication put into making this game.

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Of all the options we have here, Gran Turismo is the best graphics and gameplay options that will definitely take advantage of your 4K and HDR options with your PlayStation 4 Pro. Not only will you be able to race your car around the ring in a seemingly-real simulation, but there are even competitions.

Worldwide competitions that put you up against real drivers from all over the world. So while you’re out there testing your VR driving skills you don’t have to gauge it based on a bot who’s difficulty level you’ve chosen.

Also great

Dirt Rally VR

Dirt Rally VR has made it to the runner-up for being highly immersive but lost a lot of points for not being multiplayer. The new DLC that came out allowed for a two-player mode, but the second player is a “co-driver” and not a separate driver.

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If you’re looking for a driving game for just you, this is a great choice. And for $29.99 there isn’t a bad price tag either.

Best on a budget

Drive Club VR

Drive Club VR is the best “on a budget” option as it only costs $14.99. Just because it isn’t living up to its brothers listed above doesn’t mean you won’t have a good time.

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Drive Club is still just as addicting as any other VR game without all the added accessories like 4K, HDR, multiplayer, and so on. But it’s perfect to get for yourself as a first time driving game!

So what game did you go for?

Which game is your favorite game to play with your driving wheel? Is there one that you’d tried, even though it may not have listed compatibility, that worked for you? Tell us about it in the comment section below!

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You can use Logitech’s $140 Circle 2 security camera indoors or outdoors

It works anywhere you want it to.

Logitech’s Circle 2 Wired Home Security Camera is down to $139.99 at Amazon for a limited time. Considering it regularly sells for $180, this deal saves you $40 off its normal price. We saw this deal back in July but it only lasted for a couple days. If you missed it, now’s your chance to get it again.

This wired camera is Wi-Fi enabled allowing it to upload footage to a secure, private cloud. It can also connect with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. It records in full 1080p HD with its 180-degree wide-angle lens and includes night vision which is visible up to 15-feet. It begins recording when motion is detected and will then send the footage to the cloud for up to 24 hours where you can view it or save it. You can also buy a subscription which will keep your recordings for longer starting at just $3.99 per month. A membership includes additional advanced features too such as Motion Zones.

The camera will send a screenshot to your mobile device when motion is detected so you can see what’s going on even while you’re away. It also includes a built-in speaker and microphone and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Logitech also offers a Plug Mount for $29.99 which allows you to plug this camera into a wall outlet.

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