Just recently, reports of empathy software being developed for robots piqued the interest of many; horrifying those who think it's unethical and unnecessary, and exciting those who are inclined to want a real life Bicentennial Man. At the Emotibots convention in the London Science Museum, a curious-looking toy-like robot was showcased. Heart Robot, as it is called, was developed by the University of the West of England in Bristol. Its looks were compared to many different things including "a cross between ET and Gollum," but I say it looks more like a fetal Teletubby.

Heart Robot was designed to show emotions based on how it's treated. With sensors all over its body, it uses touch, movement, and audio signals combined. Handle it harshly or shout at it, and it clenches its fists, blinks, and tenses. On the other hand, treat it kindly and it relaxes, with its eyelids fluttering listlessly, and its little mechanical heart beating with a relaxed tempo. The Heart Robot's emotional literacy could be used as a pattern for more modern machines, says David McGoran, the robot's maker. The technology is expected to be used for patient care as well as for children's toys in the future.