Researchers have found that children often use the word “creepy” as a way to reject specific devices — especially those that could bring about physical harm or come in the way of their relationship with parents.
The results of the study could be used to make technologythat tricks kids into a false sense of security.
But it is more important to have these results available tothe public to help parents talk to their kids about technology and any types offears that might arise, said the study.
The research team conducted four separate design sessions tosee if children felt similarly about creepy technology.
The study, presented at the 2019 ACM CHI conference inGlasgow, Scotland, found five aspects of emerging technologies that couldcontribute to this feeling of ambiguity — deception versus transparency,ominous physical appearance, lack of control, unpredictability and mimicry. “All five themes are related to ambiguousthreats. It’s a not specific monstrosity coming after them here like whensomething is scary; it’s more nuanced so that they’re not sure of theconsequences of their actions,” said Jason Yip, Assistant Professor at theUniversity of Washington in the US.