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this knowledge to benefit its own behavior and communication. In short, I am interested in
having Kismet learn not only how to communicate, but also the function of communication
and how to use it pragmatically. There are so many different questions I want to explore in
this fascinating area of research. I hope I have succeeded in inspiring others to follow.
In the meantime, kids are growing up with robotic and digital pets such as Aibo, Furby,
Tomogotchi, Petz, and others soon to enter the toy market. Their experience with interactive
technologies is very different from that of their parents or grandparents. As the technology
improves and these children grow up, it will be interesting to see what is natural, intuitive,
and even expected of these interactive technologies. Sociable machines and other sociable
technologies may become a reality sooner than we think.