Psychology of Media & Technology

 It's a mistake to view automation as "impersonal" versus "helpful or "efficient."  These are all personal judgments valued relative to one's time and goals. But change is hard.  We hold mental models of "how things are supposed to be."  It's often based on what was "normal" when we grew up.  Automated technology, which includes, btw, ATM machines so you don't have to stand in line to cash your paycheck and the nearly extinct payphone, isn't necessarily bad.  It forces us, however, to make value judgments on the types of interactions we value, who we want to talk to and how we want to connect.  It's our responsibility to craft our lives and set boundaries that work for each of us.  I, personally, don't miss driving to the bank and talking to bank tellers and love that I can deposit checks on my mobile app.  Not only does it decrease my carbon footprint, but it saves time.  Automated meals don't keep you from talking to your friends over a meal.  But they might decrease the quality of information you can get about the food your order or change your experience of being cared for around food (sustenance).  It comes down to taking the responsibility to make intelligent choices that fit each of our goals.

The Internet functions like a giant petri dish for understanding different human emotions when we remember that at, the core people, are driven by fundamental desires: 1) to connect socially and 2) to feel like that matter.  Unboxing videos offer two important aspects of this.  The ability to see someone's face repeatedly creates a sense of knowing, particularly when they look into the camera and we can see facial expressions.  Our brain automatically responds in kind.  The ability to interact through comments increases the sense of connection by creating some ownership in the relationship.  Sharing the unboxing experience--the emotion, the anticipation, and the speculation about how will something work or what it's good for--creates a level of intimacy.  Understanding how people think and what they like is how we get to know them both off and online.  Finally, seeing information that increases your knowledge bank, even if it is something as simple as how to use a new toy or appliance, increases one's sense of agency and competence.  

I love this analogy!  Another way to think about the problems of Uncanny Valley is that is it distancing.  Humans are social creatures.  Social connections are a primary motivator for most actions.  Snap filters, however rudimentary and grotesque are a connecting device because they make people pause and are often humorous.  The generation of emotion in the context of someone sending you something is a positive social experience.  Yet,  as @joshconstine notes, the current designs for Snap glasses are distancing just like the creepy humanoids of the Uncanny Valley.  Social distancing triggers our "danger danger" warning light since science shows that social connection is key to our physical and emotional health and development--not to mention a meaningful life.  

The human drive for social connection will trump all other concerns: expect increasing growth of the Internet of things.  The challenge and opportunity is to establish best practices that support human growth, flourishing and social justice without getting bogged down in technophobia and impose knee jerk restrictions and regulations.  These may assuage people's anxiety but it's a false sense of security that buries rather than solves problems.