Preface

摘要

Intimate relationships, such as love and sex, between human and machines, especially robots, has been one of the main topics in science fiction. However, this topic has never been treated in the academic area until recently. The topic was first raised and discussed by David Levy in his book titled Love and Sex with Robotics published in 2007. The book found an eager public in North America who wanted to know more. During the period immediately prior to publication of the book and for a few months afterwards, the topic caught the imagination of the media, not just in the USA and Canada but on a worldwide scale. During those months David Levy gave around 120 interviews, by telephone, e-mail, and in person; to newspapers, magazines, radio, and TV stations and to electronic media. Television interviews included an appearance on The Colbert Report (2008); as well as visits to his home by TV crews from Russia, Canada, Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland, and other countries. There was also, not surprisingly, a flurry of interest from women's magazines, including Elle and Marie Claire. And the coverage in general science publications included articles in IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, MIT Technology Review, Scientific American, and Wired.