Robophilia seems like an alien concept to us now

Dr Driscoll points to people who have lost their partner or who live alone as people who might benefit psychologically from a virtual sexual relationship. ‘After all a virtual partner is surely better than no partner at all.’

Virtual affairs could also present a problem in the future, with some partners seeing sex with a machine as similar to sex with another person, according to Dr Driscoll.

The amount of time we spend online – communicating via emails and social media – is already a problem for some people, but our relationships with other humans could soon be conducted entirely online.

As we spend more time in virtual reality and living alone, this will lead to increased mental health problems, according to Dr Driscoll.

The lack of human contact is currently harmful, as humans are social animals and isolation is linked with mental health problems, she said.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3185066/Would-sex-robot-Intimate-relationships-machines-norm-50-years-claims-expert.html#ixzz3huESw7ux
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