MORE than half of robot vacuum owners have given their device a weird or wonderful ‘pet name’ – like Mr Cleaner or Tony Shark.
The survey of 1,000 UK adults who own the gadget found a variation of the name Robert – including Bob, Rob and Robbie – was also popular.
Robot vacuums aren’t the only electronic machines people have nicknames for, as 18 per cent have also given a nickname to a laptop, while 13 per cent have dubbed their coffee machine with a playful moniker.
As many as 83 per cent of those who have named their ‘pet’ vacuum reckon it makes it ‘more enjoyable’ to use.
The research, commissioned to launch the Shark PowerDetect device, took in opinions from the UK, Germany, Spain, France, the UAE, Norway, Italy and Poland.
Dr Guy Laban, a research associate at the Department of Computer Science & Technology of the University of Cambridge, who has published research on building human-robot relationships, said: “In my research, I explore how interactions between humans and robots can take on emotional significance and form affective meanings.
“We have found that, beyond making our lives easier, robots can also enhance our moods; people feel more comforted and less lonely in the presence of social robots.
“It doesn’t surprise me that people are naming their robot vacuums, as this reinforces and personifies the emotional connection that forms when robots, like robot vacuums, operate in social spaces or respond to social signals.
“I believe this trend will become increasingly common, and we might see more people embracing robotic companions in their homes in the coming years.”
The study also revealed 77 per cent of those polled believe naming their device adds a sense of humour to everyday tasks.
But it is younger generations of Millennials and Gen Z who are more likely to name their tech gadgets than older generations, with two thirds opting for nicknames for their robots.
Four in five (81 per cent) Millennials and 77 per cent of Gen Z, polled via OnePoll, also said naming their robot makes their tech seem more personal to them.
James Kitto, managing director of the UK and Ireland at Shark, said: “Our Robot Naming Survey has shown the emotional connection we have for technology.
“Our latest robots are very quickly becoming part of our consumers families as well.
“We want to help strengthen these connections and integrate further into consumers everyday lives.
“It will be interesting to follow along and see if Robert, Bob, Robbie remain the most popular names in 2026.”
Brits have been naming their vacuum cleaners to make hoovering feel more fun[/caption]
