Here are all the answers to our 'How to Spot a Robot' Competition!
And the three lucky winners who will receive a signed copy of Bertie's new book - Undercover Robot, My First Year as a Human, which is now available on amazon.com.
Listen on to hear if you are one of the three lucky winners.
Hello, this is Jana, and I’m here with the results to our 'How Do you Spot a Robot' competition.
As you may know, Bertie has co-written a book called Undercover Robot, My First Year as a Human. And for a little bit of news about the book, here’s Bertie:
Bertie
Thanks Jana, I’m really pleased to discover that you can buy it in America on Amazon. There’s a small import fee, but as far as I can tell it’s easy to get hold of if you just search Amazon.com for Undercover robot by David Edmonds and Bertie Fraser.
Jana
Thanks Bertie. That is good news.
The plot is about a girl called Dotty who has to spend a year at school without being spotted as a robot. So to celebrate the publication of the book, we asked you the following question - - remind us Bertie, what was it.
Bertie
If there was a super-intelligent and lifelike robot in your class at school, what would be the telltale signs that he/she/it was a robot?"
Jana
Well, thank to all of you who sent in answers. All of them are really interesting. Bertie and I are going to read out as many as we are able to now, and at the end we will pick three winners to receive signed copies of Bertie’s book.
So first let’s go through all the answers. Bertie, you go first.
Bertie
Silas Tam from Hong Kong suggests It can't digest food, and therefore it can't turn the food into waste, so it wouldn't need to go to the toilet very often. There are only certain times when it has to go to the lavatory, like: before lunch and dinner, because its stomach can't contain too much food
Jana
Mallory Maisie aged 7 wrote: What if the robot fell over because of a glitch and there was no boo-boo!! If a human fell over there would be a boo-boo.
Or what if the teacher said it’s time to drink water and the robot drinks it and fries!
Bertie
Simon aged 9 & Violet aged 6 sent us a handwritten note observing:
If there were an undercover robot at our school we would find them because, if I said an idiom like “Hold your horses” instead of stopping they would go find horses to hold onto., .
Jana
Mikayla age 12 from New Zealand answered:
She might eat food funny because kids have a different style of eating When the adults programmed Dotty they might have programmed her to do and act like an adult.
Bertie
Mackenzie says she might act like a cyborg from space if she is not human
Jana
AvaLynn from Chicago who is 8 years old says
They would make some beeping noises that human children can't hear. They would do things differently than other kids.
Bertie
Andrea from Italy writes
During the recess, she doesn’t eat snacks or drinks something. During the lessons, she always answers correctly to every question that the teacher asks and…she never raises her hand to ask: “Teacher, can I go to the toilette”?
And by the way, we do explain as tastefully as possible in the book what happens when a robot goes to the toilet
Jana
Tehilla says the robot would very do something you're not supposed to do in public like picking his nose, or farting, or checking some "problems".
Bertie
Jake aged 13 says: “You could tell it was a robot during gym class, especially if you get hit/bumped by them, or if they get hurt they wouldn’t react or cry.
Jana
Mila, aged 8 from Boston, writes I am a big fan of Bertie’s. I believes there are 3 ways to see if someone in class is a robot or a human. 1. Robots have no emotions, happy or sad. 2. Robots have no sense of smell and taste. And 3. Robots are very smart.
Bertie
Ryan aged 8 says If there was a robot in my class I think You would hear a scrunchy voice- like a beep beep sound. Say hi to Jana for me!!
Ok, Hi Jana !
Jana
Hi Bertie, and Ryan.
Malcolm age 7 of Philadelphia, says.: "If she (the robot) fell down, and you heard her CRUNCH!"
Bertie
Xiong It would say odd things like "Do you like being a human?" and "I am completely human." Which would make the other kids a little suspicious”
Jana
Oluremi gives us several reasons including while others are busy sleeping over and such things, she would be charging her batteries AND she wouldn’t have parents, just government agents.
Bertie
Leigh says Maybe the robot would have a slight robotic voice, different from the other kids. Or, maybe if you asked to go to their house, an answer other than “Sure!” Or “I don’t think my parents would let me.” Would signal that they live in a lab?
off. And you might hear the machinery inside when she is thinking.
Jana
Emmie aged 10 wrote quite a lot, so I’m going to have to summarise: she says if you talk to Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant, each word has a specific pitch, and that it never changes. But if the scientists get the speech right, the robot might have trouble with empathy and imagining what other humans are feeling.
Bertie
Franklin aged 6 from the UK asks What happens when the robot gets wet? If it was a robot it would malfunction. When it was raining some paint might come off.
Arya says she would know a girl was really a robot if she banged herself and it sounded like metal. also if she did not say 'ouch'
Muaz says The tell-tale sign would be that this kid doesn't eat or drink
Jana
Norah answers If you cut open the skin you would see cords and wires instead of blood.
Bertie
Narayan who is 4 and a half says use a metal detector to tell if the robot is not human
Jana
Celeste aged 7 and a half says that the life-like robot would walk differently.
Bertie
Edward aged 8 says I sit next to her at lunchtime and she always has oil in her water bottle and a cog biscuit. In art she produces an exact copy of the painting we are studying, in two minutes flat.
Jana
Shoshana says, first of all, a human being needs to go to the bathroom and a robot does not so that would be a little suspicious and my second thing is that a robot would probably get everything right and it is not humanly possible to get everything right because no one and I mean no one is perfect!
Bertie
Madiha says that The tell-tale sign will be that the robot will be best in everything - it will be perfect!
Jana
Leelya, who tells us her name is Arabic for Lily, is 12 and gives us quite a few original answers including that the robot wouldn’t be able to distinguish between something that is supposed to be funny or some lame old joke, and wouldn’t know when to cry.
Bertie
Allen 12 yrs is old from Albuquerque New Mexico says that a robot would not be accustomed to slang phrases although he would have a high intellect ( Also a sign) he might not understand sarcasm.
Yup, I think that’s very true.
Jana
Theodora is 11 and lives in New York, and says I think that the robot will eat weird food and say weird things about humans and pay a lot more attention in class than the other students and never get an answer wrong
Bertie
Jack age 7 asks What would happen at lunch? A robot can't eat food. We could tell he is a robot because he would not ever eat.
Jana
Muaz says that a tell-tale sign would be that he /she doesn't eat or drink
Bertie
Kaie B aged 5 says A robot pretending to be a human would make a clanking sound when it bonks its arm! Humans make a dull bone sound when they bonk their arms!
Jana
Chrystal says you could tell a robot in class the feel of its skin
Bertie
Atlas thinks the telltale sign that a super-intelligent robot acting as a human in your classroom is that it never farts.
·
Jana
August believes the telltale sign that a super-intelligent robot acting as a human is in your classroom is that they’ve never gone to the nurse or gotten sick.
Bertie
Franklin age 6 asks, What happens when the robot gets wet? If it was a robot it would malfunction
Jana
Isaac thinks he would know Dotty isn't human because she wouldn't ever need to go to the bathroom
Bertie
Lorelai aged 11 says - “For one, the robot might do things either too well or not well enough, such as eating and talking. Secondly, the robot may talk...like a robot! Like they know everything.
Jana
Ellie’s answer is that the robot would look or act differently and get all of the tests correct because it could look up the answers on its system.
Bertie
moss aged 8 says the Hair and skin would be the giveaway
Jana
Katie (age 7) says 'she would always do super hard sums really quickly and she'd always win in a no blinking competition'
Bertie
Haley who is seven says,
"It probably wouldn't blink! I doubt we would see it eat or drink either!"
Jana
Clara who is five years old thinks it would talk funny (most do) and would not eat or drink so she could easily find them in her school.
Bertie
And I think that’s the final answer. I really hope we haven’t missed any.
Jana
Wow! Lots of Great answers there. Bertie - which do you think are the three best.
Bertie
Jana, that is an almost impossible task. I really hate picking winners because it’s so subjective, but we have to try. I’d like to have at least one answer that talks about how robots think and feel. I think Emmie aged 10, was very on the mark to say that a robot might have trouble imagining what other humans are feeling and that would show up in the way she related to people.
Jana
And I’d like to pick one that is about language. Allen 12 yrs he might not understand sarcasm
Bertie
Yes, that’s a very clever answer. I think we need one from a younger listener now. Which one caught your eye, Jana
Jana
Well, there were lots of lovely answers from our younger listeners, but this is one that I thought was really unusual. Katie (age 7) the robot would always win in a no blinking competition'
Bertie
Yes, that made me laugh too. Well many congratulations to the winners! We will be in touch and I’ll be signing copies and sending them to you soon.
And to everyone else, I hope you don’t feel too disappointed! There’s always an element of luck as well as skill in competitions. We really did enjoy all the answers - they were all fantastic - and it’s really hard to pick winners. I hope you enjoyed hearing yours readout.
Jana
Yes, and do remember you can buy Undercover Robot on Amazon. It’s a really great read. Have there been any reviews yet Bertie?
We had a good write up in Britain’s Jewish Chronicle and people have been saying nice things about us on Twitter and on Amazon. Here’s one of my favourite amazon reviews, which is the first to come from the United States.
Fantastic philosophy, humour and adventure for children and adults.
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2020
Maybe as a developmental psychologist and philosopher, I was bound to enjoy the deep philosophical themes of the book (Consciousness, identity, morality, ). But when my 8-year-old grandson got it in the mail, without knowing where it came from, he was immediately caught and couldn't stop reading - we're rereading it together and a) laugh out loud b) can't wait to see what exciting adventure unfolds next and c) have great discussions about the philosophical ideas. He thinks its one of the best books ever and so do I
Jana
One of the best books ever, hey, well you can’t say fairer than that.
Bertie
Yes, that was nice.
Jana, we’ll be back soon with a new story, so keep listening!
Congratulations: to Emmie, Allen, and Katie!
I’m first yay
Samuel — August 28, 2020
I know I’m late but a robot in disguise would be way too literal, not understanding any figures of speech, and also being a super genius in everything, like understanding quantum physics in 4th grade.
MayBeaRobot — August 28, 2020
Thank you MaeBeaRobot
Jana Elizabeth — August 28, 2020
Yes, I was a very good audio story. I liked the story about the robot and how people had different thoughts about the robot.
Nathan — August 28, 2020
YES I WON!
Emmie — August 28, 2020
Congratulations Emmie! 😃
Jana Elizabeth — August 29, 2020
Congratulations to those who won and I have been suggesting this for weeks but could you please do the story Heidi I really want to listen to it on storynory
Pls reply
Amaya — August 28, 2020
Unfortunately Amaya, we are not permitted to do the story of Heidi on Storynory as it’s in copyright and not for use in the public domain.
Jana Elizabeth — August 29, 2020
hi i am very new to here,i just saw this place today.
parkintashuil. — August 29, 2020
My sister won
Paul — August 29, 2020
Wow, Great Story.
Abhijeet — August 29, 2020
amaing story
Liya — August 29, 2020
Hi jana, i know i’m a bit late but i want to give my answer too. I think i could tell a robot was a robot by her smell, because she wouldn’t smell like a human. byy the waay…I love your work.
pina — August 29, 2020
Thank you pina, good answer
Jana Elizabeth — August 29, 2020
hello,
I have an idea for tictok turkey
how about an evil bunny named fluffy comes to the island and keeps trying to steal tictok turkey’s time traveling powers and tictok turkey tries telling everyone this but nobody believes him and at the last second future dog pulls in and rescues tictok turkey
pls respond and thx for reading this,
HarrWalk
HarrWalk — August 30, 2020
Hello!!!
Hey StoryNory I was wondering if I could make a YouTube video about how great you guys are and about my new story I just wan’t to ask bc I don’t want to get copyright striked so I would like to ask permision to feature your website in a vid and just give all of you a shout out and recomend it to my friends bc I just really believe that what all of you do is amazing and I think my friends deserve to get to enjoy every minute of an audio book by using this website>
pls respond,
HarrWalk
HarrWalk — August 30, 2020
Hi Harrwalk, We are very happy for you to make a YouTube video about us and featuring the story. Thank you!
Bertie — August 30, 2020
Congratulations Emmy Allen Katie
Leelya — August 31, 2020
Cool 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂.
Émer 31 August 💛. — August 31, 2020
I love the book
Hi — August 31, 2020
I love is is so amazing
Ruby — August 31, 2020
I really enjoyed it , it was perfect ! I also love robots too!
fatai! — August 31, 2020
A robot would say weird stuff for example it would say beep bop,greetings their.Also it can’t eat so how is it a human cause human can eat or how can it go to the bathroom or wash its hands.Robots can not cook or even drive.Robots can’t kiss.
Zackary — September 1, 2020
Yes.It is very technical and smart to talk about a robot,and to know who is talking by their names,and the title is the part of what they are talking about a robot in the book and was very enjoyable to hear the actors read their own long book.
Aurelia — September 1, 2020
a little bit
juan pablo — September 1, 2020
Its a nice story
Sigmond — September 4, 2020
this story is cool
brian — September 4, 2020
Please read Percy Jackson
Paul — September 9, 2020
Hi i love this story
Alyssa — September 10, 2020
Hi i love this storya
Alyssa — September 10, 2020
Hi story nory i love ur books plz make a story about a movie like descendants but change the whole thing
Alyssa — September 10, 2020
I just love this book from page one
Anonymous — September 10, 2020
this story is cool and I love this book and whoever made this book is Awsomand cool and I llllllooooovvvveeee this book and I have nothing to say all I can say this book is Awsome and I like robots oh and im a girl so ya bye.
victoria — September 11, 2020
yes
Anonymous — September 12, 2020
Very good but too short.
I read it today and finished it in about 3 hours
I was waiting for another book to come.
I was very sad when I finished it i thought i will never find such a good book again.
BOOK 2 !? PLESE
Anonymous — September 15, 2020
Great story.
Brendan — September 21, 2020
I won
Bayleigh — September 21, 2020
WOW!!!!!!!! Also can you add it without the Audio? Thanks!
Kayla L. (CrystalFaithisawsome) Friend me on Roblox! — September 22, 2020
I would just take a magnet to he,she,or it.
Nicole — September 22, 2020
I finished the book a few days ago, and I really liked it.
Emmie — September 24, 2020
YYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS EMMIE YOU GO QUEEN
eliora — September 29, 2020
yes I liked this story very much😀🤩😃😄💖🤗☺
kyrah — September 29, 2020
Heyo Jana my name is Willow age 9 i really liked this small story thingy it made me and my friends laugh. You guys inspire me to write my own stories :0
Willow — October 1, 2020
That’s great willow ☺️
Jana Elizabeth — October 2, 2020
this is nice
maddison m. — October 2, 2020
SO COOL 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
SYDNEY — October 5, 2020
they are taking about the people and saying about robot doing stuff
robot and jon — October 7, 2020
Wow! Congratulations to the winners Plus today is my birthday
And is there a new tictok turkey story it is my favorite story
Please make new tictok turkey stories
Did you Know that storynory is my favorite 🤩🥳🤩😋😛😝😗😙😚😍🥰😘🙃😉😌😇😊😇🙂😁😆😁😃😉😁☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍🤎🖤
Sireena ❤️💙💜 — October 10, 2020
Happy Birthday Sireena, have a wonderful day! ☺️
Jana Elizabeth — October 10, 2020
Nice 👍 storytelling
Sireena — October 10, 2020
So can u make a story like super man and batman but playing and getting ice cream and i want there to be the joker thanks
Anonymous — October 12, 2020
wow a robot so cool!!!!!
Lola — October 14, 2020
this is nice to read i love this book
jayla — October 15, 2020
nice and cool
jayla — October 15, 2020
Cool I did not participate
Ashley — October 15, 2020
Love it! I turned on the audio and my daughter went to sleep!
Dave — October 18, 2020
i havent read the story yet but just looking at the title makes me think that it would be a great book for students to read
dakota — October 23, 2020
what is all of that about
baba — October 29, 2020
This was cool and I haven’t got the book but I want it.
Hope you see this and if you do could you reply.🙃
David — November 4, 2020
Thanks David, yes the book is available to buy from amazon ☺️
Jana Elizabeth — November 4, 2020
i like it
derrick — November 13, 2020
hello can we read this book but with no read aloud
nour — November 14, 2020
Nice👌
Lily — November 15, 2020
Robots?
Kabineh Tarawally — November 16, 2020
y’all are such like wow maybe but why do y’all post weird comments
brianna — November 17, 2020
Thanks Jana
Anonymous — November 19, 2020
I love the story ❤️❤️❤️❤️🌈
Chelsea — November 20, 2020
cool
hacker2.0 — November 21, 2020
wow this really cool nice audio
hacker2.0 — November 21, 2020
Yea I liked this story
Jahmari — November 24, 2020
I like the story.
frankey — November 25, 2020
Yes I liked it.
Anonymous — December 2, 2020
i love this book
Anonymous — December 11, 2020
I like to read books like this I know im in 6th grade but i like these kinds of books thanks for writing it.Wait I have a question were you and Bertie talking back and forth.
Terninator — December 12, 2020