Survey: Japanese chat with computers

Tokyo -- A survey shows two out of five young Japanese women anthropomorphize their computers, talking to them, giving them names and decorating them with toys.

The Mainichi Daily News reported Saturday that the mail survey was conducted by forwarding company iShare Inc. and toymaker Sega Toys Co.

There were 410 women in their 20s and 30s who were surveyed; of these, 40.5 percent said they "talk to their computer." The paper's examples of the women's correspondence with the computers included such statements as, ""I'll get onto a ridiculous site and say something like 'That was stupid' out loud."

Apparently, it's common for young Japanese women to talk to themselves with 59.2 respondents admitting they did it. Stress and loneliness were frequent triggers -- or if the women made an error while online.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.