WATCH: Simple robot lets pets ‘pet’ their owners

With this invention, enthusiastic pet owners can experience being physically “caressed” by their dear pets.

A YouTube video featuring “Robot People/Pet Affectionator,” a machine with the ability to “pet” people, is on its way into becoming a viral video after several blogs featured the invention. In the video, uploaded by James Cochrane, of Canada, he pushes a button that lets a wooden stick and potholder “pet” the dog and feed it with dog treats. After the dog finishes his snack, it will press the other button to “pet” the pet owner.

“These days people are more connected than ever. However, we are experiencing less and less physical interaction with each other. One day while giving my dog T-Bone a scratch behind the ears I came up with this silly idea. A robot which can give your dog a pat on the head and then, reward him with a tasty treat and best of all the dog can also reciprocate the same attention,” Cochrane wrote in the caption.

Social media users lauded the inventor for his hilarious yet useful prototype. Gianna Francesca Catolico