Different from the aesthetic objects, machines have been designed and developed as tools for human beings while being evaluated in terms of objective measures. Machines are passive basically because human beings give them goals. Machines will not be active as long as they are tools for human beings. However, if a machine were able to generate its motivation and behave voluntarily, it would have much influence to an interacting human. At the same time, the machine should not be a simple tool for humans nor be evaluated only in terms of objective measures.
Subjective evaluation is important.
For a human, multi-modal stimulation should be influential. People interacting with the machine or observing the interaction may consider the machine as an artificial creature. Behaviors of the machine may be interpreted as emotional. There are many studies on human-machine interaction. Here, we don't discuss studies on human factors in controlling machines used as tools.