Carbon based life forms frown when touched. When stranger in a bus pushes his knee onto ours, we usually, with some degree of displeasure, take an immediate action to terminate this state of undesired touch, move our own knee away. If there is an option to avoid physical proximity altogether, we usually go for this option in the beginning, i.e. take the seats without a neighbour.

Animals similarly try to avoid contact, vast amount of the incidents when people are kicked or bitten by an animal involve a situation when the animal was simply reacting to an unsolicited touch or proximity. Seems rather reasonable, given the evolutionary benefit of minding one's surroundings.

I think we can safely assume, that the toaster will not start enacting any specific gestures, sounds nor behaviours when we suddenly poke it from behind. But where is the line? While some devices may be even loudly expressing their dissatisfaction with their neighbour, we still perceive it as an overheating problem. We refuse to recognise it as our xbox's being uncomfortable due to his personal space being threatened by the audio amplifier. On the other hand, Mimosa pudica, a plant is recognised as humble due to this very behaviour, sharp reactions when touched. Similarly, Roombas, which given their purpose have some awareness of surroundings, are indeed prone to higher than usual creatureness perception.

Naturally, it is not that living creatures despise touch and proximity altogether. Violation of personal space is a fundamental element of the relationships we build between each other, both within as well as across species. The important thing is, that this violation needs to be consensual. We use our personal space as a bubble of intimacy, and who and when is allowed to approach is defines our connection with that living being.

As discussed earlier, besides the overheating problem regular, non aware devices not seem to need the sense of personal space. Aside of that, the problem seems also incredibly complex for a maschine to comprehend. After all, when in our society a violation of personal space is consensual?

An open palm offering handshake is easy. Easy to a point, where a dog can be taught and the gesture can be used to invite not only humans but animals to enter our personal space. But the amount of rules and exceptions in next to endless, and greatly dependant on culture, background, concepts of boyfriends, ex-husbands, football couches and employers. Living creatures find it hard to navigate in this difficult system.

We make mistakes when it comes to acting within our own species, not mentioning how little we know which specific gestures, rules and behaviours apply between animals as close as our house pets. Seems also safe to assume, that cats don't understand ours.