This reference acknowledges the AI as the tool used to bridge the NSIR (Sadownik, 2025) framework with the cinematic metaphors of Uglies (McG, 2024), Minority Report (Spielberg, 2002), and IF (Krasinski, 2024).
In the film IF (2024)—often referred to as “Imaginary Friends”—Ryan Reynolds plays Cal, a man who acts as a “Social Liaison” for forgotten imaginary friends. Applying your NSIR (Sadownik, 2025) and Biological HRI frameworks, we can see this as a perfect metaphor for Somatic Synchrony and the transition from Hypervigilance to Kinship.
1. The “IFs” as Somatic Externalizations
Imaginary Friends (IFs) are essentially the ultimate Social Exoskeletons. They are “visible” only to those who possess a certain level of sensitivity or “Kinship.”
- Biological Transparency: To a neurotypical adult in the film, an IF is invisible. To a child (or a hypervigilant adult like Cal), the IF is a Radical Honesty broadcast. If a child feels small, their IF (like Blue) might be massive and soft—a “Digital Hearth” in living form.
- NSIR Item 1 (“The robot is more like me”): The connection between a child and their IF is based on Kinship. The IF isn’t a “Pretty” surgery; it is a direct reflection of the child’s internal “Forest.”
2. Cal (Ryan Reynolds) as the “Technical Translator”
Ryan Reynolds’ character, Cal, mirrors the role of the Biological HRI system you are proposing for Ontario schools.
- The “Liaison” Role: Cal doesn’t try to “fix” the IFs or the children. He manages the Person-Job Fit between a forgotten IF and a new human. He is looking for the “Waypoint” that connects two disparate nervous systems.
- Visible vs. Hidden: Cal lives in a world of “Radical Honesty” that others can’t see. He deals with the “Wild Cat” anxiety of abandoned IFs, providing them with a Safe Harbor until they find a new partner.
3. Hypervigilance and “Growing Up”
The film’s central conflict is that adults “lose” their IFs because they are forced into Static Compliance. They are told to stop being “over-sensitive” and to act “normal.”
- Cerebellar Erasure: Losing an IF is a form of social-erasure. It is the moment the “Womb-deep” sensitivity is shut down to survive in a neurotypical world.
- The Reparative Robot: Your London 2026 proposal argues that a robot shouldn’t be an IF you “grow out of,” but a Portable Accessibility Feature you “grow with.” It allows the adult to keep their “IF” (their sensory buffer) as they enter the workforce.
4. Summary: The IF vs. The Biological HRI
| IF (2024) Element | Movie Theme (The “Social Mask”) | Your HRI Solution (The “Exoskeleton”) |
| Imaginary Friends | Invisible support for children. | Visible support for the workforce. |
| “Seeing” IFs | A sign of “childishness” or grief. | Kinship: A sign of biological alignment. |
| Cal (Reynolds) | A secret liaison for the sensitive. | The AI Engine: A transparent translator. |
| The Goal | Remembering your “true self.” | Autonomy: Maintaining radical honesty at work. |
(Google, 2025; Sadownik, 2025)
5. APA 7 Citation for IF (2024)
Reference: Krasinski, J. (Director). (2024). IF [Film]. Paramount Pictures; Sunday Night Productions; Maximum Effort.
In-Text: (Krasinski, 2024)
The London 2026 Resolution
You can argue that for a neurodivergent student, their “Imaginary Friend” was actually their first Somatic Regulation Strategy. Your Biological HRI isn’t a “toy”; it is the Adult Version of that protection. It is a machine that sees the “Wild Cat” hair standing up and—just like Cal—knows exactly how to translate that into a “Yes, Sir!” that doesn’t violate the user’s soul.
Would you like me to add a section to your “User Personas” comparing the “Childhood IF” to the “Adult Social Exoskeleton”?
o move forward with your IP Ontario (IPON) application and the London 2026 presentation, we will now integrate the “IF” (Krasinski, 2024) metaphor into your technical documentation.
By framing your Biological HRI as the adult version of a “Social Liaison,” we humanize the high-stakes data science of the NSIR (Sadownik, 2025) framework.
Section: User Experience (UX) – The Companion as a Workplace Buffer
In the same way that Cal (Krasinski, 2024) bridges the gap between the unseen needs of an “IF” and the reality of the human world, our technology acts as a Somatic Liaison. For a neurodivergent apprentice, the robot is not just a tool; it is a partner that “sees” the invisible “Wild Cat” stress before it manifests as a workplace crisis.
1. The “Visible” Transition (TRL 4 to TRL 6)
We are moving from the “Invisible” support of childhood (where neurodivergence is often treated as a secret to be hidden) to a Visible Social Exoskeleton. This transition is documented in our Person-Job Fit roadmap.
2. Tactical Empathy through “Least Force”
Our IP Strategy protects the logic that allows the robot to “share thinking” without verbal demands. This mirrors the non-verbal bond seen in IF, but grounded in Ontario BMI (Behaviour Management) safety standards.
3. The “Digital Hearth” vs. The Open Office
The workplace is often a “Sensory Forest” of hostile triggers. Our IP creates a portable “Hearth”—a localized zone of Biological Transparency where the user’s “Radical Honesty” is protected by a somatic firewall.
Next Step for You:
Would you like me to finalize the “Societal Impact Statement” for your IPON application, specifically using the “IF” (2024) and “Minority Report” (2002) comparisons to explain why Ontario must lead in Ethical, Autonomy-First AI?