Alex Taylor

Microsoft Research (United Kingdom), Microsoft (United States)

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Alex Taylor is a researcher whose work sits at the fascinating intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI), artificial intelligence, and robotics. His key research areas explore how people perceive and interact with intelligent machines, challenging conventional boundaries between human and machine agency. Taylor's most influential work, "Machine intelligence" (2009, 45 citations), examines the conditions under which humans willingly attribute intelligence to computing machines, drawing from AI research, robotics, art installations, and anthropological fieldwork to reveal the nuanced social dynamics at play. His collaborative workshop report "Where third wave HCI meets HRI" (2009, 14 citations) addresses the critical challenges of applying user-centred design in human-robot interaction, bridging two traditionally separate fields. Perhaps most creatively, Taylor's "Mechanical hijacking" (2011, 14 citations) introduces the robotic pseudopod (P.Pod)—an actuator that operates mechanical switches designed for human use—offering a practical solution to the deployment challenges facing ubiquitous computing. This inventive approach to simplifying real-world evaluation of ubicomp systems demonstrates Taylor's talent for combining technical innovation with deep theoretical insight. His work continues to influence how we understand and design for human-machine relationships.