Arihiro Sakurai

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Arihiro Sakurai is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, with a focused expertise in the nuanced dynamics of eye contact as a communication tool. His work centers on the critical insight that true eye contact between humans and robots requires not just mutual gaze, but mutual awareness—a shared recognition of being watched. In his most cited paper, "Active eye contact for human-robot communication" (2004, 35 citations), Sakurai proposed a groundbreaking model for initiating and controlling communication through robotic gaze, demonstrating that robots could effectively signal readiness to interact. He further refined this concept in "Two-way eye contact between humans and robots" (2004, 6 citations), emphasizing the bidirectional nature of this awareness. Sakurai’s contributions are foundational to the field of social robotics, directly influencing how robots are designed to engage in natural, non-verbal communication. By tackling the subtle psychology of gaze, his work has helped bridge the gap between mechanical response and genuine social interaction, making him a notable figure in the development of more intuitive and human-like robotic companions.