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About

Frank Vetere is a prominent researcher whose work sits at the intersection of human-computer interaction, aging, and social robotics. Best known for his investigations into how emerging digital technologies affect older adults and vulnerable populations, Vetere has made significant contributions to understanding both the promise and ethical complexities of deploying robots, tablets, and virtual reality in residential aged care facilities. His 2019 paper questioning whether social robots might make us kinder or crueller to humans and animals (36 citations) exemplifies his willingness to tackle uncomfortable questions at the frontier of technology ethics. Alongside this, his work on robot pets as companions for older adults (23 citations) has helped shape critical discourse around dignity, authenticity, and therapeutic value in care contexts. Vetere has also extended his lens to broader societal concerns, including how AI and digital technologies are reshaping the future of meaningful work, as reflected in his 2025 co-evolving sociotechnical systems paper (14 citations). With a body of work that consistently bridges technical deployment and human consequence, Vetere stands as a thoughtful and ethically engaged voice in human-centered computing research.