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About

Jan van Dijk is a leading figure in the study of digital communication and human-robot interaction. His research spans two major areas: the societal impact of network technologies and the social acceptance of domestic robots. In his seminal work, *The Network Society* (2020, 310 citations), van Dijk provides a comprehensive guide to the past, present, and future of digital communication, integrating face-to-face and online interaction to explain how new media shapes contemporary life. This text has become a foundational resource for students and scholars alike. In robotics, van Dijk has made groundbreaking contributions to understanding why people accept or reject social robots in their homes. His model of domestic social robot acceptance (2017, 244 citations) identifies key factors influencing user perceptions, while his work on technology refusal (2017, 160 citations) sheds light on the often-overlooked reasons for non-use. Notably, his long-term study placing 70 robots in real homes for up to six months (2016, 156 citations) provides rare longitudinal insights into human-robot interaction. By defining what makes a robot “social” from a user’s perspective (2015, 74 citations), van Dijk has helped bridge the gap between technical design and real-world adoption. His work is essential reading for anyone exploring the future of social technology.