Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Juan Pablo Hourcade is a leading researcher in human-computer interaction, with a focused expertise on the design and use of technology for young children. His primary research areas center on computational thinking, child-computer interaction, and the educational applications of programmable robots for preschoolers. Hourcade’s major contributions include systematically evaluating how preschool children engage with robots to learn computational thinking, as evidenced by his highly cited 2021 systematic review (124 citations). He has advanced the field by identifying key design factors that facilitate the social use of programmable robots in kindergarten settings, addressing the unique challenges of teaching preliterate children. His work also critically examines teachers’ perspectives on commercial robots, revealing both the opportunities and limitations of these tools in early education. Through studies like his 2022 paper on design factors and his 2023 exploration of teacher perspectives, Hourcade has shaped how educators and technologists approach the integration of robotics into early childhood curricula. His research is instrumental in ensuring that emerging technologies are developmentally appropriate, socially engaging, and pedagogically effective for our youngest learners.