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About

Maria Rigou is a researcher whose work lies at the intersection of human-computer interaction and inclusive design, with a particular focus on tangible user interfaces (TUIs) and accessibility. Her key research areas include designing intuitive interfaces for diverse user groups, from the elderly to agricultural professionals, and evaluating the performance of alternative interaction modalities. Rigou’s major contributions center on demonstrating the practical advantages of tangible interfaces—which bridge the digital and physical worlds—over traditional mouse-based systems. In her 2020 study, she compared operator intervention on autonomous robots, finding that TUIs improved efficiency and reduced cognitive load. Her 2022 work extended this to agricultural contexts, showing that farmers using tangible controls outperformed computer experts with mouse-based UIs, highlighting the potential for democratizing technology in rural settings. Her 2018 paper on designing for the elderly underscores her commitment to inclusive design. With over 10 citations across her most-cited works, Rigou’s research is gaining traction for its real-world applicability, offering actionable insights for creating more accessible, intuitive systems in robotics and beyond.