Tim Robert

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Tim Robert’s research lies at the intersection of human-robot interaction, affective computing, and ambient assisted living, with a specific focus on designing socio-affective communication systems for elderly users. His work explores how non-humanoid companion robots can serve as intuitive, emotionally resonant interfaces within smart home environments. Robert’s major contribution is the development of the “socio-affective glue” concept—a set of verbal and paraverbal cues that foster rapport and emotional connection between older adults and robots. This is operationalized through the EmOz platform, a Wizard of Oz framework that allows researchers to prototype and test affective interactions without fully autonomous systems. His most cited paper, “The EEE corpus” (2015, 11 citations), provides a foundational methodology for studying these cues in real-world smart home settings, while his earlier 2013 work on EmOz (4 citations) established the technical scaffolding for this line of inquiry. Though his citation counts are modest, Robert’s contributions are notable for their human-centered design approach, prioritizing emotional well-being over technical complexity. His work is particularly relevant for researchers in social robotics, gerontechnology, and affective interaction design, offering a replicable framework for embedding empathy into assistive technologies.