Wei-Chi Chien

Papers

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About

Wei-Chi Chien is a visionary researcher in human-robot interaction and intimate computing, whose work explores how robotic companions can sustain emotional bonds across distance. His most notable contribution is the development of **Furfur**, a robotic pet designed as a maintenance strategy for romantic couples in long-distance relationships. Through a deeply personal autobiographical design process spanning 200 days, Chien iterated multiple versions of Furfur, applying them to his own relationship to test how shared robotic presence can foster feelings of closeness and togetherness. This pioneering study, published in 2016 and cited 24 times, challenges conventional notions of co-presence by demonstrating that a tangible, interactive object can serve as a relational proxy, bridging emotional gaps where physical proximity is impossible. Chien’s work sits at the intersection of **social robotics**, **computer-supported cooperative work**, and **design research**, offering a rare, lived-experience perspective on technology-mediated intimacy. His approach—blending rigorous prototyping with autobiographical methods—has inspired new directions in designing for vulnerable, real-world relationships, making him a distinctive voice in the growing field of technology for human connection.