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About

Dr. Albert Park is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction and gerontechnology, with a focus on designing socially assistive robots to combat loneliness and improve mental health among older adults. His pioneering work with the Hyodol companion robot has reshaped understanding of how technology can serve as a “precious friend” for socially isolated seniors. In a landmark 2022 study (50 citations), Dr. Park used a friendship framework to explore interactions between low-income older adults in South Korea and a doll-shaped companion robot, revealing deep emotional bonds that mitigated social isolation. His mixed-method trial with 180 participants (35 citations) demonstrated that the humanoid robot significantly reduced depressive symptoms and improved health-related quality of life. More recently, Dr. Park has advanced the field by employing time series clustering to create user profiles for personalized robot interactions (2024), and he has extended his expertise to Alzheimer’s care, examining how family caregivers integrate assistive technologies. With over 90 combined citations on his most influential works, Dr. Park’s research provides critical evidence for deploying socially assistive robots as scalable, cost-effective interventions in aging societies.