Asano Kitahara

Papers

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About

Asano Kitahara is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, with a focus on designing social robots that can effectively engage with people in public spaces. Her most-cited work, "Please Listen to Me" (2020, 8 citations), lays the groundwork for developing advertising robots by investigating which behaviors—Greeting, Troubling, or Dancing—best capture the attention of passersby in a shopping mall. This study, conducted with six participants, represents a critical first step toward creating robots that can initiate meaningful interactions in crowded environments. Kitahara’s research bridges robotics and social psychology, exploring how subtle behavioral cues can influence human engagement. Her contributions are particularly notable for their practical applications in retail and public service, where robots must navigate the delicate balance between being noticed and being intrusive. Though early in her career, Kitahara’s work has already informed subsequent studies on robot persuasion and public-space deployment, marking her as a rising voice in the field of socially assistive robotics.