Bonita B. Sharma

About

Bonita B. Sharma is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of assistive technology, disability studies, and inclusive design. Her work centers on developing and evaluating socially assistive robotics (SAR) and intelligent technologies to support caregivers and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Sharma’s major contributions include advancing the concept of the “humane in the loop,” a framework that integrates ethical, human-centered design into human-robot interactions to ensure technology fosters capacity building rather than dependency. Her pilot study on SAR for older family caregivers of young adults with IDD demonstrated promising outcomes in providing respite and promoting engagement, earning 7 citations and highlighting the potential of complementary caregiving. Her most cited work (15 citations) addresses how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated reliance on wireless assistive technologies, urging policy and research to prioritize inclusivity. Sharma’s notable achievement is bridging engineering and social science to create practical, empathetic solutions for vulnerable populations. Her research is essential for students and scholars interested in human-robot interaction, disability justice, and the ethical deployment of AI in caregiving contexts.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   The “humane in the loop”: Inclusive research design and policy approaches to foster capacity building assistive technologies in the COVID-19 era

   15 citations · 2021
2. 2
   Socially assistive robotics and older family caregivers of young adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD): A pilot study exploring respite, acceptance, and usefulness

   7 citations · 2022
3. 3
   Learning futures with mixed sentience

   2 citations · 2016

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links