Brett Knock

University of Auckland, Auckland UniServices (New Zealand)

Papers

Total Citations

304

H-Index

About

Brett Knock’s research sits at the critical intersection of gerontology, human-robot interaction, and technology acceptance, exploring how older adults and care staff perceive and embrace assistive robotics. His most influential work, “Attitudes towards health‑care robots in a retirement village” (226 citations), provides foundational insights into the social and emotional barriers to robotic adoption in aged care. Through focus groups and surveys with residents, caregivers, and managers, Knock revealed that acceptance hinges less on technical capability and more on trust, autonomy, and perceived usefulness—a finding that has shaped subsequent design and implementation strategies worldwide. His earlier study, “Retirement home staff and residents' preferences for healthcare robots” (78 citations), further dissected the specific tasks—such as lifting, reminding, and companionship—that different stakeholders would welcome or resist. By centering the voices of both users and providers, Knock’s work has helped move the field from technology‑driven development to human‑centered deployment. His contributions are essential reading for anyone designing robots for vulnerable populations, demonstrating that successful aging‑in‑place technology must be co‑created with the very people it aims to serve.