Catherine Plaisant

Papers

Total Citations

148

H-Index

About

Catherine Plaisant is a pioneering human-computer interaction researcher whose work bridges technology, accessibility, and therapeutic applications. Best known for her innovative contributions to interactive systems design, Plaisant has made a distinctive mark through her development of assistive and rehabilitative technologies for vulnerable populations, particularly children with disabilities. Her most celebrated work centers on the development of a storytelling robot for pediatric rehabilitation, a groundbreaking project that garnered 128 citations and demonstrated how technology could be meaningfully integrated into therapeutic contexts. By enabling children to control a large, engaging furry robot through adaptive body sensors tailored to individual disabilities, Plaisant and her collaborators created a system that transformed rehabilitation into an motivating, playful experience. This work was further elaborated in a subsequent publication on therapeutic play with the storytelling robot, reinforcing the project's clinical and educational significance. What makes Plaisant's contributions particularly compelling is her commitment to human-centered design — ensuring technology serves real human needs rather than existing as an end in itself. Her research exemplifies how thoughtful interface design can empower children facing physical challenges, offering them agency and joy within their rehabilitation journey. Her work continues to inspire researchers working at the intersection of assistive technology, child development, and interactive systems design.