Christiana Tsiourti
TU Wien, University of Geneva, Medical University of Vienna, University of Coimbra
Papers
9
Total Citations
297
H-Index
6
About
Christiana Tsiourti is a researcher specializing in human-robot interaction (HRI), affective computing, and socially assistive robotics, with a particular focus on how robots can communicate emotions convincingly and integrate meaningfully into human life. Her most impactful work explores multimodal emotional expression in robots, examining how voice, body language, and contextual cues combine — or conflict — to shape human perception of robotic emotion. Her 2019 paper on multimodal emotional signal integration has garnered 180 citations, establishing her as a notable voice in emotionally expressive robot design. Tsiourti has also advanced intuitive robot teleoperation through virtual reality, developing markerless pose-imitation systems that lower barriers for novice users. Her longitudinal ethnographic studies on consumer robots like Anki Vector offer rare, grounded insights into why domestic robots struggle to achieve lasting adoption — work that bridges technical development with real-world social dynamics. Early contributions include understanding elderly users' preferences for companion robots, reflecting a consistent concern for inclusive, human-centered design. Across her career, Tsiourti has shaped foundational guidelines for building artificial agents that interact with humans in emotionally intelligent, trustworthy, and socially meaningful ways.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2Designing Emotionally Expressive Robots40 citations · 2017
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- 6Was Vector a Companion during Shutdown?9 citations · 2020
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