Conor Patrick Gallagher

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Conor Patrick Gallagher is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), social robotics, and the psychology of eating. His work fundamentally explores how technology can mitigate the negative effects of solitary dining—a growing societal concern linked to reduced well-being. Gallagher’s primary contribution is the conceptualization and empirical validation of the "Artificial Commensal Companion," a social robot designed to replicate the benefits of eating with others. His most influential papers, each garnering 22 citations, lay the theoretical groundwork for this novel field. In "Room for one more? - Introducing Artificial Commensal Companions" (2020), he defines the problem space, while "Social robots as eating companions" (2022) explores the design space for interactive technologies that can positively influence food choice, eating duration, and enjoyment. His experimental work, "Eating with an Artificial Commensal Companion" (2020), provides early evidence that a robot displaying non-verbal cues can alter human eating behavior. By bridging social robotics and commensality studies, Gallagher has opened a vital new avenue for using technology to combat loneliness and improve nutritional health, establishing himself as a leading voice in this emerging domain.