Cynthia Aguillon
Papers
3
Total Citations
97
H-Index
3
About
Cynthia Aguillon’s research sits at the intersection of human-robot interaction, social psychology, and gender studies, probing how people perceive, react to, and mistreat humanlike machines. Her most cited work, a 2017 study analyzing public commentary on YouTube videos of social robots, uncovered a nuanced “uncanny valley” effect alongside a widespread fear of a “Technology Takeover” and a troubling tendency to sexualize female-gendered robots—a paper that has garnered 59 citations for its pioneering look at real-world online discourse. Aguillon has also advanced the design of telepresence interfaces for aging adults, investigating how user perceptions of privacy and usability shape adoption, a contribution with 30 citations that underscores her commitment to inclusive technology. In a preliminary 2018 study, she explored whether the verbal abuse directed at female-gendered robots cuts across racial lines, finding that racialization and perceived humanness both influence hostile user behavior. Her work consistently reveals how societal biases—sexism, racism, and technophobia—are mirrored in our interactions with machines, making her a vital voice in ethical robotics and human-centered design.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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