Daniela Villani

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About

Daniela Villani is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and developmental psychology, with a focus on how emerging technologies shape human experience from early childhood through young adulthood. Her work bridges the gap between technological innovation and human expectations, particularly in social robotics and educational technology. Villani’s most-cited research explores how young adults conceptualize and anticipate future robotic companions, using latent profile analysis to identify distinct user expectations that can inform more effective robot design. She has also made significant contributions to understanding how coding and robotics impact cognitive and socio-relational learning in children as young as four years old, demonstrating the pedagogical potential of these technologies in early education. Her 2021 paper “Machines Like Us and People Like You” advances the concept of human-robot shared experience, proposing frameworks for more intuitive collaboration. With over 40 citations across her key works, Villani’s research is shaping how we design robots that meet genuine human needs across the lifespan, from preschool classrooms to emerging adults navigating a world of increasingly autonomous machines.