Dina Walker
Papers
1
Total Citations
57
H-Index
1
About
Dina Walker’s research lies at the intersection of human-robot interaction, gerontology, and design ethics, with a focus on supporting the emotional and social well-being of healthy older adults. Her most cited work, “Companionship Is Not a Function: The Effect of a Novel Robotic Object on Healthy Older Adults’ Feelings of ‘Being-Seen’” (2020, 57 citations), challenges prevailing assumptions in assistive robotics. Walker argues that conventional companion robots—often zoomorphic or humanoid—can feel infantilizing or degrading to healthy older adults, who seek genuine social recognition rather than simulated care. In response, she designed and implemented a novel robotic object that prioritizes subtle, non-anthropomorphic interaction, fostering a sense of “being-seen” without imposing a false companionship role. This contribution reframes how technology can address loneliness and invisibility in aging populations, moving beyond function-driven design toward dignity-preserving engagement. Walker’s work has been recognized for its human-centered methodology and its potential to reshape ethical design in social robotics. By centering the lived experiences of older adults, she offers a critical, compassionate alternative to techno-solutionism, making her a distinctive voice in the field.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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