Erin Spannan
Papers
2
Total Citations
121
H-Index
2
About
Erin Spannan is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and computational rhetoric, exploring how robots can communicate more effectively as informational assistants. Her most cited work, "Rhetorical Robots: Making Robots More Effective Speakers Using Linguistic Cues of Expertise" (2013), has accumulated over 120 citations, establishing her as a pioneer in this niche. Spannan’s core contribution lies in demonstrating that robots can be programmed to project expertise through specific linguistic cues—such as confident phrasing and technical jargon—thereby increasing their perceived credibility and persuasiveness in roles like museum guides, concierges, and shopkeepers. By bridging classical rhetorical principles with modern robotics, she has shown that effective communication is not just about what a robot says, but how it says it. Her work has significant implications for designing more trustworthy and engaging autonomous systems, influencing both academic research and practical applications in service robotics. Spannan’s research continues to shape how we think about the social dynamics between humans and machines, making her a key voice in the evolving field of socially aware robotics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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