Heidy Maldonado
Papers
2
Total Citations
119
H-Index
2
About
Heidy Maldonado is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction and cultural computing, whose work fundamentally challenges the Western-centric assumptions embedded in autonomous systems. Her most influential contribution, the 2008 paper *"Relational vs. group self-construal"* (113 citations), critically examines how people from diverse cultural backgrounds respond to robots making decisions on their behalf. This work argues that designing for individual preferences—a default in much of robotics—fails to account for the relational and group-oriented values prevalent in many non-Western societies. Maldonado’s research thus pioneers a culturally-aware approach to human-robot collaboration, ensuring that autonomous systems respect and adapt to users’ social frameworks. Earlier, in *"Toward an actualization of social intelligence in human and robot collaborative systems"* (2005), she helped define the emerging concept of "social intelligence" for robots—the capacity for natural, socially appropriate interaction. Together, these contributions establish Maldonado as a critical voice in making robotics inclusive, demonstrating that true social intelligence must be culturally situated, not merely technically proficient.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Relational vs. group self-construal113 citations · 2008
- 2