Heli Talja

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Heli Talja’s research bridges the human and the technological, exploring how digital disruptions reshape organizations, services, and care. Her work is distinguished by a focus on real-world impact, from the factory floor to the care home. She is best known for her study on the long-term use of Paro, the therapy robot seal, which provides a rare caregiver perspective on assistive robotics in elder care. This paper, with 5 citations, offers critical insights into the practical and emotional dimensions of human-robot interaction. Talja also examines how technology disruptions—such as the spread of software and data from service sectors into manufacturing—act as enablers of organizational and social innovation. Her 2016 paper on this topic, with 4 citations, illustrates how digital tools transform the roles of consumers and users, challenging traditional industry boundaries. By connecting technological change with human experience, Talja’s work informs both the design of care technologies and the strategic management of digital transformation. Her research is essential reading for students and practitioners interested in the sociotechnical dynamics of innovation.