Hiroko Tokunaga

Papers

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About

Hiroko Tokunaga is a researcher in human-robot interaction, specializing in communication support robots that facilitate natural multi-party conversations. Her work addresses the challenge of awkward silences in group settings by developing autonomous turn-taking systems. In her most-cited study, "Neut: Design and evaluation of speaker designation behaviors for communication support robot to encourage conversations" (2017, 4 citations), she introduced a robot capable of designating the next speaker through three distinct behaviors—promoting an individual, encouraging all participants, or employing other strategies to revive stalled dialogues. This research builds on her earlier foundational work, "Autonomous Turn-Taking Agent System Based on Behavior Model" (2009, 3 citations), which established a behavior model for robotic agents to manage conversational flow. Tokunaga's contributions are notable for their practical approach to enhancing social dynamics, with her "Neut" system demonstrating how robots can act as subtle facilitators rather than dominant interlocutors. While her citation counts reflect a niche but growing field, her work has implications for assistive technologies, elderly care, and collaborative environments. Her achievements include designing robots that respond to real-time social cues, bridging the gap between artificial agents and human communication norms.