Ikuko Sugawara
Papers
2
Total Citations
19
H-Index
2
About
Ikuko Sugawara is a leading researcher in human–robot interaction, with a focused expertise on socially assistive robots (SARs) for older adults. Her work addresses a critical societal challenge: enabling older individuals to live independently in their homes through empathetic, technology-driven support. Sugawara’s most cited paper, “Eliciting a User’s Preferences by the Self-Disclosure of Socially Assistive Robots in Local Households of Older Adults to Facilitate Verbal Human–Robot Interaction” (2022, 15 citations), pioneers methods for robots to encourage verbal communication by sharing personal information, thereby building trust and engagement. She also critically examines research methodology in her 2023 paper (4 citations), highlighting how participant selection bias can skew findings and reduce population representativeness in SAR studies. This dual focus—on both designing effective interventions and ensuring rigorous, inclusive research—demonstrates her commitment to robust, real-world impact. Sugawara’s contributions are essential for developing assistive technologies that are not only functional but also socially attuned, making her a key voice in the future of aging-in-place robotics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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