Papers
15
Total Citations
509
H-Index
9
About
Jennifer Piatt is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of recreational therapy, human-robot interaction, and geriatric mental health. Her work has profoundly shaped how scholars and practitioners think about socially assistive robots (SARs) as therapeutic tools for older adults, particularly those living independently with depression. Piatt's most influential contribution, "Steps Toward Participatory Design of Social Robots" (2017, 212 citations), challenged the field's technology-first mindset by advocating for human-centered methodologies that place users at the heart of robot design. This approach carried through her landmark 2015 study (97 citations) exploring how older adults themselves could co-design robotic companions tailored to their needs. Beyond design, Piatt has rigorously examined real-world robot use in home settings, demonstrating through pilot studies and ecological momentary assessment that SARs can meaningfully reduce depression symptoms and combat social isolation. Her 2019 study (65 citations) offered practical design recommendations drawn from authentic in-home deployment. More recently, she has worked to formally conceptualize SARs within digital health frameworks and explored cross-cultural dimensions of robotic companionship. With a body of work accumulating nearly 500 citations, Piatt stands as a defining voice in therapeutic robotics and aging research.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Steps Toward Participatory Design of Social Robots212 citations · 2017
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- 4A Robot a Day Keeps the Blues Away44 citations · 2017
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- 7Sensing Companions14 citations · 2018
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- 10What Skin Is Your Robot In?8 citations · 2023