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About

Jered Vroon is a researcher at the intersection of social robotics, human-robot interaction, and telepresence, with a focus on how robots can navigate the nuanced dynamics of group settings. His work centers on social positioning—the study of how a robot’s physical orientation and proximity affect its acceptance and effectiveness in interactions with people. Vroon’s major contributions include pioneering studies on responsive social positioning behaviors for semi-autonomous telepresence robots, such as the TERESA system, which aims to enable elderly individuals to participate in social activities remotely. His research has garnered over 100 citations, with key papers like “Dynamics of social positioning patterns in group-robot interactions” (23 citations) and “TERESA: a socially intelligent semi-autonomous telepresence system” (21 citations) laying the groundwork for understanding how robots can adapt to human social norms. Notably, Vroon has explored how robot gaze cues can mitigate the intrusiveness of personal space invasions, and he has collaborated with theater professionals to enact human-robot encounters on a mixed reality stage, blending VR with real-life interaction. His work also addresses practical challenges, such as accommodating hearing problems in elderly users, and has been recognized through EU-funded projects. Vroon’s research is vital for designing robots that are not only functional but also socially attuned, making them more acceptable in everyday human environments.