Kentaro Watanabe
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Papers
8
Total Citations
84
H-Index
5
About
Kentaro Watanabe is a leading researcher at the intersection of service engineering, human-robot interaction, and socially conscious digitalization. His work fundamentally explores how emerging technologies—from avatars and socially capable robots to assistive care devices—can be designed to enhance, rather than replace, human experiences in service and care settings. A major contribution is his pioneering framework for "smart product-service systems" that embed social consciousness into digital design, ensuring technology serves societal well-being. His highly cited 2023 paper on "Avatar-mediated service encounters" (26 citations) has reshaped how researchers understand remote, human-like interactions in service contexts. Watanabe is also recognized for his comparative, cross-cultural studies on aging and technology, notably between Japan and Finland, which have informed global policy discussions. His work on boundary-crossing robots and human-robot dialogue systems further demonstrates his commitment to making autonomous agents socially capable and trustworthy. With a research agenda that bridges engineering, ethics, and social science, Watanabe is shaping the future of human-centered, responsible innovation in an increasingly digital world.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Avatar-mediated service encounters: impacts and research agenda26 citations · 2023
- 2Human-Robot Dialogues for Explaining Activities20 citations · 2019
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- 5Aging and Technology in Japan and Finland: Comparative Remarks7 citations · 2019
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