Kirsikka Kaipainen
Papers
16
Total Citations
189
H-Index
6
About
Kirsikka Kaipainen is a Finnish researcher whose work sits at the intersection of human-robot interaction, social robotics, and human-centered design. Her scholarship explores how social robots can be meaningfully integrated into everyday contexts — from classrooms and customer service environments to civic participation and collaborative workplaces — with a consistent focus on the diverse experiences of users who encounter these technologies. Among her most significant contributions is her investigation into the divergent expectations of early adopters versus mainstream users when evaluating social robots, a study that has garnered 58 citations and offers practical guidance for robot designers. Her 2020 field study on the social robot Pepper in primary school settings (35 citations) demonstrated both the promise and complexity of deploying robots in educational contexts, findings she later synthesized in a comprehensive meta-review of robots in education (2023). Her work also extends into participatory design, examining how young people envision social robots supporting civic engagement and societal participation. Across her body of work, Kaipainen demonstrates a rare ability to bridge theoretical frameworks — including ethnomethodology and human-centered design — with real-world deployment studies. Her research is increasingly shaping conversations about responsible, inclusive social robot design, making her a noteworthy voice in the growing field of socially interactive technologies.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3Nice surprise, more present than a machine32 citations · 2018
- 4Color game11 citations · 2020
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- 6"The superhero of the university"7 citations · 2020
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