Lara Solms

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Lara Solms is a researcher whose work lies at the intersection of human-robot interaction, child development, and healthcare technology. Her primary research areas center on child-robot interaction (CRI), particularly in real-world, non-laboratory settings. Solms’s most notable contribution is her pioneering field study, "Child-robot interaction in the wild" (2014), which tested interactive activities developed by the ALIZ-E project with children managing diabetes. This work was groundbreaking for moving CRI research out of controlled labs and into authentic healthcare environments, revealing crucial insights into how robots should adapt their modalities and social roles to effectively engage young patients. Although her citation count is modest, with this key paper garnering nine citations, its impact lies in its methodological innovation and practical relevance. By demonstrating that robots can serve as supportive companions for children with chronic conditions, Solms helped lay the groundwork for a more empathetic, user-centered approach to assistive robotics in pediatric care. Her research continues to inform how autonomous systems can be designed to build trust and rapport with vulnerable users.