Leelo Keevallik

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Leelo Keevallik is a leading voice in the study of human-robot interaction, bringing a rigorous ethnomethodological and conversation analytic perspective to the field. Her research focuses on how people make sense of robotic agents in real-world, situated settings, with a particular emphasis on the role of sound, vocalizations, and displayed emotion. In her highly cited work, “Are You Sad, Cozmo?” (56 citations), Keevallik analyzes video data of families interacting with the Cozmo robot at home, revealing how humans interpret the robot’s emotional animations as sequentially relevant social actions. This foundational study demonstrates her core contribution: treating robots not as mere tools, but as participants in interaction whose agency is negotiated moment-by-moment. Her subsequent work, including “When a Robot Comes to Life” (14 citations) and the workshop “Sound in Human-Robot Interaction” (8 citations), further develops this framework, arguing that robot sound—from motor hums to bleeps—is a critical communicative resource. Keevallik’s scholarship bridges the gap between detailed human vocalization studies and robot design, offering actionable insights for creating more intuitive, socially responsive machines. Her work is essential reading for anyone interested in the micro-sociology of human-machine encounters.