Lillian Yang

Papers

Total Citations

265

H-Index

About

Lillian Yang is a human-computer interaction researcher whose work focuses on designing and studying telepresence technologies to support intimate, shared experiences across distance. Her research centers on how families, friends, and romantic partners can engage in meaningful joint activities—such as hiking, shopping, and everyday domestic life—when physically separated. Yang’s major contributions include pioneering studies on the use of telepresence robots in domestic contexts, demonstrating their potential to replicate the qualities of in-person interactions more effectively than traditional communication tools. Her most cited work, “Geocaching with a Beam” (78 citations), explores the benefits and challenges of shared outdoor activities via telepresence, while “Shopping Over Distance through a Telepresence Robot” (61 citations) examines joint shopping experiences. Her autobiographical design study of a long-distance relationship (27 citations) offers deeply personal insights into the design space for supporting relationship maintenance. Collectively, her papers have garnered over 265 citations, and her innovative, human-centered approach has significantly advanced understanding of how technology can bridge emotional and physical gaps in close relationships.