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About

Dr. M. van Someren is a leading researcher in socially intelligent robotics and human-robot interaction, with a focus on developing assistive technologies for elderly care. Their most notable contribution is the TERESA system, a socially intelligent semi-autonomous telepresence robot designed to enable elderly individuals to participate in social activities remotely. This work, published in 2015 and garnering 21 citations, represents a significant advance in creating robots that can navigate and interact in human environments with social awareness. Van Someren's research addresses the critical challenge of designing autonomous systems that can perceive social cues, adapt their behavior, and maintain natural interactions, particularly in care settings. Their work on TERESA, funded by the European Union’s FP7 program, demonstrates a commitment to deploying technology in real-world contexts, such as elderly day centres, to combat social isolation. By integrating principles from artificial intelligence, robotics, and social psychology, van Someren has helped pave the way for more empathetic and effective assistive robots, making a tangible impact on the future of aging and healthcare technology.