Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Marc Hassenzahl is a prominent researcher at the intersection of human-computer interaction, experience design, and social robotics, whose work fundamentally questions how humans relate to intelligent, autonomous technologies. His most influential contribution — a landmark 10-week case study exploring human-robot interaction in elderly care settings (162 citations) — helped establish rigorous, real-world methodologies for evaluating socially assistive robots. Hassenzahl has consistently challenged the dominant assumption that robots should mimic human or animal forms, developing instead the concept of "techno-mimesis" and advocating for "hybridity" as a design strategy that embraces robots' inherent "thingness" — their sensors, rationality, and distinct non-human qualities. His research on the uncanny valley effect in zoomorphic robots extended this phenomenon beyond humanoids, reshaping design considerations across robotics. Notably, his autobiographical study of a robotic pet sustaining long-distance romantic relationships demonstrates his commitment to deeply human-centered, emotionally resonant design. Throughout his career, Hassenzahl has pushed the field toward considering psychological well-being, everyday automation, and what he terms "otherware" — technologies demanding entirely new frameworks for understanding human-machine coexistence — making him an essential voice in shaping how future societies will live alongside robots.