Mattias Jacobsson

About

Mattias Jacobsson is a leading researcher in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), whose work explores how people naturally integrate robots into their everyday lives. His most influential research investigates the gap between how robots are designed and how they are actually used in real-world contexts. Jacobsson’s landmark study on the Pleo robotic dinosaur (162 citations) revealed a fascinating discrepancy between intended and actual user behavior, showing how families developed unique play patterns and emotional attachments over months of use. His hospital robot case study (78 citations) documented the critical initial reactions of medical staff to autonomous transport robots, providing foundational insights for healthcare robotics deployment. Jacobsson is also known for his provocative theoretical work, including the "robot cargo cult" concept (26 citations), which challenges the field to move beyond imitative rituals toward deeper understanding of human-robot interaction. His innovative design projects, such as the GlowBots (14 citations)—small, expressive robots that develop complex relationships with users—demonstrate his commitment to creating subtle, sustained engagement rather than flashy demonstrations. Jacobsson’s work consistently bridges the gap between technical development and genuine human experience, making him a key voice in the third wave of HCI research.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   How do you play with a robotic toy animal?

   162 citations · 2010
2. 2
   Hospital robot at work

   78 citations · 2012
3. 3
   Play, belief and stories about robots: A case study of a pleo blogging community

   51 citations · 2009
4. 4
   Are we living in a robot cargo cult?

   26 citations · 2009
5. 5
   Designing Personal Embodied Agents with Personas

   18 citations · 2006
6. 6
   Comics, robots, fashion and programming

   16 citations · 2009
7. 7
   Where third wave HCI meets HRI

   14 citations · 2009
8. 8
   GlowBots: designing and implementing engaging human-robot interaction

   14 citations · 2008
9. 9
   Advocating an ethical memory model for artificial companions from a human-centred perspective

   13 citations · 2011
10. 10
    GlowBots

    12 citations · 2007

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links