Megan Eskew

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Megan Eskew is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-computer interaction and autonomous vehicle technology. Her work focuses on how in-vehicle intelligent agents (IVIAs) can be designed to optimize driver trust, safety, and user experience in fully autonomous driving contexts. Eskew’s most cited study, “In-Vehicle Intelligent Agents in Fully Autonomous Driving: The Effects of Speech Style and Embodiment Together and Separately” (2021, 40 citations), is a landmark contribution that systematically examines how an agent’s speech style—informative versus conversational—and its physical form—voice-only versus embodied robot—shape driver-agent interaction. This research is pivotal for the automotive industry and human-robot interaction, revealing critical interaction effects that inform the design of more effective, trustworthy in-car assistants. By demonstrating that the combination of conversational speech and a robotic embodiment can significantly enhance user engagement and perceived intelligence, Eskew’s work provides actionable insights for developers of next-generation autonomous vehicle interfaces. Her findings are essential reading for students and researchers in HCI, robotics, and transportation, offering a clear framework for designing agents that feel both competent and companionable.