Nicholas Vivio

Columbia University, California University of Pennsylvania

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Nicholas Vivio’s research sits at the vital intersection of gerontechnology and human-robot interaction, focusing on how low-cost mobile robots can support older adults aging in place. His work is distinguished by a human-centered, qualitative approach that prioritizes the voices of end-users—older adults, clinicians, and caregivers—to inform robotic design. In his highly cited 2017 study, Vivio gathered stakeholder perceptions to guide the development of a mobile robot for community-dwelling older adults, addressing the critical need to reduce nursing home placements. He then took this work into the field, deploying the robot in low-income Supportive Apartment Living facilities and evaluating real-world interactions. With over 30 citations, his foundational paper on stakeholder input has become a key reference for designing assistive technologies that are both practical and accepted by users. Vivio’s contributions are notable for their methodological rigor, combining qualitative inquiry with iterative design to create guidelines that are directly applicable to real-world aging-in-place challenges. His research offers a compelling model for engineers and designers seeking to develop technology that truly serves vulnerable populations.