Ofir Sadka

Reichman University, Simon Fraser University

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Ofir Sadka is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, with a focus on designing autonomous furniture and virtual environments to shape social dynamics. His work uniquely bridges robotics, psychology, and human-computer interaction, exploring how non-humanoid robots—such as robotic bar-stools—can influence human behavior in sensitive contexts. Sadka’s major contributions include demonstrating that subtle physical movements of furniture can reduce tension in couples’ conflicts and facilitate smoother opening-encounters between strangers, as shown in his studies with robotic bar-stools. He also developed EmotoTent, an interactive socio-emotional learning system using biosensing wearables and robotic agents to address violence and inequality in schools. His 2020 paper on using virtual reality as a simulation tool for non-humanoid social robots (20 citations) has been influential in enabling rapid prototyping of robot interactions. With over 49 citations across his top works, Sadka’s research offers novel, low-cost interventions for improving human social interactions through technology, making him a notable figure in socially assistive robotics.