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About

Patrizia Marti is a prominent researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction, assistive technology, and human-centred design, whose work has profoundly shaped how we understand the social and therapeutic dimensions of robotics. Her research consistently explores how robots can serve as meaningful companions and mediators for vulnerable populations — particularly elderly individuals, children with autism, and those with cognitive or physical disabilities. Marti's most influential contributions include pioneering multi-perspective evaluations of service robots for seniors (107 citations) and advancing the field of socially assistive robotics in dementia care (106 citations), establishing frameworks still widely referenced today. Her work on the IROMEC project demonstrated how robotic toys could function as social mediators for children with special needs, producing scenario-based design methodologies (100 citations) that bridged research and real-world therapeutic practice. What distinguishes Marti's scholarship is her unwavering commitment to participatory, user-centred approaches — involving older adults, caregivers, and children directly in shaping robotic systems. Her investigations into artificial pets and interpretative dynamics in human-robot interaction further reveal a nuanced philosophical perspective on technology and human experience. With research spanning over two decades and hundreds of citations, Marti remains an essential voice in designing robots that genuinely serve human dignity and inclusion.