Pilyoung Kim
Papers
3
Total Citations
62
H-Index
3
About
Pilyoung Kim is a leading researcher at the intersection of developmental psychology, human-robot interaction, and early childhood education. Her work focuses on designing intelligent, child-centered technologies—particularly conversational agents and robotic toys—that scaffold young children’s cognitive and emotional development during play. Kim’s most-cited paper (39 citations) introduces a stuffed-animal robot that engages children in reflective storytelling during creative play, addressing a critical gap in tools that support metacognition in early childhood. Her research on the neural mechanisms of empathy toward robots (14 citations) uniquely bridges neuroscience and human-robot interaction, exploring how brain correlates of caregiving—especially in women—can inform more emotionally resonant robot design. In a notable study on voice design (9 citations), Kim demonstrates that giving children agency to choose their agent’s voice and appearance significantly enhances engagement and playfulness. By integrating insights from developmental science, affective neuroscience, and interaction design, Kim’s work is shaping a new generation of educational technologies that respect and nurture children’s emerging sense of self and social understanding.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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