Rhona Winnington

About

Rhona Winnington is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction, specializing in the design and deployment of companion and socially assistive robots for older adults and dementia care. Her work centers on user-centered design, demonstrating that effective robotic solutions must align with the genuine preferences and needs of end-users, not just technical capabilities. In her highly cited 2019 study (138 citations), she revealed critical discrepancies between what older people and roboticists prioritize in companion robots, underscoring the importance of inclusive design. Winnington has also advanced practical implementation, leading a stratified cluster randomized controlled trial (44 citations) that tested affordable robot pets in care homes during COVID-19, proving their feasibility and acceptability. Her research extends to infection control, ethics, and longitudinal wellbeing impacts, with studies on microbial contamination and diary-based outcomes. By bridging rigorous methodology with real-world care contexts, Winnington has shaped design recommendations for socially assistive robots that are both compassionate and evidence-based, influencing how technology can meaningfully support aging populations.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Companion robots for older people: importance of user-centred design demonstrated through observations and focus groups comparing preferences of older people and roboticists in South West England

   138 citations · 2019
2. 2
   Design recommendations for socially assistive robots for health and social care based on a large scale analysis of stakeholder positions

   56 citations · 2021
3. 3
   User-Centered Design of Companion Robot Pets Involving Care Home Resident-Robot Interactions and Focus Groups With Residents, Staff, and Family: Qualitative Study

   52 citations · 2021
4. 4
   Implementing Affordable Socially Assistive Pet Robots in Care Homes Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Stratified Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial and Mixed Methods Study

   44 citations · 2022
5. 5
   Longitudinal Diary Data

   31 citations · 2020
6. 6
   Morphology of socially assistive robots for health and social care: A reflection on 24 months of research with anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and mechanomorphic devices

   20 citations · 2021
7. 7
   Microbial contamination and efficacy of disinfection procedures of companion robots in care homes

   20 citations · 2020
8. 8
   Prioritising Design Features for Companion Robots Aimed at Older Adults: Stakeholder Survey Ranking Results

   6 citations · 2021
9. 9
   User-Centered Design of Companion Robot Pets Involving Care Home Resident-Robot Interactions and Focus Groups With Residents, Staff, and Family: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

   2 citations · 2021

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links