S. Shyam Sundar
Papers
20
Total Citations
772
H-Index
12
About
S. Shyam Sundar is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-computer interaction, communication technology, and social robotics. His work fundamentally explores how humans perceive, interact with, and form relationships with robotic agents, with a particular focus on older adult populations and caregiving contexts. Sundar’s major contributions include demonstrating that the perceived social presence and benefits of robots mediate caregiving roles in human-robot interaction (229 citations), and establishing the “Hollywood Robot Syndrome”—the powerful influence of media portrayals on older adults’ robot anxiety and adoption intentions (78 citations). He has also investigated how robot demeanor and role congruity affect user attraction among seniors (123 citations), and examined sensory dimensions of interaction, such as how the temperature of a robot’s hand shapes perceptions of companionship (63 citations). His work on robot gender, user agency through self-assembly, and responses to robot criticism further enriches our understanding of psychological factors in human-robot relationships. With over 800 citations across his most-cited works, Sundar’s research is essential reading for anyone interested in designing socially assistive robots that are truly responsive to human needs and expectations.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4Can you hold my hand?63 citations · 2012
- 5Feminizing Robots55 citations · 2016
- 6Mental models of robots among senior citizens36 citations · 2015
- 7When the robot criticizes you...32 citations · 2011
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- 9Utilitarian vs. hedonic robots28 citations · 2011
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