Samantha Noregaard
Papers
3
Total Citations
23
H-Index
3
About
Samantha Noregaard is an emerging researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction, child development, and assistive technology. Her work focuses on how socially assistive robots can meaningfully engage young children in free play environments, with particular attention to physical activity, social behavior, and toy-use patterns. Noregaard's most cited contribution, her 2021 within-subjects pilot study examining a mobile socially assistive robot's influence on children's play, has garnered 15 citations and established a foundational framework for understanding how robots function as developmental tools alongside traditional toys. Her 2022 work, "Let Them Have Bubbles!," pushes this inquiry further by identifying gaps in toy-like robot behaviors, advocating for more nuanced, child-centered design features that better support motor exploration and engagement. Together, her publications reveal a commitment to translating developmental psychology principles into actionable robotics design, ensuring that technology introduced into children's environments is both age-appropriate and genuinely beneficial. Though early in her career, Noregaard's research addresses a timely and underexplored challenge — bridging the worlds of play science and assistive robotics to support healthy child development in innovative, evidence-based ways.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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