Sharon Hershenson
Papers
1
Total Citations
27
H-Index
1
About
Sharon Hershenson explores the intersection of human-robot interaction and non-verbal communication, with a particular focus on how robots can build rapport with humans. Her most-cited work, "Hand Gestures and Verbal Acknowledgments Improve Human-Robot Rapport" (2017, 27 citations), demonstrates that subtle, human-like behaviors—such as gesturing and acknowledging—can significantly enhance the perceived connection between people and machines. This research contributes to the growing field of socially assistive robotics, where trust and comfort are essential for effective collaboration. Hershenson’s findings have implications for designing robots that feel more natural and trustworthy in settings like healthcare, education, and customer service. While her citation count reflects a focused but emerging impact, her work is notable for bridging insights from psychology and robotics, offering practical design guidelines for engineers. By showing that even simple gestures can foster rapport, she challenges the assumption that human-robot interaction must rely solely on advanced AI, highlighting the power of behavioral nuance.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Hand Gestures and Verbal Acknowledgments Improve Human-Robot Rapport27 citations · 2017