Shunichi Seko

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Shunichi Seko is a researcher at the forefront of human-robot interaction and affective computing, with a particular focus on how robotic agents can shape and enhance human emotional experiences. His most cited work, "Affective agents for enhancing emotional experience" (2014, 11 citations), introduces the concept of shared emotional experience agents—robots designed to amplify a user's feelings through emotional contagion. In a compelling experiment, Seko had 12 participants watch videos alongside a robot that expressed emotions via body language and voice, finding that the robot's affective presence significantly influenced the user's emotional state. This foundational study bridges robotics and psychology, demonstrating that machines can actively modulate human affect. Seko's contributions are pivotal for designing empathetic, socially aware robots in entertainment, therapy, and companionship. Though his citation count is modest, the novelty of his work—proposing that robots can be emotional catalysts rather than mere tools—marks him as an innovative thinker in the emerging field of affective human-robot interaction.