Sin-Ying Ku
Papers
1
Total Citations
51
H-Index
1
About
Sin-Ying Ku is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction and autism intervention, whose work bridges robotics, developmental psychology, and special education. Her most-cited study, "Who is a better teacher for children with autism?" (2019, 51 citations), fundamentally challenged assumptions about robot-assisted therapy by directly comparing learning outcomes between robot-based and human-based interventions for gestural production and recognition. This landmark research demonstrated that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) achieved comparable or superior learning gains when interacting with social robots, particularly in acquiring and recognizing gestures—a critical skill for social communication. Ku's contributions have reshaped how researchers and practitioners approach technology-mediated interventions, providing rigorous evidence that robots can serve as effective, engaging, and non-judgmental teaching tools for children with ASD. Her work has been widely cited in autism research, human-robot interaction, and assistive technology fields, influencing both academic discourse and practical intervention design. By systematically evaluating robot versus human teaching efficacy, Ku has opened new avenues for scalable, personalized therapeutic support, making her a pivotal figure in the intersection of robotics and developmental disabilities research.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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