Somaya Ben Allouch
University of Twente, Saxion, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, University of Amsterdam
Papers
26
Total Citations
1,923
H-Index
17
About
Somaya Ben Allouch is a prominent researcher whose work sits at the intersection of human-robot interaction, technology acceptance, and domestic robotics. She has dedicated her career to understanding how and why people embrace — or reject — social robots in everyday settings, with a particular focus on home environments and vulnerable populations such as the elderly. Among her most significant contributions is the development of comprehensive models explaining social robot acceptance, integrating psychological, social, and contextual factors that earlier frameworks had largely overlooked. Her widely cited 2013 paper on acceptance influencing variables (480 citations) and her 2017 domestic acceptance model (244 citations) have become foundational references in the field. Equally important is her pioneering attention to *non-use* — interrogating why people refuse or abandon robots, a dimension the field had long neglected. Ben Allouch's longitudinal research stands out for its real-world rigor: she deployed social robots in 70 actual homes for up to six months, yielding rare long-term insights into evolving user relationships and attitudes. Her exploration of what makes robots genuinely "social" from a user perspective has further shaped design thinking in the field. With over 1,600 cumulative citations, her work continues to guide researchers, designers, and policymakers navigating the social integration of robotics technology.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Exploring influencing variables for the acceptance of social robots480 citations · 2013
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- 3Why Would I Use This in My Home? A Model of Domestic Social Robot Acceptance244 citations · 2017
- 4Why Do They Refuse to Use My Robot?160 citations · 2017
- 5Long-term evaluation of a social robot in real homes156 citations · 2016
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