Tomoya Yokotani
Papers
4
Total Citations
69
H-Index
4
About
Tomoya Yokotani is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of geriatric mental health and human-robot interaction. His work centers on the development and deployment of healthcare robots for older adults, particularly those with dementia and schizophrenia, and the critical role of human intermediaries in this technology. Yokotani’s major contribution is identifying the "compassionate communication gap"—the challenge of programming robots to express genuine empathy—and demonstrating that effective care requires a triadic partnership between the robot, the patient, and a nurse intermediary. His most cited paper (45 citations) frames the core ethical and technical issues, while his qualitative studies (13 citations) provide rare, firsthand accounts of patients with mental health conditions interacting with robots like Pepper. By showing that patients with schizophrenia can engage in meaningful interactive communication (7 citations), Yokotani challenges assumptions about who can benefit from robotic care. His work on Public Health Nurses as intermediaries (4 citations) is foundational for integrating robots into community health practice. Yokotani’s research is essential reading for anyone interested in designing truly compassionate, human-centered AI for vulnerable populations.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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