Wei-Chu Chen

Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Wei-Chu Chen is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction, gerontechnology, and positive psychology, with a particular focus on supporting the well-being of older adults through socially assistive robots. Their work uniquely bridges Japanese cultural concepts with technological innovation, most notably through pioneering research on "Ikigai" (meaning or purpose in life) and home robot acceptance. Chen's major contributions include demonstrating how social robots like the QT platform can conduct autonomous conversations to help older adults reflect on and improve their well-being, as evidenced by their highly-cited 2023 paper "Spill the Tea" (32 citations). Their mixed-methods study on the connection among Ikigai, well-being, and home robot acceptance (18 citations) provides foundational insights for culturally-aware robot design. Chen has also explored novel aspects of human-robot relationships, including user-generated content of robot clothing on Twitter, revealing how people personalize and bond with companion robots like AIBO. With a growing body of work that combines rigorous empirical methods with culturally-sensitive design, Chen is establishing themselves as a key voice in creating meaningful, purpose-driven interactions between older adults and home robots.