Papers
12
Total Citations
165
H-Index
8
About
Wen-Ying Lee is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), design, and play. Her work fundamentally reimagines how robots can engage people through ludic design and Research through Design (RtD) approaches, challenging conventional assumptions about robot functionality. Lee’s most influential contributions include demonstrating that robots in positions of power can exert greater influence than humans on decision-making (25 citations), and her proposal of “Ludic-HRI” as a framework to broaden design space by embracing human playfulness (23 citations). She has also advanced methodological innovation through interactive vignettes for large-scale HRI studies and annotated portfolios for RtD. Her speculative design work includes BubbleBot, a robot that fosters serendipitous social interactions in public spaces (15 citations), and real-world deployments of trash barrel robots in New York City (12 citations). Lee’s early technical work on tactile sensing for shape recognition (13 citations) complements her design-oriented research. By bridging engineering, design, and social science, Lee has established herself as a leading voice in creating robots that are not just functional but playful, socially aware, and capable of enriching human experience.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Research through Design Approaches in Human-Robot Interaction31 citations · 2021
- 2
- 3Ludic-HRI23 citations · 2020
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7Trash Barrel Robots in the City12 citations · 2023
- 8PAPERINO11 citations · 2018
- 9
- 10Interactive Vignettes: Enabling Large-Scale Interactive HRI Research5 citations · 2021