Yuefang Zhou
Papers
8
Total Citations
179
H-Index
6
About
Yuefang Zhou is a researcher specializing in human-robot interaction, social robotics, and the psychological dimensions of human relationships with artificial agents. Her work sits at a compelling intersection of cognitive science, social psychology, and emerging technology, probing how humans perceive, trust, and emotionally engage with robots and synthesized voices. Zhou's most influential contribution — garnering 115 citations — examines how humanlike synthesized voices shape perceptions of eeriness and likability, revealing that greater vocal humanness significantly reduces discomfort and increases listener warmth. This finding carries direct implications for the design of voice interfaces in social robotics. Her research further extends into the tactile realm, investigating how physical touch between humans and humanoid robots influences physiological responses and relational attitudes. Additional work explores how dialect and accent affect a robot's perceived trustworthiness and competence, highlighting the nuanced sociolinguistic expectations humans project onto artificial agents. Perhaps most distinctively, Zhou has pursued the provocative frontier of human-robot intimacy, authoring multiple works on romantic and sexual relationships with humanoid robots — a field that challenges conventional boundaries of human connection in the twenty-first century. Through her breadth of inquiry, Zhou consistently pushes researchers and designers to reckon with the deeply human needs that robots increasingly encounter.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4AI Love You : Developments in Human-Robot Intimate Relationships12 citations · 2019
- 5Social robot – Jack of all trades?9 citations · 2022
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- 8Intimate Relationships With Humanoid Robots2 citations · 2020