Yuka Sumikawa

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About

Yuka Sumikawa is a human-computer interaction researcher whose work focuses on assistive robotics for aging populations, particularly seniors with mild physical and cognitive decline. Her most-cited study, "Need and impressions of communication robots for seniors with slight physical and cognitive disabilities: Evaluation using system usability scale" (2016, 4 citations), addresses a critical gap in gerontechnology: understanding whether healthy elderly individuals with subtle functional declines actually desire and benefit from communication robots. By applying the System Usability Scale, Sumikawa systematically evaluated user impressions and needs, moving beyond clinical populations to capture the nuanced requirements of community-dwelling seniors. This work provides foundational guidelines for designing robots that are not merely functional but genuinely welcomed by older users, emphasizing usability and emotional acceptance over technical capability. Her research contributes to the broader goal of creating socially assistive technologies that maintain independence and quality of life, bridging the gap between robot capabilities and real-world user expectations. Sumikawa’s findings are especially relevant for developers and policymakers aiming to deploy robotic companions in home and care settings.