Designing Robots to Improve Quality of Life for Older Adults

This book translates research on aging, human factors, and human-robot interaction into guidance that will be usable for practitioners who design robots for a range of applications. It offers a framework for human-robot interaction (HRI) with a focus on personal characteristics, robot functionality, task demands, and interaction context.

Wendy A. Rogers, Ph.D., is Khan Professor of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is Director of the Human Factors and Aging Laboratory and a Certified Human Factors Professional (BCPE Certificate #1539). Her research focuses on advanced technology design to support autonomy of older adults, with and without disabilities.

Tracy L. Mitzner, Ph.D., is Founder and Principal Research Scientist at Person in Design, a consulting firm specializing in leveraging scientific research to drive technology design for older adults, including those with disabilities. Her research interests include the design of emerging technologies (mobile applications, health monitoring, telepresence, robotics), particularly for applications to facilitate social and physical wellness.