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About

Claudia Porfirione is a design researcher at the intersection of robotics, human-computer interaction, and aging populations. Her work focuses on developing user-centered robotic interfaces that enhance social connectivity and independent living for older adults. Porfirione’s most influential contribution is her research on the Giraff telepresence robot, which explores interface design for remote social interaction—a paper that has garnered 18 citations and remains a key reference in the field. She has also pioneered the integration of domotics, robotics, and automated tele-monitoring to create smart post-hospitalization facilities, addressing the critical issue of delayed hospital discharge affecting 8% of patients. Beyond practical applications, Porfirione brings a unique design-driven perspective to humanoid robotics, examining how synthetic emotions and visual elements shape user acceptance. Her work includes a century-spanning review of humanoid robotics in cinema, demonstrating how popular culture influences design expectations. Through projects like Si-Robotics, she champions co-design methodologies, ensuring that robotic systems are shaped by the needs of their end users. With a growing body of work that bridges engineering, design, and social science, Porfirione is helping to define how robots can meaningfully support an aging society.