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About

Iolanda Iacono is a researcher specializing in human-robot interaction, assistive technology, and inclusive design, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations including children with disabilities and older adults. Her work has made significant contributions to understanding how robotic systems can serve as therapeutic and social tools, most notably through her involvement in the landmark IROMEC project, which explored robots as social mediators for children with cognitive, physical, and developmental disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome. Her foundational paper on robot-assisted play scenarios (2012) has garnered over 100 citations, establishing a widely referenced framework for therapeutic robot deployment in special needs contexts. Beyond pediatric applications, Iacono has extended her research to aging populations, contributing to the pan-European ACCOMPANY project, which investigated robotic companions and smart home technologies to support independent living among older adults. Her work on participatory design with elderly users reflects a commitment to inclusive, user-centered development methodologies. She has also explored empathic interfaces, squeezable interaction modalities, and the use of robots like PARO in dementia care. Across her body of work, Iacono consistently bridges technical innovation with human sensitivity, advocating for socially acceptable and emotionally meaningful human-robot interactions.