Toshiharu Igarashi
The University of Tokyo, Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology
Papers
5
Total Citations
28
H-Index
3
About
Toshiharu Igarashi is a leading researcher in socially assistive robotics (SAR), with a focused mission to support independent living for older adults through human-robot interaction. His work centers on designing SARs that can elicit user preferences via self-disclosure, facilitating more natural verbal communication in local households. A key contribution is his pioneering investigation into subject selection bias in SAR intervention experiments; he has demonstrated that older adult participants often possess unique personality characteristics, potentially skewing research outcomes and limiting the representativeness of study populations. This critical methodological insight, published in multiple papers (2019, 2023), has implications for the validity and generalizability of assistive robotics research. Igarashi’s most cited work (2022, 15 citations) proposes a novel intervention framework for older adults using SARs to foster verbal interaction. He has also contributed to the broader field of rehabilitation and assistive robotics, including work on cerebral palsy. His recent research (2024) explores using AI agents and robots for cognitive function assessment through spontaneous speech analysis, comparing AI and human questioning techniques. By addressing both the technical design of robots and the methodological rigor of human-subject research, Igarashi is shaping a more inclusive and effective future for assistive technology.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4Part 6: Rehabilitation and Assistive Robotics3 citations · 2019
- 5