Akihiko Shirai

Laval Mayenne Technopole, Kanagawa Institute of Technology

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Akihiko Shirai explores the intersection of robotics, human-computer interaction, and assistive technology, with a focus on creating systems that foster collaboration rather than competition between humans and machines. His most notable contribution, the "RoboGamer" project (2005), introduced a pioneering robotic system designed to play video games alongside human players as a friendly, physically connected partner—a stark departure from traditional adversarial game AI. This work, cited 3 times, laid foundational ideas for cooperative human-robot interaction in entertainment contexts. In later research, Shirai turned to healthcare and aging populations, investigating personal characteristic motion in elderly gait for nursing relocation using robot and telepresence smart house systems (2016, 2 citations). This work demonstrates his commitment to applying robotics in real-world care settings, aiming to improve quality of life through adaptive, empathetic technology. Though his citation counts are modest, Shirai’s contributions are notable for their conceptual originality and human-centered design, offering early insights into collaborative robotics and assistive living that resonate with current trends in socially assistive robots and telepresence.