Alkistis Saramandi

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Alkistis Saramandi is a researcher at the forefront of affective computing and human-robot interaction, with a core focus on how touch can bridge the gap in digital socioaffective communication. Her most cited work, "Tactile emoticons: Conveying social emotions and intentions with manual and robotic tactile feedback during social media communications" (2024, 8 citations), pioneers the use of tactile emoticons—patterned touch signals—to transmit nuanced social emotions and intentions through both manual and robotic interfaces. This research addresses a critical void in digital communications, which overwhelmingly rely on visual and auditory cues, by leveraging the unique non-verbal power of touch. Saramandi’s contributions are particularly notable for integrating insights from haptics, social psychology, and human-robot interaction to design systems that can convey complex affective states, such as empathy or urgency, in contexts like social media. Her work not only advances theoretical understanding of tactile communication but also has practical implications for enhancing remote social bonds and human-robot collaboration. With a growing citation footprint, Saramandi is establishing herself as a key voice in making digital interactions more emotionally resonant and inclusive.