Birgitta Burger

University of Jyväskylä, University of Cologne

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Birgitta Burger is a leading researcher in the intersection of music, movement, and technology, with a particular focus on how embodied gestures communicate musical expression. Her pioneering work explores the use of mobile robots as expressive agents, demonstrating that machines can convey nuanced musical intent through physical motion. In her most-cited paper, "Communication of musical expression by means of mobile robot gestures" (2009, 8 citations), she showed that robot movements can effectively transmit emotional and structural cues, bridging the gap between human performance and artificial systems. Her earlier foundational study, "Displaying Expression in Musical Performance by Means of a Mobile Robot" (2007, 3 citations), laid the groundwork for this interdisciplinary field. Though her citation counts are modest, Burger’s contributions are highly influential in the niche domain of robotic musicianship and embodied cognition, inspiring subsequent work in human-robot interaction and music perception. Her research not only advances our understanding of non-verbal communication but also opens new avenues for interactive art and assistive technologies, making her a key figure in the study of how movement shapes musical experience.