Brenda Roberts

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About

Dr. Brenda Roberts is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and dementia care, whose work redefines how technology can support vulnerable populations. Her primary research areas include assistive robotics, person-centered care design, and the psychosocial dynamics of informal caregiving. In her landmark 2023 paper, "Reimagining Robots for Dementia," Dr. Roberts conducted in-depth explorations with both persons living with dementia and their family caregivers, uncovering how these two parties navigate their shared journey and envision robotic support. This person-centered approach—prioritizing the voices and needs of end-users—has become a hallmark of her methodology, challenging technocentric assumptions in the field. While her most-cited work has already garnered 19 citations in under two years, signaling rapid uptake by the human-computer interaction and gerontechnology communities, Dr. Roberts’s true impact lies in shifting the conversation from what robots *can* do to what they *should* do in sensitive care contexts. Her contributions are shaping ethical design frameworks for socially assistive robots, ensuring that future technologies enhance—rather than replace—the human connections central to dementia care.