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About

Ewald Strasser is a leading researcher in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), whose work bridges social psychology, robotics, and user experience to understand how people perceive and engage with robots in real-world settings. His key research areas include anthropomorphism, proactive interaction, and public acceptance of robots. Strasser’s most influential contribution is his 2014 paper “Dimensions of Anthropomorphism” (68 citations), which challenged the field by demonstrating that anthropomorphism is not a single construct but has distinct dimensions, drawing on dehumanization theory from social psychology. This work reshaped how researchers measure and interpret human-like perceptions of robots. He also led the user-centered development of IURO, the Interactive Urban Robot, which autonomously navigated city streets by asking pedestrians for directions—a landmark field trial published in 2015 (22 citations). Strasser’s studies in public places (2012, 20 citations) showed how real-world interactions can positively shift attitudes toward robots. His methodological innovations include applying the Affect Misattribution Procedure to HRI (2012, 12 citations), offering new ways to measure implicit user experience. With over 200 total citations, Strasser’s work is essential for anyone designing robots that must interact naturally and effectively with humans in everyday environments.