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About

Haruka Okada is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), with a focused expertise on social robotics in public, real-world environments. Her major contributions center on understanding how people react to and engage with robots that possess different social functionalities—particularly the distinction between direct, one-on-one interaction and indirect, overheard or observed interaction. In her most cited work, "On the Reaction to Robot’s Speech in a Hotel Public Space" (77 citations), Okada empirically analyzed human attitudes toward robots deployed in a bustling hotel lobby, revealing critical insights into how speech and presence shape acceptance. Her foundational studies, including "Direct and indirect social robot interactions in a hotel public space" (14 citations), introduced comparative experiments using twin robots (Gemini) to explore how overhearing a robot conversation versus directly addressing a robot alters human behavior. This innovative use of multiple, socially interactive robots in a naturalistic setting—rather than a lab—set her work apart. Okada’s research has profound implications for designing robots that can seamlessly integrate into crowded public spaces, from hotels to airports, making her a key voice in the future of ambient, socially aware robotics.