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About

Helli Kitinoja is a leading researcher in the cross-cultural study of assistive robotics for aging populations, with a focus on the ethical and perceptual dimensions of home-care technology. Her work is foundational in understanding how older adults, carers, and care professionals across Finland, Ireland, and Japan perceive and accept home-care robots. Kitinoja’s most-cited paper (53 citations) explores these perceptions through a comparative questionnaire study, revealing critical cultural and contextual factors that influence adoption. She further advanced the field by developing a novel model explaining users’ ethical perceptions regarding care robots, a contribution that addresses a significant gap in the literature. Her research consistently highlights the importance of person-centered design and ethical awareness, with recent work (2024) identifying key factors that explain willingness to use such technologies. By integrating cross-national perspectives, Kitinoja provides actionable insights for policymakers and technologists aiming to support aging in place. Her studies are widely cited and have shaped international discourse on the responsible integration of robotics into elder care, making her a pivotal voice in the intersection of gerontechnology, ethics, and user acceptance.