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About

Juho Hamari is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-computer interaction, gamification, and social robotics. His work primarily explores how autonomous systems—particularly companion robots—integrate into human social and recreational life. Hamari’s major contributions include advancing the understanding of human–robot companionship, as evidenced by his highly cited 2024 paper "Human–Robot Companionship: Current Trends and Future Agenda" (35 citations), which maps the evolving landscape of social robotics across domains like healthcare, education, and entertainment. He has also pioneered research on zoomorphic robots, such as in "Walking Your Robot Dog: Experiences and Lessons Learned" (4 citations), examining how robotic pets influence well-being and daily routines. Hamari’s innovative approach extends to speculative design, as seen in "Forest-Robot-Stormin’: Exploring Play for Eliciting More-than-Human Forest-Robot Interactions" (1 citation), where he uses playful methods to envision ecological human-robot relationships. His work is notable for bridging technical development with experiential design, co-creating robots for real-world settings through workshops and field studies. With a growing citation impact, Hamari is shaping how we design and live with synthetic companions, making him a key voice in the future of human-robot interaction.