K. Matsumoto
Papers
1
Total Citations
54
H-Index
1
About
K. Matsumoto is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, with a particular focus on the dark side of child-robot relationships. Their most cited work, "Why Do Children Abuse Robots?" (2015, 54 citations), is a landmark field study that documented, for the first time, children physically and verbally abusing a social robot in a public shopping mall. By observing children kick, punch, and obstruct a robot's path, Matsumoto revealed that such abuse often stems not from malice but from curiosity, playfulness, and a desire to test the robot's boundaries. This work has become foundational for understanding how children perceive robots as social agents versus objects, and it has profound implications for robot design, safety, and ethics. Matsumoto’s research bridges developmental psychology and robotics, challenging assumptions about human-robot trust. Their findings have been cited by engineers designing more resilient robots and by ethicists debating robot rights. Through this provocative and essential study, Matsumoto has established themselves as a critical voice in the field, forcing the community to confront uncomfortable truths about how we treat the machines we create.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Why Do Children Abuse Robots?54 citations · 2015