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About

Louis McCallum is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of music, social robotics, and human-robot interaction (HRI). His work centers on the bold hypothesis that improvised musical interaction can sustain the long-term engagement and social presence that often elude traditional HRI trials. McCallum’s major contribution is the development of Mortimer, a drumming robot designed not merely as a tool, but as a social partner capable of fostering genuine relationships through musical play. His most cited paper, “Face the Music and Glance” (2015, 10 citations), demonstrates that framing sessions with Mortimer as social interactions significantly extends user engagement. In “Shut up and play” (2014, 6 citations), he explores music’s effectiveness as an open-ended mode of engagement, while “Extending Human–Robot Relationships Based in Music With Virtual Presence” (2017, 3 citations) combines musical interaction with virtual presence to enhance believability. McCallum’s innovative approach challenges the field to move beyond single-session studies, advocating for multi-interaction scenarios that mirror real-world human-robot coexistence. His work is a compelling call to rethink how we build lasting, emotionally resonant bonds with machines.