Noralie Krepel
Papers
1
Total Citations
9
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Noralie Krepel is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of developmental robotics and autism intervention, whose work investigates how social robots can scaffold foundational social-communicative skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Her most cited study, "Could NAO Robot Function as Model Demonstrating Joint Attention Skills for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder? An Exploratory Study" (2022, 9 citations), represents a critical early step in this domain. In this work, Krepel systematically examined whether the humanoid NAO robot could effectively model three core joint attention behaviors—eye-contact, gaze-following, and pointing gestures—for children with ASD. Her findings demonstrated that children with ASD showed measurable engagement with the robot, suggesting that social robots may serve as predictable, low-anxiety models for teaching skills that are typically challenging for this population. This exploratory study has laid essential groundwork for future interventions, establishing that robots can function not merely as tools but as social partners in therapeutic contexts. Krepel's research bridges robotics, developmental psychology, and special education, offering a novel pathway for technology-assisted social skills training that could transform early intervention practices for children on the spectrum.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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