Stefania V. Vacaru
Papers
1
Total Citations
5
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Stefania V. Vacaru is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of developmental psychology, human-robot interaction, and affective computing. Her work centers on understanding how physiological arousal can be measured and optimized in technology-mediated therapeutic contexts, particularly for vulnerable populations. In her highly cited 2024 study, "Selecting optimal wearables for measuring physiological arousal in robot-delivered mindfulness-based exercises," Dr. Vacaru addresses a critical methodological gap: ensuring accurate, non-invasive assessment of autonomic responses during stress-inducing and relaxing exercises delivered by social robots. This contribution has already garnered 5 citations, underscoring its immediate relevance to researchers designing interventions for children and adults with emotional or cognitive challenges. By systematically evaluating wearable sensors for recording heart rate variability and electrodermal activity, she provides a practical framework for enhancing the reliability of affective data in human-robot interaction studies. Dr. Vacaru’s work bridges engineering precision with developmental sensitivity, offering actionable insights for creating adaptive, responsive robotic systems that can support mental health and well-being. Her research is essential reading for anyone interested in the ethical and methodological challenges of deploying social robots in therapeutic settings.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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