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About

Thomas Holz is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), whose work has fundamentally shaped how we think about social robots and virtual agents. His primary research areas include mixed reality interfaces, social robotics, and ubiquitous human-robot interaction. Holz’s most significant contribution is his visionary concept of “mixed reality agents”—entities that seamlessly blend the physical presence of robots with the adaptability and expressivity of virtual characters. His seminal 2008 paper, “Where Robots and Virtual Agents Meet” (69 citations), established a foundational framework for this field. In his highly cited 2007 work (32 citations), he introduced a wearable solution that allows virtual characters to overcome their inability to interact with the physical world, effectively endowing robots with rich, cost-effective social interfaces. Holz’s 2006 paper on “Mixing Robotic Realities” (24 citations) argued compellingly that Mixed Reality (MR) could bridge the gap between HCI and HRI, enabling highly expressive interfaces as convincing as humans. He also demonstrated practical applications of his work, notably developing mixed reality agents as museum guides. Through his research, Holz has blurred the traditional boundaries between the real and the virtual, creating new possibilities for social interaction with embodied agents.