Ph.D. Candidate in Human-Robot Interaction

Want to design robots that truly make a positive impact on society?

My name is Vivienne Jia Zhong. I am a research associate at FHNW and a Ph.D. candidate at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. I am passionate about integrating human values into social robot design. I believe technology should serve humanity, not the other way around. Let's build a future where technology truly enriches our lives.

vivienne.zhong@gmail.com

Research

My research focuses on bridging the gap between technology and human values in the field of human-robot interaction (HRI). By leveraging Value Sensitive Design (VSD)—a framework that prioritizes the ethical and social implications of technology—I aim to create robots that are not only functional but also aligned with the values of their stakeholders. Using design patterns, I propose a concrete approach to operationalizing values into tangible robot interactions.

My current research project, conducted in a Swiss nursing home, exemplifies this approach. By applying VSD to understand the unique needs and values of elderly residents and care providers, I am developing design patterns that guide the creation of empathetic and supportive robot behaviors. This work is crucial for ensuring that social robots are not merely tools, but true partners that enhance the quality of life for vulnerable populations.

Publications

Paukert, N., Schurtenberger, C., Zhong, V. J., Jäger, J., & Schmiedel, T. (2025). Designing robots with values in mind: The role of colors in value-sensitive HRI. In Proceedings of the 2025 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (pp. 1539–1543). IEEE Press.

Zhong, V. J., & Schmiedel, T. (Submitted). Which values matter to socially assistive robots in elder care settings? Empirically investigating values that should be embedded in SARs from a multi-stakeholder perspective. International Journal of Social Robotics.

Schmiedel, T., Zhong, V. J.*, & Eyssel, F. (2023). Towards a wave approach for value sensitive design in social robotics. In Companion of the 2023 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (pp. 592-596). IEEE Press.

Note: Equal first authorship.

Zhong, V. J., Mürset, N., Jäger, J., & Schmiedel, T. (2022). Exploring variables that affect robot likeability. In 2022 17th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (pp. 1140-1145). IEEE Press.

Sabbioni, G., Zhong, V. J., Jäger, J., & Schmiedel, T. (2022). May I show you the route? Developing a service robot application in a library using design science research. In Human Interaction, Emerging Technologies and Future Systems V: Proceedings of the 5th International Virtual Conference on Human Interaction and Emerging Technologies, IHIET 2021, August 27-29, 2021 and the 6th IHIET: Future Systems (IHIET-FS 2021), October 28-30, 2021, France (pp. 306-313). Springer International Publishing.

Zhong, V. J., & Schmiedel, T. (2021). A user-centered agile approach to the development of a real-world social robot application for reception areas. In Companion of the 2021 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (pp. 76-80). IEEE Press.

Schmiedel, T., Jäger, J., & Zhong, V. J. (2021). Social robots in organizational contexts: The role of culture and future research needs. In New Trends in Business Information Systems and Technology: Digital Innovation and Digital Business Transformation (pp. 163-177). Springer International Publishing.

Zhong, V. J., Schmiedel, T., & Dornberger, R. (2019). Investigating the effects of gaze behavior on the perceived delay of a robot’s response. In M. Salichs et al. (Eds.), Social Robotics. ICSR 2019 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 11876, pp. 54-63). Springer, Cham.

Teaching Activities

Guest Lectures

Since 2023, I have been delivering guest lectures on Social Robotics in the Bachelor of Science in International Management program at the FHNW School of Business.

Module Leadership

Starting in 2026, I will lead the module Value Sensitive Design in the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence program at the FHNW School of Business. The module addresses methods and frameworks for designing technolgies aligned with human values.

Thesis Supervision

I have (co-)supervised numerous theses:

~five Master's theses focused on developing value-sensitive robot design requirements for healthcare applications.
~ six Bachelor's theses exploring value-sensitive approaches to robot appearance and behavior design.

Review Activities

As part of my academic activities, I review submissions for journals and conferences in the areas of human-robot interaction and social robotics.

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