IEEE RO-MAN 2026 TAG Workshop

Telepresence Across Generations: Exploring Children’s and Adults’ Needs

2026 August 28th, 13h30-18h JST

Hybrid: Online and Onsite participation possible

Kitakyushu International Conference Center, Kitakyushu, Japan

in the framework of 35th IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human
Interactive Communication (RO-MAN 2026)

Objectives

This workshop aims to explore the specific characteristics of telepresence interactions for children compared to adults. By bringing together researchers, practitioners, and industry partners, we seek to:

  • Identify the unique needs of children in telepresence scenarios, including cognitive, social, and technical challenges.
  • Compare these needs with those of adults to highlight similarities and differences.
  • Propose research directions and design guidelines to improve telepresence systems for both populations.
  • Foster interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing among participants.

Through presentations and collaborative discussions, we will address key questions such as: How can telepresence robots be adapted to better support children’s interactions? What are the main barriers to effective telepresence for different age groups?

Workshop Organisation

The first part of the workshop will be dedicated to several presentations focused on different use cases. The second part of the workshop will be dedicated to a World Café* session, during which participants will discuss the specific needs of children when using telepresence robots, as well as the main similarities and differences between children’s and adults’ telepresence interactions. The final 30 minutes will be devoted to sharing and synthesizing these discussions in order to identify the main lines of inquiry and key research directions for each population.

Speakers

Prof. Arisa Ema, University of Tokyo
https://sites.google.com/g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ema/home_en?authuser=0
Prof. Arisa Ema is a researcher at the University of Tokyo, specializing in the social and ethical implications of robotics and telepresence technologies. Her work focuses on how avatar robots, such as those deployed in the Dawn Avatar Robot Café (https://dawn2021.orylab.com/en/), can transform social participation and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The Dawn Avatar Robot Café, a pioneering project by Ory Lab, enables individuals with limited mobility to work remotely as café staff,
controlling OriHime and OriHime-D robots to interact with customers and perform tasks. This initiative not only provides meaningful employment but also fosters inclusive communities and challenges societal perceptions of disability and isolation.
Prof. Arisa Ema’s research explores the intersection of technology, accessibility, and human-centered design, making her a valuable voice for discussions on telepresence, social robotics, and the future of inclusive work environments.

Prof. Jennifer A. Rode , University College London
https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/17164-jennifer-a-rode

Marine Le Borgne, Awabot Company
https://awabot.com/en/

Schedule

coming soon

Organisers

Venue, Accommodations, and Registration

The workshop is held as part of RO-MAN 2026. Details about the venue, accommodations, and registration can be found in the main RO-MAN conference website. 

Contact

Fell free to mail aurelie.clodic@laas.fr