Chorong Park.Human-centered AI, aging & care
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Research & conferences

What Park Brought Home From CHI 2026

Alongside an Honorable Mention, the Barcelona conference brought fresh questions about making robots accessible, enjoyable, and useful over time.

Original LinkedIn post:
Published on ELARA:

Chorong Park returned to Houston from CHI 2026 with an Honorable Mention and new ideas for her research on aging and human-robot interaction. Her April 21 reflection put conversations with researchers from different backgrounds alongside the formal presentations as highlights of the week. [1]

Three conference attendees pose with a certificate in front of a CHI 2026 welcome screen.
Three conference attendees pose with a certificate in front of a CHI 2026 welcome screen. Original LinkedIn image 1 of 13.
A presenter speaks at a lectern below a projected slide.
A presenter speaks at a lectern below a projected slide. Original LinkedIn image 2 of 13.
A researcher discusses a poster with another conference attendee.
A researcher discusses a poster with another conference attendee. Original LinkedIn image 3 of 13.
A group of workshop participants poses beneath a projected event slide.
A group of workshop participants poses beneath a projected event slide. Original LinkedIn image 4 of 13.

Held in Barcelona from April 13 to 17, the conference recognized her coauthored work on robots and older adults' changing privacy boundaries. Workshops, papers, and posters offered further opportunities to discuss how interactive systems fit into daily life. [1][2]

Three attendees sit together at a restaurant table.
Three attendees sit together at a restaurant table. Original LinkedIn image 5 of 13.
Two attendees take a photograph inside the conference venue.
Two attendees take a photograph inside the conference venue. Original LinkedIn image 6 of 13.
Two attendees take a photograph beside illuminated fountains at night.
Two attendees take a photograph beside illuminated fountains at night. Original LinkedIn image 7 of 13.

For Park, exchanges across countries and disciplines sharpened a connected set of questions: how can technology be more accessible, more enjoyable, and worth continuing to use? Her reflection links the experience of an interaction with the longer-term challenge of robot adoption. [1]

An attendee poses behind large colorful CHI letters.
An attendee poses behind large colorful CHI letters. Original LinkedIn image 8 of 13.
A hand touches a white furry robotic device on a demonstration table.
A hand touches a white furry robotic device on a demonstration table. Original LinkedIn image 9 of 13.
Collage of conference conversations, robotic demonstrations, exhibits, and presentations.
Collage of conference conversations, robotic demonstrations, exhibits, and presentations. Original LinkedIn image 10 of 13.

She welcomed future collaboration across universities and industry. The invitation carried the energy of the conference back into her work in Houston, with an emphasis on learning from people who approach similar problems differently. [1]

An overhead view of a crowded conference exhibition hall.
An overhead view of a crowded conference exhibition hall. Original LinkedIn image 11 of 13.
Workshop notes and sticky notes are arranged on the floor among chairs.
Workshop notes and sticky notes are arranged on the floor among chairs. Original LinkedIn image 12 of 13.
An attendee stands in a palm-lined city square.
An attendee stands in a palm-lined city square. Original LinkedIn image 13 of 13.

Sources

Adapted from Chorong Park's LinkedIn post. LinkedIn images are presented in their original order.

  1. Read Chorong Park's original LinkedIn post (opens in a new tab)
  2. Purdue's CHI 2026 conference report (opens in a new tab)