Simone de Droog
Associate Professor of Child-Technology Interaction
Simone de Droog is Associate Professor of Child Technology at the Digital Life research group. Her work focuses on how technologies — such as social robots and digital characters — can positively and sustainably support children's development and wellbeing.
Expertises
Child–technology interaction | Social robotics | Digital characters | Interaction design | Healthcare & education | Adaptive interventions | Design principles | Interdisciplinary collaboration
Contact
- Email: s.m.de.droog@hva.nl
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/smdedroog
About Simone de Droog
As of 1 September 2024, Dr. Simone de Droog has been appointed Associate Professor of Child Technology at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. At the Digital Life research group, she conducts practice-based research into the meaningful interaction between children and technology — especially social robots and digital characters — in the fields of education and healthcare.
Her research focuses on generating transferable knowledge that transcends specific technologies or age groups, ensuring long-term relevance. This is essential in a fast-evolving technological landscape and in addressing societal challenges that require flexible, adaptive interventions.
Simone aims to define design principles for sustainable interventions and build a research infrastructure that evolves alongside new insights. She works with a wide range of stakeholders, including schools, hospitals, robot companies, and academic institutions such as Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht.
Beyond research, she is actively building a strong interdisciplinary network to link research, education, and practice. Her ambition is to create a practical and evidence-based framework that helps shape the future of child–technology interaction.
Additional roles
- Collaborator, Social AI group (Vrije Universiteit)
- Research affiliate, Smart Systems for Healthy Living (HU)