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Wan-Ting Yeh

I am a PhD candidate at the University of Auckland's Early Learning Lab, under the guidance of Associate Professor Annette Henderson. I successfully submitted my PhD thesis in July 2023. During my PhD studies, I collaborated with Soul Machines Inc., a leading AI company in New Zealand.

My research delves into the social communication patterns between young children and their primary caregivers, particularly in the context of screen media. This study aims to influence the development of the augmented intelligence virtual baby. Its implications stretch beyond theoretical frameworks, offering potential advancements in clinical applications.

Since 2014, I have published over 60 articles in the fields of cognitive neurosciences and psychology. As a freelance science communicator, my work has been featured on prominent Taiwanese websites like Business Weekly and PanSci. My journey into motherhood in 2018 opened my eyes to the challenges many parents face, often stemming from a limited understanding of infant development. This realization instilled in me a sense of purpose to assist these parents. My contributions to this cause can be found on my blog, BrainyMama, and also on two renowned parenting websites in Taiwan: Baby&Mum and MamiBuy.

PhD Candidate, University of Auckland
wyeh841@aucklanduni.ac.nz
 

To know more about my research

Follow me on LinkedIn and ResearchGate

How digital media influence

Early social communication?

 

The importance of the face-to-face interaction in early childhood for it provides emotionally and socially relevant info that shapes the early social communication. Further, it highlights that human interaction is initiated from a desire to cooperate.

Given the whole part of the cooperative nature of communication is disruptive in the digital environment due to various distractions brought by screens, whether parent-infant social interaction changes in the cyber world becomes a pivotal query.

BabyX

BabyX is a computer-generated psychobiological infant that  combines models of neural and sensing systems which respond to and learn from interactive behaviours in real-time.

Our ultimate goal is to use BabyX to re-calibrate the digital interaction with human parents.

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