Affective AI Research, Interaction Design, & Human-Centred Development

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Pioneering responsible AI innovation, affective computing, & human-centred interaction design

Foundational UX Research to Real-World Applications.

Nurobodi is an affective-design R&D practice at the intersection of AI ethics, voice science, and human-centred interaction design. Founded in 2017 and recognised as one of nine Australian startups selected for the Asia Pacific Ci2017 'Human Intelligence 2.0' scholarship, Nurobodi has been developing research-informed frameworks for responsible, emotionally intelligent AI since before the current wave of generative AI transformed the field.

Our work spans active research in affective resonance and conversational dynamics, applied consulting in AI/UX/CX design, and structured R&D through partnerships with CSIRO, RMIT University, and CareerDC's postgraduate internship program. We bring both academic rigour and practical implementation expertise to the emerging field of affective AI — connecting the dots between how emotion works in the human body and how it can be recognised, modelled, and ethically integrated into AI systems.

What We Research

Nurobodi's research sits at the intersection of four interconnected fields. Each informs the others, and together they form a coherent, human-centred approach to understanding and designing emotionally intelligent systems.

Affective Resonance & Conversational Dynamics

How do emotional states propagate between people in conversation? Who influences whom, how does that influence flow across different interaction contexts — simultaneous speech, turn-taking, asymmetric exchanges — and how do physical vocal signals relate to affective attunement over time?

Nurobodi's current research investigates these questions using unique affective design computational methods that combine acoustic signal analysis with emotion recognition frameworks, building toward creating rigorous models of affective resonance and emotional coupling in one-on-one and multi-party conversation. Findings have direct applications for AI systems designed to participate in, facilitate, or analyse human conversation tonal shifts and vitality contours.

 
 

Responsible AI & Explainable Systems

As AI systems become increasingly ubiquitous, the question is no longer where to deploy AI — but how to do so responsibly, transparently, accountably, and with humans meaningfully in the loop. Nurobodi's work in explainable AI (XAI) and responsible innovation, aided through multiple research programs with CSIRO has produced unique methodologies for affective fine-tuning, comparative model evaluation, and XAI interface design.

What was experimental research in 2022 is now regulatory requirement: the EU AI Act (2024) mandates explainability for high-risk AI systems, and responsible AI frameworks are now global standards. Nurobodi's current R&D continues this work with active focus on White Box/Black Box causal loop analysis in affective AI systems.

Prosodic & Vocalic Human-AI Interaction

The voice carries far more than words. Tone, rhythm, harmonic structure, vocal texture, prosodic contour — these paralinguistic dimensions shape the emotional quality of every human interaction, and increasingly, every human-AI interaction. Nurobodi researches how these subtle vocal dimensions can be understood, modelled, and ethically integrated into AI systems — informing emotionally intelligent voice model design, affective UX, and CX systems that respond to how people feel, not just what they say.

Affective Environment Design

Sound, light, and colour are not decorative — they are functional dimensions of environment that measurably shape emotional and cognitive states. Nurobodi's research in affective environment design develops protocols for integrating these dimensions intentionally into architectural, commercial, healthcare, and therapeutic spaces. Drawing on decades of professional sound design, Nurobodi's sonochromatic research bridges computational modelling with real-world spatial application.

 

Key Areas of Affective Vocal Resonance Research for Humans:

Sound Health

  • Ambisonic & binaural design & production

  • Sound Design

  • Sonic relational aesthetics. Mood-mapping

  • Environmental or Event Design.

  • Client/User research - Raw Data or compiled data insights

  • Music Technology

Light/Colour Health

  • Circadian/Mood Revision and Regulation

  • Personal/Professional/Product/Brand - Light/colour design

  • Hertz/HSLuv/RGB/HEX/HSL/HSV Data & Spectrums

  • Event Light/Colour Design & Production

  • Designing for Optimised/Healthier Smart Lighting Systems

  • Client/User research - Raw Data or compiled data insights

More about Fine Tuning for Humans
 

AI Resonance Research and Design:

Fine-Tuning AI Voice Models for Human Connection

Our current focus is on Prosodic and Vocalic Human-AI Interaction (HAII) Design—exploring how subtle elements of speech, such as tone, rhythm, and vocal texture, shape the emotional quality of AI-human engagement.

We prioritize the research and design of datasets and frameworks that underpin the development of emotionally intelligent products and services. Every model we work with is aligned with principles of sustainability, accessibility, and long-term human benefit.

At Nurobodi, we collaborate with responsibly trained AI systems to create experiences that resonate—supporting your business, your customers, and the broader collective future.

Whether you're looking to create a bespoke AI companion, deepen emotional alignment in customer experience, or fine-tune resonance within human-AI or human-human relationships, Nurobodi specializes in mapping the harmonic architectures of connection.

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At Nurobodi, we offer tailored services that integrate emotional intelligence, ethical frameworks, and cutting-edge design to create meaningful relationships between humans and AI across industry contexts.

Our offerings include:

  • Human–AI Relationship Consultation
    Strategic guidance to align AI interaction design with emotional, ethical, and experiential goals.

  • Client-Specific AI Research, Design & Development
    Bespoke systems developed in close collaboration with your needs, from concept to deployment.

  • Chatbot & Conversational Agent Design
    Crafting emotionally resonant and context-aware chatbot experiences.

  • Industry-Specific Dataset Development
    Creation of ethically sourced, context-appropriate datasets to train more attuned AI systems.

  • CX/UX Journey Mapping
    Capturing the full user experience arc to optimize emotional engagement and system feedback.

  • Process Documentation & Knowledge Transfer
    Clear, usable documentation to support transparency, compliance, and scalability.

  • IP Generation & Strategy
    Identification and support for novel intellectual property creation.

  • UX/UI Wireframing & Interface Design
    Design of intuitive, affective interfaces that enhance trust and usability.

  • Rapid Prototyping
    Agile, iterative prototyping for fast feedback, refinement, and deployment.

More about Responsible AI for business