People

About me

Professor in Human-Centered Design (of ICT), specializing in:

Social Technology — Sustainable Design of ICT — Digital Ethics

How to design Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services with a critical voice, mindful of digital ethics, social sustainability, and environmental footprint? I've worked on ICT applications for collaboration, technology-mediated interaction on social media services, new types of "social technologies" that aim to support or enhance social interaction, as well as sociotechnical solutions for supporting cultural integration and community building. I want to contribute to building a future where ICT services are imagined, built, and used with consideration of diverse values, cultures, and user groups. I'm a user-centered interaction designer and a computer scientist by training and a great enthusiast of behavioral and social sciences. 

Please find a short introduction video here (from 2022; presented in Finnish, with subtitles in English).

I have the great privilege of leading the Technology x Social Interaction Research group at Tampere University. Please check the page for further info on collaboration opportunities, available thesis topics, etc.

For up-to-date publications, please see my Google Scholar profile.

Responsibilities

Research: 

I'm leading the "Technology x Social Interaction" research group at Tampere University, working with inspirational scholars across the fields of design, computer science, and behavioral & social sciences. 

I'm the academic director of the Digital and Sustainability Transitions in Society research platform at TAU, aiming to steer digitalisation work towards a more environmentally and socially sustainable future. 

Recently, I've been a: 

• Principal investigator in AIdience – How might AI applications for the audience influence journalism and its futures?
• co-PI in a Strategic Research Council project Trust-M: Creating trustworthy and accessible digital public services for migrants
• Principal Investigator in Business Finland project Big Match
• co-PI in the Academy of Finland project Emotions in Digital Media (EmoDiM)
• a work package leader in ERDF project on Human-Centered AI (KITE)
• the PI of an internally funded Fairness in Social Matching Systems project
• and involved in a number of other externally funded projects, such as Future of Remote/Hybrid Work. 

Teaching: 

I'm heading the new international Master's Degree Program in Computing Sciences and Electrical Engineering (CSEE) at the ITC faculty, the parent program of more than 12 study tracks and home of more than 200 students. 

I'm the responsible professor coordinating the Human-Technology Interaction studies (under CSEE). 

I'm also actively involved in offering and developing the Sustainable Digital Life Master's program.

I serve as a supervisor and a planning group member in the Doctoral Programme of Humans and Technologies. 

I am or have been the responsible teacher for the following courses:

• SDL.530 Sustainable Design
• SDL.600 Technologies for Enhancing Social Interactions
• HTI.311 User Research Methods
• TAYJ12 Ethics of Technology 

In addition, I'm participating in the Introduction to Sustainable Digital Life MOOC and a Finnish basic course on information sciences (Johdatus tietojenkäsittelytieteisiin).

Thesis supervision: I'm gladly supervising master's and doctoral theses in relation to my research interests. Please see this page for further info and preliminary topic ideas.

Affiliations and memberships:

I'm affiliated with the Computing Sciences unit, where I'm also serving as a member of the steering group, in the faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences.

I have been developing my professorial expertise in the nurturing atmosphere of the New Social Research programme at Tampere University. From 2017 to 2021, NSR was a bold endeavour to create interdisciplinary social scientific competence relevant for 21st-century academia. 

I'm actively involved in Rajapinta, a scientific community focused on digital social sciences and interdisciplinary Internet research.

Field of expertise

The overarching goals of my research are (1) to understand how Information and Communication Technologies shape and condition social behavior and collaboration; (2) to envision and design novel ICT prototypes that could sustainably enhance various forms of human sociality. I'm a user interface designer and a (very soft) computer scientist by training and a great enthusiast of the social sciences. The fields I mainly publish in are Human-Computer Interaction and Computer-Supported Collaborative Work. I've published over 140 scientific papers in international journals and conferences, including ACM CHI, ACM CSCW, and Communications of the ACM. I regularly serve as an Associate Chair in ACM SIGCHI flagship conferences CHI and CSCW, and I actively serve as a reviewer in journals, such as Human-Computer Interaction, Interacting with Computers, and Human-Computer Studies.

Research areas and topics (as keywords): social technologies, computer-supported cooperative work, socio-technical systems design, sustainable HCI, ICT for sustainability, computer-mediated communication, cultural integration of migrant people, professional social matching, enhancing collocated social interaction, people-nearby applications.

(Topics I've studied in the past: mobile augmented reality, collective use of user-generated content, early online communities, haptic human-computer interaction, ubiquitous computing, proactive and context-aware systems, playful applications of ICT).

Technology: I'm interested in various emerging technologies, particularly People Recommender Systems, new Digital Media services, Recruitment & HR technology, and Artificial Intelligence. Rather than developing such technology, I focus on the user-centric, cultural, and societal requirements as well as designing service concepts and user interfaces.

Methodology: my research is mainly qualitative by nature, aiming to make sense of and conceptualize unexplored phenomena and gain user-centric insight into the behavioral and social effects of new ICTs. We often follow the research through design approach, critically investigating existing design conventions in an attempt to design new, more sustainable social user experiences and to encourage ethical and socially sustainable design of technological services. I've also utilized computational social science approaches like network analysis and computational analytics methods based on machine learning. 

I'm well familiar with both the Centrum and Hervanta campuses of Tampere University. Before the merger of the local universities in 2019, I was an Associate Professor at University of Tampere (centrum campus) and before that an Adjunct Professor and Post-doctoral Researcher at Tampere University of Technology (Hervanta campus). 

About me

My profile and full CV is here: https://research.tuni.fi/kaisa-vaananen/

About me

MA in Digital Culture from the University of Turku and doctoral Researcher at Tampere University in the Doctoral Programme of Humans and Technologies. In my dissertation research, I'm studying human-AI interaction and collaboration in expert work, domain experts' user experience and expertise in the AI-era.

Research fields

Human-Computer Interaction, Information Systems

Research topics

Industrial Collaboration in Virtual Reality (VR)

About me

I am a Post Doctoral University Researcher developing Intelligent Multimodal Systems to enhance haptic feedback in a wide range of applications and environments. My core research interests involve designing and studying haptic signal mediation in vibrotactile actuation as well as developing passive and active mediation techniques to revolutionize haptic / multimodal interaction in 2D / 3D virtual environments.

Responsibilities

• Tampere Institute of Advance Studies Fellow [2022-2024], 
• Various Project development and coordination [AMICI, AEE, Huawei, HUMOR, MIVI, Fukoku, AAC]
• MMI System Design & Development, 
• Human Centered Multimodal Interaction Research, 
• Partner Interaction, 
• Teaching / Project Work (HTI HI 520).

Field of expertise

• System development & deployment 
• Software Engineering 
• Electrical Engineering 
• Multimodal Interaction Systems 
• Novel Haptic Interaction Techniques 
• Haptic Mediation 
• Human Technology Interaction

Alternate description

More details Available at Personal Webpage HERE 

Research topics

• Multimodal Communication
• Human Technology Interaction
• Haptic System Interaction and Efficiency 

Research fields

• Computer Science
• Electronics Engineering
• Haptics
• Human Technology Interaction
• Signal Processing
• Mechatronics

Responsibilities

I am responsible for the Human-Technology Interaction research infrastructure in the ITC Faculty. I am also the coordinator of the Staff Scientist network at the ITC faculty and the immediate supervisor of our laboratory engineers laboratory managers, etc.

I am the primary contact for these practical matters on the centre campus:

• hardware and software acquisitions for laboratories
• Approvals for laboratory reservations
• Chemical acquisition and supervision of use in the computing unit on the centre campus.
• Varjo software license administration

In research I am active in the projects of the research group on Emotions, Sociality and Computing.

Research fields

Human-Technology Interaction

About me

My information at Tampere University's research portal: https://researchportal.tuni.fi/en/persons/kirsikka-kaipainen 

Responsibilities

I'm coordinating the Digital and Sustainability Transitions in Society (DigiSus) research platform that was launched in the beginning of 2024. In addition, I'm the project manager in the Industry X project and conduct sustainable mobility related research in the Decarbonizing transport and mobility through data-driven modal shift (DeMo) and SmartRail#3 projects. I also have teaching and supervision duties.

Research topics

Digitalization and sustainability, user experience, sustainable mobility, social robotics, societal participation of youth

Research fields

Human-technology interaction

Research career

I worked as a researcher at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland during 2008-2014 in the area of ICT for Health. I defended my PhD in 2014 about health promotion with digital applications. I've continued collaborating with Department of Psychology at University of Jyväskylä on online interventions for adolescents' mental well-being.

About me

Doing research on human technology interaction

Field of expertise

Pattern recognition, signal processing, human technology interaction

About me

I am a creative and adventurous researcher. I study novel designs' effects on user-experience, and how to do design that questions current designs. The application area for my study is computer-mediated communication. I especially enjoy ideating within a team, and I do my best to not be blinded by my own ideas. I am a Doctoral Researcher starting from fall of 2019, and before that I was a Researcher and Research assistant. I got my Master's in 2018 in Human Technology Interaction in this university. I am also a Designer (BA) 2015, and 2011 Artesan of design.

About me

Researcher and teacher interested in human-technology interaction, with special expertise on the applied use of eye tracking in interfaces.  

Responsibilities

Teaching:
- Usability Evaluation Methods
- Methods in Human-Centered Design 

Teacher tutor for Human-Technology Interaction (HTITLY ) module in the Master's Programme in Computing Sciences 

Supervisor of Master's theses on topics related to my expertise and research interests (see my google scholar profile). 

Researcher in the Speechreading project "Katse huulioon?", in collaboration with University of Oulu. 

Field of expertise

Eye tracking, gaze-controlled interfaces, human-computer interaction (HCI), gaze-based HCI, usability user, experience, accessibility, user/human-centered design (UCD/HCD), animal-computer interaction (ACI)

Research unit

https://research.tuni.fi/tauchi/

About me

I work as a project manager for Digital and Sustainability Transitions in Society: A Double-edged Sword (DigiSus) research platform. I am also working as a researcher in Politicized Loneliness: Hatred, Violence, and Experiences of Loneliness Online project (PI: Ari-Elmeri Hyvönen).

Research topics

Manosphere and radical men's rights advocacy, narrative theory, counter-narratives, societal storytelling, instrumentalization of narratives, incel subculture, new sincerity, public authority storytelling, storyteling in information systems development.

Research career

My on-going thesis studies radical men's rights groups storytelling strategies in recruiting new members and justifying their worldview. Three out of four intended articles published in high level journals.

Currently a secured funding in the project Politisoitu yksinäisyys (Emil Aaltonen Foundation, 2023–).

Researcher in the project Tarinat tietotekniikan toteutuksessa (Emil Aaltonen Foundation, 2019–2022).

Grant researcher in the project Dangers of Narrative (Kone Foundation, 2017–2018)

Coordinator of research centre Narrare (2017–2018).

About me

Since 2014, I’ve been involved in several research projects that aim to encourage and facilitate interactions between people through technology. Currently, I am interested in exploring new types of professional social matching services that are based on Big Social Data analysis.

Research fields

Computer-Supported Cooperative Work, Human-Computer Interaction

About me

I am broadly interested in Human-Technology Interaction, including novel user interfaces, virtual and augmented reality, emerging and display technologies, 3D displays, multisensory and multimodal interaction, artificial intelligence, etc.

I am a co-inventor of the FogScreen. 

I have also been a visiting scholar for a total of 4½ years at UCSB Four Eyes Lab, most recently on 9/2017 - 12/2018. 

Responsibilities

Senior Research Fellow

TAUCHI Research Center 

Field of expertise

I research mixed reality, novel user interfaces, novel displays, AI, and their applications. 

I have invented several multimodal extensions for HMDs. Proof-of-concept prototypes of mid-air tactile feedback for a mid-air fogscreen (Sand et al. 2015) and for an HMD (Sand et al. 2015) enable to touch and feel synthetic 3D objects while interacting with them. A super-wide FOV optical design for HMDs (Rakkolainen et al. 2016; Rakkolainen et al. 2017) can cover even the full human FOV. Recently we have significantly extended the FOV of a standard VR viewer (Rakkolainen et al. 2017 ). We also invented a visual feedback system for HMDs, which surpasses the eye and its lens, sending light directly to retina (Koskinen et al. 2017), PTZ superzoom + 360° camera, and illumination for 360° cameras. 

We have also refined the previous gestural AR/VR interface (Rakkolainen 2003) with new UI concepts together with the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). They enable embedded VR viewing and easy use of 3D UIs for smartphones (Rakkolainen et al. 2016 ).

Research unit

TAUCHI Research Center

Research fields

Computer science

Responsibilities

I am responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Centre for Immersive Visual Technologies (CIVIT) research infrastructure in the ITC Faculty. My tasks include:

• coordinating services for students, researchers and companies
• maintaining and developing the infrastructure and equipment
• interacting with stakeholders and hosting visitors

I also work as a researcher in projects in the Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction (TAUCHI).

Field of expertise

Human-computer interaction, multisensory interfaces, haptics, olfaction, virtual reality.

Research topics

Immersive Reality

• Mixed Reality
• Virtual Reality
• Augmented Reality
• Extended Reality

Research unit

Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

About me

Researcher and teacher interested broadly in Human-Technology Interaction and specially in information visualization

Responsibilities

Supervision

- I supervise theses related to information visualization, data graphics, user interfaces, and usability

Field of expertise

information visualization, data graphics, user interfaces

Research unit

TAUCHI Research Center: https://research.tuni.fi/tauchi/

About me

I'm a doctoral researcher, recevied Ph.D. in 2008

Responsibilities

• conducting high-quality research
• supporting other researchers by developing experiment tools

Field of expertise

• eye tracking for human-compuer interaction
• software development

Research fields

• human-computer interaction
• human-vehicle interaction

About me

Hello,

I am a Doctoral Researcher at the Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction (TAUCHI). My research focuses on designing and developing interactive solutions for emergent and remote users. Currently, I'm working on the KITE Project (Kaupunkiseudun Ihmiskeskeiset Tekoälyratkaisut - a rough translation would be Urban User-Centered Artificial Intelligence​) exploring the usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Tampere. I have been involved in the development of AI-based chatbots for small companies as a potential use-case for low-cost adaptation of AI technologies 

My academic research is on designing and developing Voice User Interfaces in Semi-Public Spaces, especially for the elderly population. I'm exploring use-cases and solutions to deploy Voice Assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home in semi-public spaces and study their implications in terms of interaction, user experience, privacy and trust.

Responsibilities

Human-Centerd Design, Human Centered Artificial IntelligenceI, Voice Assistants, AI-powered Chatbots

About me

Matilda Kalving is a doctoral researcher in the Human-Centered Technology (IHTE) research group, which is part of the Tampere University Computer-Human Interaction (TAUCHI) Research Center.

Her research focuses on Human-AI collaboration within the creative industries. She explores how Generative AI (GenAI) tools influence creative tasks, such as design, production, and scriptwriting. Her research is supported by the Finnish Doctoral Program Network in Artificial Intelligence (AI-DOC). Matilda aims to develop frameworks and practical solutions to enhance AI-human collaboration in creative workflows. 

About me

Ph.D. in Cognitive Science