Lars Diedrich (left) and Emma Wormser (right) have developed a prototype for a “social interactive entrance door”. © HFU
Creative approaches to human-machine communication
Professors Dr. Jochen Huber and Dr. Stefan Pfeffer initiated an exhibition on the topic of “Social Media” in their Human-Machine Communication course on the Furtwangen University (HFU), Tuttlingen Campus. Students on the Engineering Psychology bachelor's degree programme presented their semester work in the form of posters and interactive prototypes. 13 project teams presented their work on campus.
Looking at the results, visitors realised that “social media” is more than just LinkedIn, Instagram or TikTok. “Our bachelor students on the Engineering Psychology programme have found creative approaches to social media and developed corresponding concepts and interactive, digital-physical prototypes. This goes far beyond what we generally understand by social media,” explain HFU professors Jochen Huber and Stefan Pfeffer.
From the thirsty plant to the talking entrance door
One project team developed a concept for the fair distribution of shared resources − in this case, sweet snacks. Several groups used “gamification” and linked typical game elements with their programmed products. “This promotes togetherness, motivates and is fun to use,” say students Erika Rewunow and Tamara Schweier. Their project presents “Plant care as a playful team task”. Other students designed an entrance door as a “social interaction object”. Others dealt with the question of how interpersonal communication can be promoted or how real meetings can be revived. One of the resulting prototypes, for example, is designed to promote exchanges when picking up coffee.
Making technology human with engineering psychology
The engineering psychology programme on the Tuttlingen campus combines psychology with technology. Whether in medical technology, the automotive sector, industrial robots or multimedia devices − technology must be intuitive for users and should also be fun to use. The Human Factors master's degree programme, also offered at the Tuttlingen Campus, builds upon this.
Interested? Our Open Day is on 27 April!
Tuttlingen Campus will open its doors to prospective students on Sunday, 27 April 27 from 1.00 - 6.00pm. Information on the programme with tryout lectures, academic counselling, guided tours and more at Internal link opens in the same window:www.hs-furtwangen.de/Events.