Contributing German HCI Labs 2025

RWTH Aachen University

Media Computing Group

Our group, headed by Prof. Dr. Jan Borchers, works in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Grounded in Computer Science, we develop and study new interaction theories, techniques, and systems in areas like personal digital fabrication and personal design, mobile, wearable, and shape-changing user interfaces, soft robotics, interactive textiles, handheld augmented reality, interaction with AI, deceptive design, and visual coding environments. Our goal is to make the Brave New World of interactive technologies useful by making it usable. Since starting in October 2003, we have become one of Germany’s best-published research groups at CHI, the premier international academic conference in the field.

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Digital Sovereignty Lab

Karola Marky – https://informatik.rub.de/digisoul/

DigiSoul’s research is primarily focused on the intersection of cybersecurity and privacy research with human factors. We specifically investigate the capacity of individuals (e.g., end-users or developers), institutions (e.g., universities or companies), or states (e.g., administrations or governments) for informational self-determination. The current landscape of cybersecurity and privacy solutions often lacks an in-depth consideration of different user groups. A consequence of that is that cybersecurity in real-world scenarios is seen as a cumbersome barrier between the users and their goals. DigiSoul aims to break this barrier by creating cybersecurity and privacy solutions that go hand-in-hand with the users‘ goals.

Universität Bremen

Digital Media Lab, TZI

Rainer Malaka – tzi.de & dm.tzi.de

The Center for Computing Technologies (TZI) at the University of Bremen conducts research at the core of a massive societal trend: The digital revolution, which affects all areas of our lives. Important research questions include: What kind of technologies will we have in 10 to 20 years? How can we make sure that they will be safe, dependable, and beneficial for society? And most of all: How can technology serve humans–instead of replacing them? TZI has conducted research in these areas since its foundation in 1995, working on approximately 120 projects per year. One main goal is to transfer results from basic research to industry as quickly as possible in order to generate the greatest benefits for society. The knowledge generated in our projects has already been applied in a wide range of areas such as healthcare, telecommunication, automotive industry, and “smart homes.” This is made possible by encouraging interdisciplinary cooperation of scientists in different fields. On average, about 150 employees from various areas at the University of Bremen are TZI members. In addition, many projects are based on international cooperation with other research institutions. TZI focuses on two main research areas: „Everyday Activity Science and Engineering Innovation” and „Empowering Digital Media“.

Technische Universität Dresden

Interactive Media Lab

Prof. Dr. Raimund Dachselt – http://imld.de

The Interactive Media Lab Dresden (Chair of Multimedia Technology) at the Institute of Software and Multimedia Technology of the Faculty of Computer Science at TU Dresden was established in April 2012 and is led by Prof. Raimund Dachselt. The Interactive Media Lab at the Technische Universität Dresden is conducting research primarily in the field of modern Human-Computer Interaction and interactive Information Visualization. Our main focus are natural user interfaces, in particular the development of interaction techniques and data visualization approaches using various interaction modalities (multitouch, pen, gaze, tangibles, gestures) and their combination. Typical research setups are multi-display and Mixed Reality environments as well as wearables for augmenting humans. We apply our basic research results to several application domains, like biology, medicine and cyber-physical systems, and develop domain-specific solutions.

University of Duisburg-Essen

paluno, HCI Group

Stefan Schneegass – www.hci.wiwi.uni-due.de

The HCI Group at the University of Duisburg-Essen (Campus Essen) researches on the crossroads of human-computer interaction and ubiquitous computing. We explore how mobile, wearable, and ubiquitous computer can be used to create a benefit to the user. We particularly focus in our current research projects on providing novel and implicit ways to authenticate users, improve user’s health through digital technology, interacting with autonomous systems, and providing immerse multi-user environments in virtual reality. We are part of the paluno, the Ruhr Institute for Software Technology.

Group of Interactive Systems

Michael Prilla – https://www.uni-due.de/interaktivesysteme/

Am Lehrstuhl Interaktive Systeme untersuchen wir Fragestellungen der Mensch-Computer-Interaktion und der Kooperationsunterstützung. Wir verbinden unsere Forschung zur menschzentrierten Mensch-Computer-Interaktion und Kooperationsunterstützung mit dem Konzept sozio-technischer Systeme, in dem technische und soziale Systeme sich kontinuierlich gegenseitig beeinflussen und (weiter-) entwickeln. Diesen Ansatz verfolgen wir für aktuelle Fragestellungen und Technologien wie bspw. Künstliche Intelligenz, Augmented Reality, Kooperation von Mensch und Roboter sowie von Mensch und KI, und Digitalisierung in Branchen wie Gesundheitswesen, Handwerk, Handel und Produktion. Unser Ziel ist die Gestaltung mensch-zentrierter Technologien im Kontext ihrer Anwendungen. Der Mensch steht bei unserer Arbeit immer im Mittelpunkt. Dazu untersuchen wir die Arbeit, das Lernen und das Verhalten von Menschen, um diese zielgerichtet mit IT-Werkzeugen zu unterstützen. Ein besonderes Augenmerk gilt dabei der Praxis der Menschen, also der Gesamtheit der Einflüsse und Hintergründe des Handelns von Menschen. Technik ist hier eine wichtige, aber nicht die einzige Komponente. Gegenstand unserer Arbeit ist die Gestaltung aktueller und zukünftiger sozio-technischer Systeme.

Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI)

Human-Computer Interaction Group

Andreas Riener – hcig.thi.de

The Human-Computer Interaction Group (HCIG) at THI is an interdisciplinary team composed of computer scientists, media engineers, usability/UX researchers, and psychologists interested in hypothesis-driven experimental research in the broader area of pervasive computing and ubiquitous systems with particular focus on usability research for intelligent user interfaces and user experience design . The group is headed by Prof. Dr. Andreas Riener as was founded in January 2016.

Universität zu Lübeck

Interaktionsdesign und User Experience

Hans-Christian Jetter – https://www.imis.uni-luebeck.de/de/institut/team/hans-christian-jetter

Seit August 2020 ist Hans-Christian Jetter Professor für Interaktionsdesign und User Experience an der Universität zu Lübeck. Die Forschungsschwerpunkte der Professur liegen im Bereich Interaktionsdesign für eine bessere Mensch-Computer-Interaktion und insbesondere für bessere eine Mensch-Daten-Interaktion. Dazu gestaltet, implementiert und evaluiert die Professur neuartige mobile, ubiquitäre und kollaborative Systeme, z.B. interaktive Tische, Wände, Räume oder die nahtlose Interaktion über mehrere Geräte hinweg. Diese unterstützen Benutzer:innen bei der Exploration, Visualisierung und Interpretation komplexer Datensätze und Modelle. Zunehmend spielen hier auch Mixed-Reality-Technologien wie Augmented Reality oder Virtual Reality eine Rolle, z.B. für Immersive Analytics.

Human-Computer Interaction und Usable Safety Engineering

André Calero Valdez – https://www.imis.uni-luebeck.de/de/institut/team/andre-calero-valdez

André Calero Valdez has been a Professor of Human-Computer Interaction and Usable Safety Engineering at the University of Lübeck since 2022. He conducts research on human-technology interaction and usable safety in various application areas (e.g., eHealth, recommender systems, social media, information visualization, technology acceptance, Industry 4.0) using methods from computer science, psychology, and computational social sciences.

University of Siegen

Experience & Interaction Design

Marc Hassenzahl – http://www.experienceandinteraction.com

The Experience & Interaction Design group headed by Prof. Dr. Marc Hassenzahl explore design between the material and experiential, touching upon industrial, interaction and critical design.

IT for the Ageing Society

Claudia Müller – https://italg.wineme.uni-siegen.de/

The Chair of Information Systems, esp. IT for the Aging Society (Prof. Dr. Claudia Müller) researches and teaches at the interface of demographic and digital change. The focus is on the practice-based and participatory design of socio-technical infrastructures and digital solutions in the field of “health & aging”. The objectives include maintaining and increasing the social participation of older and vulnerable people, their mobility and independence, as well as maintaining or improving their well-being, health and quality of life at home.

IT-Security and Consumer Computing

Gunnar Stevens – www.itsec.wiwi.uni-siegen.de

The Chair of Information Systems, in particular IT-Security and Consumer Computing researches the digital transformation of society from the consumer’s point of view with the aim of increasing digital sovereignty. The chair is located in the new research field of consumer informatics. Consumer informatics is the systematic, methodically guided investigation and design of information and communication technologies to support the household economies and everyday practices of consumers as well as their appropriation and social embedding. Consumer informatics thereby undergoes a change of perspective in which not only the role as a user of a system or customer of a company, but also the individual and collective life worlds of consumers are focused as comprehensively as possible.

Universität Würzburg

Psychological Ergonomics

Jörn Hurtienne – https://www.mcm.uni-wuerzburg.de/psyergo/startseite/

Den Lehrstuhl für Psychologische Ergonomie gibt es seit 2011 am Institut Mensch-Computer-Medien. Das Institut wurde 2010 gegründet. Lehrstuhlinhaber und aktueller geschäftsführender Vorstand des Instituts ist Prof. Dr. Jörn Hurtienne. In der Forschung arbeiten wir interdisziplinär. Psychologischer Sachverstand mischt sich mit Informatik-Kenntnissen und Design-Expertise. Je nach Forschungsgegenstand verwenden wir quantitative, experimentelle oder qualitative Methoden. Wir stehen für ein strikt benutzerzentriertes Vorgehen im Design und verwenden dazu Methoden aus dem Contextual Design, dem Design Thinking sowie dem Partizipativen Design. In unseren Laboren findet man viele Sticky Notes und Material zum Erstellen früher Prototypen, Kameras, Touchbildschirme, VR und AR-Technik, Eyetracker, Arduino-Kits, einen 3D-Drucker, Technik zur Messung physiologischer Daten sowie Spielkonsolen.

Universität Bayreuth

Mobile Intelligent User Interfaces

Daniel Buschek – https://www.hciai.uni-bayreuth.de/

We conduct research at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) with two goals: AI for better UIs: Improving user interfaces through the use of computational methods to make digital technology more effective, efficient, and expressive to use. Better UIs for AI: Making AI systems interactive to enable humans to better explore, steer, and apply AI, and to extend human capabilities in challenging tasks. Together, we thus explore AI as a tool to empower people instead of replacing them.

Humboldt University of Berlin

HCIStudio

Thomas Kosch – https://hcistudio.org

Welcome to HCIstudio, located within the Faculty of Computer Science at the Humboldt University of Berlin. We investigate the interaction between humans and technology by developing computational methods and integrating artificial intelligence into user interfaces. Our primary research includes the development of intelligent adaptive user interfaces that seamlessly integrate into the user’s environment through extended reality, physiological interfaces, and machine intelligence. Our work’s additional significant focus is improving HCI research methods. We critically examine existing experimental biases, refine the application of research methodologies in the HCI domain, and strive to enhance reporting and interpretation practices to ensure that our scientific contributions are reproducible and transparent.

TU Darmstadt

Telecooperation Lab

Max Mühlhäuser – www.teamdarmstadt.de

Telecooperation Lab (TK) at Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Computer Science, researches concepts and methods for human-centered smart spaces of all sizes: from personal cyber workstations and intelligent meeting rooms to smart cities and intelligent, resilient infrastructures. Our unique strength is our ability to combine different research areas in support of Smart Spaces: advanced networking (e.g. Edge Computing and IoT platforms), applied AI (e.g. Federated Assistance and Process Mining), HCI (e.g. AR/VR and Tangible 3D-Printed Interaction) and cybersecurity (e.g. Privacy and Trust). Prof. Dr. Max Mühlhäuser is heading this group together with several senior researchers and group leaders. We coordinate a doctoral school (DFG Research Training Group) on Privacy and Trust for Mobile Users, play a major role in the national cooperative research center on the Future Internet and conduct various research projects funded by the EU, federal and state ministries, and industry.

Human-Computer Interaction

Jan Gugenheimer

PEASEC – Science and Technology for Peace and Security

Christian Reuter – https://peasec.de/

Advances in science and technology, esp. in information technology, play a crucial role in the context of peace and security. The Chair of Science and Technology for Peace and Security (PEASEC) led by Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Reuter & team in the Department of Computer Science with secondary appointment in the Department of History and Social Sciences at Technical University of Darmstadt combines computer science with peace and security research. On the intersection of the disciplines Cyber Security and Privacy, Peace and Conflict Studies as well as Human-Computer Interaction the more than 30-person PEASEC team specifically addresses: Peace Informatics and Technical Peace Research, Crisis Informatics and Information Warfare, as well as Usable Safety, Security and Privacy. Methodologically, empirical studies (qualitative and quantitative survey of current developments e.g. of self-help organization during COVID-19) are combined with technical research (conceptualization of innovative interaction concepts, security mechanisms, privacy-enhancing technologies, machine learning algorithms) and final evaluations in the application field (e.g. social media analytics for crisis management). The often interdisciplinary research is regularly awarded and resulted in about 300 scientific (mostly peer-reviewed) publications including the textbooks “Information Technology for Peace and Security” and “Safety Critical Human-Computer Interaction”. Teaching covers both aforementioned research topics and the fundamentals of computer science and was honored with the Athene Award for Teaching Excellence – Special Award for Interdisciplinary Teaching.

Mobile Human-Computer Interaction

Florian Müller

Secure Mobile Networking Lab

Mathhias Hollick – https://www.seemoo.tu-darmstadt.de/

Our restless, mobile society increasingly depends on information and communication technology. Technology has progressed as far as to enable seamless connectivity in all but the most remote places. Yet adequate protection of the dependability and security in mobile networks is lacking. Moreover, users’ privacy starts to erode with the growth in penetration of mobile communication devices. Our team works on different research areas and projects, often collaborating with other national and international experts.

Leibniz Universität Hannover

Human-Computer Interaction Group

Michael Rohs – hci.uni-hannover.de

The Human-Computer Interaction Group is part of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Leibniz University Hannover. Our research and teaching focuses on the design, implementation, and evaluation of mobile, wearable, and ubiquitous interactive systems. Current topics include the application of machine learning techniques in sensor-based mobile interactions and mobile haptic feedback, e.g. for pedestrian navigation and visually impaired people.

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Information Systems & Service Design

Alexander Mädche – https://h-lab.iism.kit.edu/index.php

The human-centered systems lab (h-lab) headed by Prof. Dr. Alexander Maedche (research group “Information Systems I”, formerly ISSD) focuses in research, education, and innovation on designing human-centered systems for better work & life. Our mission is to create impactful knowledge for designing human-centered systems for human productivity and well-being through relevant and rigor scientific research. We leverage advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and biosignal sensor technologies and follow a socio-technical research paradigm for increasing human productivity and well-being through human-centered systems. We contribute to the fields of human-computer interaction (HCI) (Mensch-Computer Interaktion) and information systems (IS) (Wirtschaftsinformatik). We believe that delivering cutting-edge knowledge and inspiring education, as well as an ongoing dialog with the public need to go hand in hand to maximize the impact of our work in organizations and society.

SECUSO (Security • Usability • Society)

Melanie Volkamer – https://secuso.aifb.kit.edu/english/index.php

We do research on security and privacy. Our focus is on humans and our society. We use the so-called ‘ human centered security and privacy by design’ approach. We research methods for the development and evaluation of User-friendly security and privacy protection measures as well as Awareness, education and training measures especially for companies. Our research group is very interdisciplinary in order to be successful. Among others, the group comprises scientists in computer science, mathematics, and psychology.

University of Konstanz

HCI Group

Harald Reiterer and Tiare Feuchtner – hci.uni-konstanz.de/

Our goal is to conceive, develop and evaluate novel concepts for human-computer interaction that dissolve the user interface as a barrier between real and virtual, and instead allow the user to seamlessly transition between different realities. We call this extended form of interaction “Embodied Cross-Reality Interaction” and the supporting user interfaces “Transitional Interfaces.” Such interfaces support crossing between different realities: from being in the physical world and using our existing cognitive and bodily skills, to gradually moving into a virtual reality with more advanced or “magical” skills, and back again.

Hochschule Anhalt

Human-Computer Interaction

Arne Berger – www.arneberger.net/

I am a Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at Hochschule Anhalt, and I am fascinated by the complex, idiosyncratic, and unintended interactions between humans and digital technology. My work is influenced by the Scandinavian tradition of Participatory Design, which recognizes that those who will be affected by a future technology should have an active say in its creation. My research focuses on supporting people in imagining alternative futures, exploring these visions, and critically reflecting upon them through co-design. Currently, I am particularly interested in the design space of smart connected things and services within the context of the home.

LMU Munich

Applied Informatics and Media Informatics

Florian Alt – http://www.medien.ifi.lmu.de/

Sven Mayer – http://www.medien.ifi.lmu.de/

Human-Computer Interaction

Andreas Butz – http://www.medien.ifi.lmu.de/

The Media Informatics and Human-Computer Interaction working group consists of two chairs, the Chair of Applied Computer Science and Media Informatics and the Chair of Human-Computer Interaction. Both carry out research on the borderline between human behavior and machine computation. This comprises a large range of topics, including novel interaction technologies, development methodologies and application case studies. We have the goal to make our work visible at an international level and therefore target international research publication media. In parallel we maintain a number of research contacts to local companies for applied research.

Human-Centered Ubiquitous Media

Albrecht Schmidt – www.en.um.informatik.uni-muenchen.de/index.html

In our group, we conduct research at the crossroads of human computer interaction, media technology, and ubiquitous computing. We are involved in different research projects, including European Projects (H2020) and nationally funded projects (DFG, BMBF). Our research interests are in challenges that pose hard questions for basic research, but at the same time have a clear application to specific domains or impact on society. The overall research question is: how can we enhance human abilities through digital technologies. In a recent IEEE Computer article we have outlined this vision of amplifying the human mind through digital technologies. With increasing automation and with autonomous systems becoming ubiquitous, the challenges for keeping the human in the loop and in the center becomes even greater and more important. We have suggested a novel interaction paradigm “Intervention user interfaces” to reflect this.

OFFIS – Institute for Information Technology (Oldenburg)

Mixed Reality Group

Wilko Heuten – https://www.offis.de

OFFIS is the leading research and development institute in Lower Saxony in the field of computer science. As an affiliated institute of the Carl von Ossietzky University, which also conducts basic research that is indispensable for us, we conduct application-oriented research as well as science and technology transfer into society, business and administration. The funding bodies of OFFIS are the state of Lower Saxony, the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg and professors related to computer science, especially from the Department of Computer Science, as well as from other universities. We perform technically and scientifically outstanding work for innovative and application-oriented research. Our research is based on people, their needs and the need to preserve the environment. We share our research results with everyone through widely available publications. We reflect our research on ethical principles and follow the standards of good scientific practice. Research done for and on weapons has no place in OFFIS.

University of Oldenburg

Media Informatics and Multimedia Systems

Susanne Boll – https://uol.de/en/media-informatics

The Media Informatics and Multimedia Systems Group is working in the fields of Interactive Systems, Ambient Displays, Automotive User Interfaces, and Augmented und Virtual Reality. We develop interactive systems and computing technologies to enhance users’ lives. We focus primarily on mobile and ambient user interfaces, where we explore different novel modalities such as visual, auditory and tactile channels in pervasive displays. We strongly embed our research in the fields of personal health and safe transportation, that serve as major application domains. The group is headed by Prof. Dr. Susanne Boll. She is also a member of the executive board of the OFFIS–Institute for Information Technology in Oldenburg, an associated research institute of the University of Oldenburg. Her research interests lie in the field of multimedia and intelligent user interfaces. She teaches Interactive Systems and Interactive Multimedia in the Bachelor Programme in Computer Science and offers lectures and practical lab courses in HCI, Wearable Computing and Digital Fabrication in the Master Programme in Computer Science. Since recently Susanne Boll is also a co-founder of the new Master Programme in Computer Science „Engineering Socio-Technical Systems“. She is leading several national and international scientific projects with strong cooperation with research experts world wide. She head one of the few leading groups in Europe that works on mobile and ambient user interfaces exploring different novel modalities such as visual, auditory and tactile in pervasive displays.

Saarland University

HCI Lab

Jürgen Steimle – hci.cs.uni-saarland.de

Our research mission is to contribute to a next generation of user interfaces that seamlessly merge with the physical world and the human body. These interfaces create more effective, expressive, and engaging interactions with interactive systems and devices. Moreover, they are compatible with challenging mobility contexts and integrate well with real-world activities. This opens up a wide range of applications in various fields, including mobile and wearable computing, robotics, smart home, health and fitness devices. We develop user interface technologies for advanced sensing and displays, invent new concepts for interaction, and empirically study user behavior.

Ubiquitous Media Technology Lab, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)

Antonio Krüger – umtl.cs.uni-saarland.de

The Ubiquitous Media Technologies Lab (UMTL) is part of the Saarland Informatics Campus and the Cognitive Assistants department (COS) at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). Our research activities focus on human factors in interactive systems, in particular, in the fields of multi-modal interaction, ubiquitous computing and gaming.

Computational Interaction Group

Anna Maria Feit – https://cix.cs.uni-saarland.de/

Our research is in the area of Human-Computer Interaction, a highly interdisciplinary field where we actively draw on findings from areas such as Human Factors, Psychology, or Cognitive Science, to connect them with methods from Machine Learning, Optimization, Data Science, and others. Specifically, we develop computational methods to enable the design of intelligent interfaces that make optimal use of people’s abilities, skills, and experiences. Our goal is for interfaces to seamlessly integrate with our real world, as they adapt to a person’s environment, preferences, or cognitive capacities in a way that is predictable and adjustable by end-users.

Ulm University

Institute of Media Informatics – Human-Computer-Interaction Group

Enrico Rukzio – https://www.uni-ulm.de/in/mi/hci/

The Human-Computer-Interaction Group is located at the Institute of Media Informatics at Ulm University, and is headed by Enrico Rukzio. We are interested in designing intelligent interactive systems that enable people to be more efficient, satisfied and expressive in their daily lives. We design, implement (hard- and software) and evaluate novel interaction techniques, applications and services which either solve existing problems or provide new opportunities. Our research approach is based on design thinking, user centred design and iterative prototyping. At this, we involve potential users in all steps of the process, use a large body of low- and high-fidelity prototyping techniques and conduct a large number of user studies, evaluations and field tests. Our research focuses on the design of novel interaction concepts, devices and applications in areas such as mobile and wearable interaction, projected user interfaces, computerized eyewear, cross-device interactions, interaction in smart environments, human-technology interaction for elderly people, automotive user interfaces and interactive production planning.

University of Stuttgart

Institute for Visualization and Interactive Systems

Human-Computer Interaction

Michael Sedlmair – www.vis.uni-stuttgart.de/en/research_group/human-computer-interaction/

Our research in the area of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) focuses on: (1) Immersive analytics and (2) Novel interaction methods for VR/AR. In terms of immersive analytics, we focus on the question as to when VR/AR is really needed for analyzing and visualizing data. For interaction, we specifically explore novel ways of how VR/AR might offer more natural ways to interact with data.

Visualization

Daniel Weiskopf – www.vis.uni-stuttgart.de/en/research_group/visualization/

Our research focuses on: (1) Scientific Visualization and (2) Information Visualisation and Visual Analytics.

Visual Computing

Dieter Schmalstieg – www.visus.uni-stuttgart.de/en/workinggroups/schmalstieg-group

University of Wuppertal & Center for Advanced Internet Studies

Human-centered Artificial Intelligence

Hendrik Heuer – hen-drik.de

Hendrik Heuer is a research professor at the Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS) & the University of Wuppertal. He heads the research program Design of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction and Machine Learning. He is trying to increase Trust in Artificial Intelligence through Understanding, Control, and Co-design. He is also interested in Participatory Software Development for Machine Learning and Combating Misinformation and Disinformation.