Human-data interaction to enhance office well-being

Hi, my name is Hans Brombacher and I am a fourth year Industrial Design Ph.D. candidate. My work focuses on the topic of human-data interaction to enhance office well-being and is part of the POWEr FITTing project of Eindhoven Engine.

Three case studies

In the landscape of workplace technology, sensing systems play a crucial role in gathering data for understanding building performance and employee activities. However, a common challenge arises: individuals often feel disconnected from these systems, being treated merely as passive recipients of data. Three case studies propose practical solutions to address this issue.

Case 1. SensorBadge

Case 1 introduces SensorBadge, an ego-centric sensor platform allowing employees to actively participate in data collection and analysis. This approach emphasizes the importance of seamlessly integrating sensor technology into daily routines while ensuring individuals have control over their data. The study underscores the need for clear and understandable data representations to facilitate informed decision-making.

Case 3. Click-IO

Case 3 presents Click-IO, a tangible tool designed for real-time feedback on workplace well-being. By merging individual experiences with environmental data, Click-IO offers a nuanced understanding of office dynamics. Its privacy-sensitive design ensures that employees feel comfortable sharing feedback, while its mobility allows for in-the-moment data collection.

Case 2. SensorBricks

In case 2, SensorBricks emerges as a toolkit aimed at improving data literacy among users. Through interactive workshops, participants engage with sensor data in a collaborative setting, fostering discussions and shared insights. The toolkit’s user-friendly interface lowers the barrier for individuals to interact with data, promoting a deeper understanding of their surroundings.

Human-centered design

These case studies demonstrate the importance of human-centered design in workplace sensing technologies. By prioritizing user engagement, control, and understanding, these approaches pave the way for more meaningful insights and improved well-being in the modern workplace.

Integration of findings

Within our final study, which will start soon, we will integrate the findings of these studies into a unified artifact, prioritizing human-centric design principles. This aims to enhance data literacy, facilitate real-time feedback on well-being, and ensure employee control over data. Implementing such an ecosystem in diverse workplace settings could provide valuable insights into its effectiveness and ethical implications, ultimately fostering a more fulfilling and productive work environment.

Join us in celebrating 5 years of Eindhoven Engine! Our Disrupt your Life series will be part of the festivities. It will be an afternoon of celebration and an opportunity to embrace disruption. Get inspired to bring some disruption into your daily life, both personally and professionally. Explore new ways of thinking and acting that will refresh your approach to challenges.

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Festival of Disruption filled with energy and enthusiasm

The Festival of Disruption’s second edition thrived with energy and enthusiasm. Kicking off the day, architect and urban designer Floris Alkemade offered a compelling perspective on how to embrace transformative changes.

Engaging workshops

Following this inspiring start, attendees were presented with seven engaging workshops, each delving into methods to expedite innovation, including ‘Design doing’, ‘Accelerating transitions via disruption’ and ‘1+1=3.’ Moreover, they had the chance to stay up to date on the latest developments in Eindhoven Engine’s OpenCall projects and the Emergence Lab initiative focusing on low literacy. As the day drew to a close, the atmosphere was charged with excitement during the wrap-up quiz, concluding a day, filled with learning, inspiration, and networking.

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Possible continuation for SmartMan project at Fontys

The SmartMan project at Eindhoven Engine is approaching its end date. SmartMan is an OpenCall project that started in 2020 and has a duration of three years. This summer, the project ends at Eindhoven Engine, but is working on a follow-up at Fontys Engineering.

Hans Krikhaar, who is leading this project and is a lecturer in Smart Manufacturing at Fontys Engineering, understood that SMEs have a great need for innovation, but lack the capacity and knowledge to do these innovations themselves. To be ahead of the competition, it is extremely important for SMEs to keep innovating their production processes. The industries need to adopt Smart Manufacturing. The fresh perspective and knowledge of Fontys students are the outcome here. In the ecosystem knowledge exchange at Eindhoven Engine makes cross-pollinations possible between Fontys students, SMEs, other companies and institutes. With the help of Eindhoven Engine, it results in a validated approach to strengthen the innovation power of SMEs in the Brainport region.

Projects in three focus areas

The goal of SmartMan project was to annually realize 40 subprojects carried out by 2nd, 3rd and 4th year Fontys students at SMEs. During the 3-year period at Eindhoven Engine, indeed a total of 120 projects at various companies were successfully completed. A very nice result considering this project withstood the corona epidemic. In the SmartMan project with Eindhoven Engine, Fontys, TNO and Brainport Industries as partners, students do their internship and graduation assignments in various facets of Smart Manufacturing.

These can be divided into three focus areas:

1. Topological design, which includes additive manufacturing and lightweight structures.

2. Intelligent systems (AI, low-code modeling and digital twinning).

3. Factory automation and robotics.

Knowledge exchange at Eindhoven Engine makes cross-pollinations possible between Fontys students, SMEs, other companies and institutes.

Hans Krikhaar

Project leader SmartMan project & lecturer in Smart Manufacturing at Fontys Engineering

At VDL, successive students have worked on modular injection molds (topological design). In the area of intelligent systems, several students have used artificial intelligence for VBTI to further develop vision analysis, and at Siemens, students have collaborated on developing digital twins. Students have also contributed to factory automation solutions at various companies. At Eindhoven Engine project Carbyon DAC, a student even collaborated on the process plant for making CO₂-absorbent material used to reduce CO₂ in the atmosphere.

Stronger link

Fontys Engineering is working out plans to follow up on SmartMan. The goal is to link research even more closely to student projects in companies, especially in SMEs. Students will receive assignments within research domains at companies and teacher-researchers will provide the necessary knowledge transfer. This allows future students to complete their assignments more efficiently with the guidance and knowledge of the lecturer-researcher.

During the Fontys Career event, organizations meet young professionals and discuss opportunities during or after their studies. We are again present during this event! Together with our projects we are offering internships and graduation assignments for students of Fontys Economics and Communication, Fontys HRM and Applied Psychology, Fontys Business Management, Education and Technology and Fontys Marketing and Communication.

Aftermovie Fontys Career Event

Possible continuation for SmartMan project at Fontys

Report Region Deal Brainport Eindhoven 2022

The world is constantly changing and we have to adapt to these changes quicker than ever. Having longterm experience is no longer as essential as being flexible and having a young spirit. A student tend to see things from a different point of view and can offer refreshing ideas. This is important to the types of projects that we offer and can create a valuable impact on them. Their talent can make big differences in solving social issues and helping the industry.

Eindhoven Engine will be presenst with its projects and assignments in the field of High Tech, Health Tech, Energy Transistion, Smart Cities, Circularity and Smart Mobility.

Go to assignments

The Automotive Week 2023 is thé hotspot if you want to keep up with the latest European developments in mobility and if you want to expand your network in our mobility sector. Innovative technologies and the right skills become more and more important to make the world of mobility smart, sustainable and safe.

In the heart of the Brainport region, at the Automotive Campus in Helmond, we open our doors to the international public to experience the mobility of the future.The Automotive Week offers an exclusive look behind the scenes for future talent, professionals, governments and knowledge institutions.

Eindhoven Engine reporters Ferry Wortelboer and Jasmijn Schol will be at the Talent Fair (16 April) to find out how visitors envision future mobility. Does this match with the innovations we will be seeing this week? How do innovations in mobility accelerate?

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About the project

Smart Manufacturing aims to improve factory efficiency by optimizing production processes, but SMEs often lack the capacity to create innovation in this domain. Bringing together Eindhoven Engine, Fontys, TNO and Brainport Industries Campus, the SmartMan project comprises research into various facets of smart manufacturing, including robot-assisted manufacturing, data sharing, industrial AI, virtual reality and autonomous transport. Student projects will be executed at SMEs with the goal of developing knowledge, technology and methods for combining quality, automation and flexibility in manufacturing. Success will be measured in terms of the economic value of improvements per project and company.

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Hans Krikhaar I Project leader

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Brainport Regio Deal Innovation Projects – Eindhoven Engine

Eindhoven Engine is one of the Regio Deal innovation projects with social impact.
Check out this video showcasing our way of working, the Carbyon project and SmartMan project.

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About the project

FITTing Persons’ vitality and optimizing their Work Environment

In an increasingly competitive global economy, physical inactivity and burnout rates are increasing. Sustainable employability based on good physical and mental health is therefore crucial, preventing absenteeism and also reducing healthcare costs. POWEr FITTing optimizes the relationship between vitality and the (home) office environment through the combination of data acquisition, integration and application for the validation and acceleration of user-oriented solutions. By taking into account individual, societal and contextual factors, this enables employees to remain both healthy and productive. This benefits companies, individuals and wider society.