MEET OUR RESEARCHERS
DANIEL FÄLLMAN – HEADING FOR THE FUTURE Daniel Fällman is a senior researcher at Interactive Institute Swedish ICT and a professor in Human-Computer Interaction at Umeå University. In 2010 he was awarded the ‘Individual Grants for Future Research Leaders’ by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF). The aim of the program is to support scientists who have the potential to become future research leaders in Sweden. Being part of the Future Research Leader’s program, what is especially valuable to you?
I am one of 18 scientists from technology, medicine, and the natural sciences participating in the program. It is truly inspiring to discuss research methods and share experiences with researchers from such different backgrounds over a longer period of time.
What do you consider to be a future challenge for research organizations?
It will be increasingly important to find formats for multidisciplinary collaboration that actually work. Sweden has a long tradition of participatory methods and is considered to be one of the most creative countries in the world, which gives us the potential to take a leading role and attract international talent.
ANNELISE DE JONG – SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES FOR FUTURE LIVING Annelise de Jong is a senior researcher at Interactive Institute Swedish ICT and assistant professor at the Industrial Design faculty at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Her research revolves around social practices and design in the context of the home and sustainable urban living areas. What is your biggest research challenge?
Despite energy awareness campaigns, there has been an increase in household energy consumption over the last 10 years. We do see a trend of awareness, but little knowledge of what to do and less trust in information. I’m looking for possible intervention points to change the current trend of increasing consumption into other directions.
What can we learn from studying daily doings in the home?
We have identified socially shared practices in the home – e.g. cooking, bathing – as a promising way of tapping into people’s habits. Existing patterns are disrupted and new patterns evolve when you introduce or remove products and services. We need to understand these patterns in order to design products that support practices for future sustainable living.
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