Research group
Stockholm Technology & Interaction Research (STIR)
The STIR group brings together a mix of technologists and social scientists. Together, we research and build new digital technologies. Our work is situated within the Human–Computer Interaction field.
The city traffic is a social environment where humans interact with new and older technology. Photo: Anna Chaplygina/Mostphotos.
The Stockholm Technology & Interaction Research (STIR) group is led by three faculty members: Professor Barry Brown, Associate Professor Airi Lampinen and Assistant Professor Donald McMillan.
Our research engages with technology use as it unfolds in social settings. Recently, we have worked in domains such as digital health, mobility, feminist cybersecurity, economic encounters, speech agents, and video-mediated interactions.
Working with humans is incredibly difficult for robots. This project aims to develop new ways for robots and intelligent agents to understand, interact with, and adapt to the complex and collaborative ways we humans work together to get through our everyday lives.
While there has been fast and rapid progress in terms of the development of self driving vehicles, these new technologies have also been controversially involved in a number of fatal accidents. This project studies the “social order” of traffic. What happens when artificial and human intelligence meet on the road?
While the future of autonomous vehicles seems to be approaching, there will still be instances where human intervention will be necessary. In this project we develop Extended Reality experiences to provide visions of this future, informed by current events and autonomous agent research.
How can humans and drones interact? The Digital Futures Drone Arena is a demonstrator project that develops a novel aerial drone testbed, arranging annual drone competitions.
Smartwatches, fitness trackers and other wearables follow every step we take, and every move we make. We even take them to bed and let them track our sleep. This project explores how people interact with technology and hack traditional sleep schedules in order to make their lives work.
There is an increasing trend towards organizing economic and social exchange with the help of online platforms. The transportation service Uber and the short-term rental service Airbnb are two examples. This project focuses on economic encounters in relation to these new marketplaces.
Intimate technologies, such as insulin pumps, smart vibrators, and digital contraceptives, are typically designed for use at an individual level. However, their use and its consequences are often shared and social. This project examines how emerging intimate technologies within reproductive health come to be shared.
Stopping dead seems to be a default setting when driverless cars encounter a problem. This can cause chaos on roads, writes professor Barry Brown in The Conversation.
How can humans and flying drones interact in aesthetic ways? The topic was explored in the Second Drone Arena Challenge. A DSV student team won third prize and was the favourite of the audience.
One best paper award and three honorable mentions. DSV proved its strong position in the Human–Computer Interaction research field at this year’s CHI conference in Germany.
Would you like to share a car with your neighbors, or have a total stranger sleeping in your spare room? If your answer is yes – does your family agree? DSV researcher Airi Lampinen studies interpersonal aspects of the hyped sharing economy.
