Research & Theses Topics
Below, there is a list of generic topics, made for students, that are seeking for a thesis topic (Bachelor or Master) in my field of research/interest.
If you are seeking for a more specific topic, following theses are offered at the moment:
- "Erarbeitung und Evaluierung einer Metrik zur Bewertung der ergonomischen Grundsätze assistiver Systeme, basierend auf DIN 92419 (Arbeitstitel)" [deutsch/english; Masterarbeit/Masterthesis]
- "Konzeption und Umsetzung einer Benutzungsschnittstelle für einen Grillroboter (Arbeitstitel)" [deutsch, Bachelorarbeit]
- Praktikum oder eine Bachelorarbeit: Entwicklung und Umsetzung einer Local Guide Funktion für den mobilen Roboter temi in Zusammenarbeit mit Lufthansa
This is a non-complete mutable list of my current research interests. You may find this an inspiration for your research. In addition, at the end of this page you can find some topics I like to offer (most recent interests are italic).
- Integration of Usability Engineering and Software Engineering (agile, non-agile)
- ‘Tools’ supporting HCD process lifecycle development activities
- HCD process capability including assessment approaches and models, tools for metering/measuring the process capabilities (e.g. based on ISO 9241-220)
- Approaches and tools for the selection of usability and design methods
- Human-Centred Innovation (Human-Centred Design/User Experience Design/Design Thinking, Google Venture Sprint, etc. … methods, that aim for innovation. How do they link to HCD?)
- Digital Fabrication - New approaches/methods making use of Digital Fabrication and HCD
- Digital Fabrication in combination with innovation driven approaches, e.g. Design Thinking, etc.
- Engineering Human-Centred Products (Keywords: Open Design, Digital Fabrication)
- FabLab Ecosystem and Cultural Effects
- Innovation Management combined with Human-Centred Design
- Cross-Innovation Management
- Cross-Innovation combined with Human-Centred Design
NOTE: User Experience and HCD are closely related, so that terms above can almost be substituted for the reason of research.
As you know I am also open-minded to other/related topics. You can present me your research results and we can discuss.
Theses Topics
BACHELOR:
Open Source Web-based Platform for Documenting and Sharing Maker-Projects
Question(s): How to share your projects in an appealing way to your community and how to support their reproduction in the most efficient way?
Procedure: Analyse existing systems; Analyse User Requirements; Create a concept and a first version (inclusive code documentation); test your system and document your findings
Hack the Machine: 5-Axis Milling
Question(s): What are the challenges and opportunities of 5-axis milling?
Procedure: Research on 5-axis milling CAD/CAM solutions and development of a usable software for the 5-axis-maker machine (which is available at our FabLab).
Maker Education in Bachelor Studies
Question(s): How to include Making and Tinkering in Bachelor Degree Programs?
Procedure: Analyse potentials for the integration of Making in existing bachelor courses; propose a approach for integration, create a course-concept; test your concept and document your findings
MASTER:
A Generic Approach for the Selection of Appropriate Usability Methods
Question(s): How to select appropriate methods for the performance of HCD in a given context of a company?
Procedure: Analyse existing approaches; develop new approach; test your approach and document your findings
Hedonic Quality, Intuitiveness, User Experience - A Question of Measurement
Question(s): How to identify and to measure (short term and long term)?
Procedure: Analyse state of the art research and create an overview of existing methods with justification (pro’s and con’s); propose a ‚solution‘ (e.g. method(s) to fill gap(s); a strategy; future research, etc.); Verify your proposal and document your findings
Innovation Methods in Human-Centred Design
Question(s): How do methods such as Design Thinking, Google Venture Sprint, etc. link to HCD?
Procedure: Analyse state of the art research; Create a model/an approach for integration; Test your approach and document your findings
Making in Human-Centered-Design
Question(s): How can ‚making‘ contribute to HCD?
Procedure: Analyse state of the art research; Create a model/an approach for integration; Test your approach and document your findings
Assessment Model for FabLabs (at Universities)
Question(s):
- How to measure the impact of „Tinkering, Making, etc.“ on the education of students?
- How to combine with advantages of established educational approaches?
Procedure: Analyse existing learning approaches; propose a methodology, or create a „reference model“ (best practices, etc.) and an assessment approach; test your approach and document your findings
Designing Physical User Experiences
Question(s): How to make use of rapid prototyping and digital fabrication in (agile) development of interactive systems?
Procedure: Analyse state of the art; identify new approaches/methods making use of DF and UX; implement and test your approach and document your findings
Design for Impact
Question(s):
- How do we reduce the risk of making unnecessary, obsolete, or rubbish things (systems or physical)?
- How can we change the minds of people in making things (systems or physical)?
- How do we create an awareness for the usefulness of what we make?
- How to we consider long-term impacts from the very beginning?
Procedure:
- Analyse state of the art;
- Identify relevant methods/approaches;
- Propose an approach/a model/ set of methods to avoid these risks
- focus can be on „making“ physical products, i.e in a FabLab
- and/or interactive systems in general
- and/or with focus on the environmental impact (sustainability), i.e. in alignment with approaches such as Ecodesign;
- Test your approach and document your findings
The Next ‚Hype‘ in Human-Centered Design?
Question(s): GV Design Sprint, Design Thinking, Jobs To Be Done - what’s all about this? What do these hype-methods share, what are the differences? How do they relate to Human-Centred Design? What is the ‚gap‘ based of which we need always such new methods?
Procedure: Analyse state of the art and history of such ‚hype‘ methods in the field of Human-Centred Design; draw conclusions about it; test your conclusions and document your findings
Learning by Making
Question(s): How does "making" change the way we learn?
Procedure: Analyse and contrast strategies of learning especially with focus on 'making'; synthesize and propose a model for teaching; test your concept and document your findings