Research interest
Starting with an interest in art, building technology and exact sciences I have developed a passion for understanding how people and the environment interact. For instance, why is it that certain environments seemingly make people be more at ease, or conversely make them more tensed? Interactions can take place on several different scales. For instance, on the scale of an individual or a group the environment can make it possible as well as constrain how people act. At a more micro level, the environment can also shape our thoughts about objects we did not even knew existed a minute ago.
Futher, and more the focus of my current research, we also provide information to the environment about our inner state. The interest there is to be able to develop reliable and valid measurements of people’s inner emotions as they are unconsciously displayed in real-time. Using these signals of our emotions to improve our interaction with artificial agents is the domain of affective computing: an rapidly evolving and exciting field of research.
In short: the places where technology and people meet, both in physical as well as virtual environments are of special interest to me.
Current research
Over the last two years I have worked in the EU funded FUGA project on measuring video-game experiences in real time. Here the ultimate aim was to develop an automatic system capturing peoples experiences as the game is unfolding, challenging both my psychological as well as engineering interests. Currently I am involved in a regional project (partly funded by the EU as well as by the province of Noord Brabant) concerned with employing motivational technologies in rehabilitation of MS and CVA patients.
CV
1989-1995
VWO, Boschveldcollege, Venray
1995-1997
Architecture, Building and Planning, Eindhoven University of Technology. In these three three years I focussed on urban design and architecture. In 1997 I swithed from Urban design to Human-Technology Interaction, which I finalized in 2001.
1997-2001
Human Technology Interaction (HTI), Eindhoven University of Technology
Main subject: Environmental and Social Psychology. During my master’s research I focussed on social interactions in and around high rise residential buildings. The research was conducted at the Delft Interdepartmental Research Centre (DIOC) at the TU Delft. Trained as an environmental psychologist, my interests further include social and cognitive psychology, Human-Technology Interaction as well as urban planning and conservation behaviour.
Msc. degree received November 2001
September 1999 – July 2000
Student assistant, Human Technology Interaction (HTI)
Eindhoven University of Technology
December 2000-January 2001
Student assistant, Human Technology Interaction (HTI)
Eindhoven University of Technology
December 2001
Researcher at the centre for the sustainably build environment,
DIOC-DGO, Delft University of Technology
January 2002- April 2007
Ph.D. student at the J.F. Schouten School for user-system interaction, Human-Technology Interaction (HTI). Project concerned the public acceptance of novel technologies, focusing on attitude formation processes from a Social & Cognitive Psychological perspective. Eindhoven University of Technology, Human Technology Interaction. PhD. degree received June 27th 2007
April 2007 – April 2009
Post doctoral researcher at HTI under the European funded ‘Fun of Gaming’ (FUGA) project under the FP6 New and Emerging Science and Technology (NEST) program. Developing new measurement techniques and application of behavioral indicators to increase understanding of continuous player experiences during digital game-play. FP6-NEST-28765. Eindhoven University of Technology, Human Technology Interaction.
April 2009 – September 2011
Post doc. researcher at HTI under the INTERREG (EU and regional) funded RevalidatieRobotica II. In the project the focus is on developing a motivational virtual environment for rehabilitation of MS and CVA patients. IVA-VLANED-1.14. Eindhoven University of Technology, Human Technology Interaction.
August 2010 – July 2011
During this time I have successfully completed the BKO certificate program (University Teaching Qualification). This program is an educational program aiding university lecturers in their teaching.
April 2009 – Current
Post doc. researcher at HTI jointly responsible for Communication and PR for the HTI group including coordinating education, setting up and maintaining several HTI related websites (education, PR and research websites). Eindhoven University of Technology, Human Technology Interaction.
