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Giulio Jacucci is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Helsinki Information Technology Research Institute. He serves as a Supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Computer Science, mentoring PhD candidates in human-computer interaction and related fields. His academic career spans over two decades with continuous research productivity from 2006 through 2025. Professor Jacucci's research interests center on Human-Computer Interaction , particularly focusing on Virtual Reality , Brain-Computer Interfaces , and Neuroadaptive Systems . His work explores how technology can adapt to users' cognitive and physiological states, with significant contributions to social virtual reality environments, embodied agents, and information retrieval systems. He investigates how virtual representations affect social behavior, time perception, and communication in digital spaces. His publication record shows a clear evolution from foundational work in information retrieval toward increasingly sophisticated neuroadaptive systems. Recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate his leadership in examining social dynamics within virtual reality platforms, including votekicking mechanisms, mirror watching behaviors, and communication tools like mutes. His work bridges technical innovation with deep understanding of human social behavior in digital environments. Professor Jacucci currently leads multiple research projects funded by the Academy of Finland, including DataLit: Datalukutaito ja vastuullinen päätöksenteko (2023-2026) and MyModel: Selitettävyys suositusten hallinnassa (2023-2027). These projects focus on data literacy, responsible decision-making, and explainability in recommendation systems, reflecting his commitment to ethical and user-centered technology development. His research has received media attention, particularly around brain-computer interfaces and virtual reality applications, with coverage in outlets discussing how deep learning transforms mobile applications and sensor landscapes. He has presented his work at major conferences including CHI 2017 and continues to be an active contributor to the international research community.

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality
• Social Virtual Reality
• +4 more

Jonna Häkkilä is a Professor of Industrial Design at the Faculty of Art and Design, University of Lapland and serves as Vice Dean (Research). She holds a Docent title in Human-Computer Interaction and Computer Science from the University of Oulu (since 2011). Her primary research group is LUX (Lapland User Experience Design). Research focuses on user-centered design, wearable technology, cultural heritage digitization, and ethical technology integration with marginalized communities. She leads projects like the MAGICS National Infrastructure for Human in the Digital World and Indigenous Digital Storytelling with New Media. Awards include Best Demo Award at Pervasive Displays 2019 and Best Paper Award at MUM 2017. Active in organizing international conferences and supervising 3 doctoral works. Engaged in Arctic resilience initiatives through co-creative methodologies.

• User Experience Design
• Wearable Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• +4 more

Yu Xiao is an Associate Professor at the Department of Information and Communications Engineering, Aalto University, specializing in edge computing, extended reality (XR), wearable computing, and crowdsensing. Their research contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in education and technology innovation. Active in mobile cloud computing and decentralized systems Principal Investigator in EU-funded projects (EMIL, TUTL) Expert in 5G networks, autonomous systems, and human activity recognition Yu Xiao's work spans interdisciplinary domains, including healthcare (cardiovascular resuscitation devices) and urban mobility (autonomous vehicle interactions). They have received multiple awards, including Best Paper Awards and Nokia Foundation Scholarships. Focus on low-latency communication and multiagent reinforcement learning Developed frameworks like FediLive for decentralized social networks Contributed to 128+ publications and software tools Recent collaborations include institutions like Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and participation in IEEE committees. Their research integrates blockchain for secure IoT communication and advanced AR applications.

• Edge Computing
• Extended Reality (XR)
• Wearable Computing
• +7 more

Turkka Keinonen is a Professor of Industrial Design at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, serving as Vice Dean of Research and Head of Doctoral Education. His career spans academic leadership, industry roles in Finnish technology sectors (shipbuilding, medical equipment), and a visiting associate professorship at National University of Singapore. He specializes in human-centered design, product concept design, and ethical considerations in design. Keinonen’s research emphasizes public sector innovation, digital service development, and the intersection of technology with societal needs. His work bridges theory and practice, focusing on how design can foster equity, civic engagement, and sustainability. Recent projects explore libraries as digital innovation hubs, smart home technologies’ ethical implications, and volunteer-based IT services. He has authored influential books including Mobile Usability (2003), Product Concept Design (2006), and Designers, Users and Justice (2017), alongside over 100 publications. Keinonen’s research trends reflect a shift toward relational design in public sectors, emphasizing stakeholder collaboration and systemic change. His articles analyze digital literacy initiatives, quasi-public service models, and design’s role in mediating technological control. He advocates for ethical frameworks that prioritize user autonomy and societal justice in design processes. Labs/Teams: Active in Aalto’s design innovation networks, particularly in public service design and human-centered design methodologies. Collaborates with industry partners (e.g., Nokia Research Center) and Nordic institutions on applied design research.

• Industrial Design
• Human-Centered Design
• Product Concept Design
• +4 more

Joel Mero is an Associate Professor at the School of Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä , leading the Digital Marketing and Communication (DMC) research group and directing the International Master's Program in Digital Marketing and Corporate Communication (DMCC) . He holds a D.Sc. (Econ.) from Jyväskylä University (2016) and has designed over 20 courses across 10 institutions, covering all academic levels from Bachelor to Doctoral. His research focuses on B2B digital marketing management , particularly leveraging digital data and technologies in business markets. Notable achievements include two Best Paper Awards (2017 & 2019) in the Industrial Marketing Management journal. His work explores topics such as influencer marketing, big data analytics, marketing agility, and AI-driven strategies. Current research groups include the Sound Science Lab (music perception) and Digital Marketing and Communication (DMC) . He collaborates on projects like the Finnish Quantum Flagship , aiming to advance quantum technology applications. Mero emphasizes practical applications of digital tools, bridging academic insights with industry needs. Publications span conceptual frameworks, empirical studies, and industry guides, with a focus on B2B customer journeys, AI in content creation, and data-driven decision-making. His teaching and research highlight agility, innovation, and the ethical use of emerging technologies in marketing.

• B2B Digital Marketing
• Digital Data Analytics
• Marketing Agility
• +4 more

Lauri Väkevä is a Professor in the Department of Education at the University of Helsinki, specializing in educational sciences with a focus on performing arts, music education, and STEAM pedagogy. He actively supervises doctoral students in the Doctoral Programme in School, Education, Society, and Culture and leads the SKAPA project (2024–2026) on developing study paths in arts education. His research explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, creativity, and multimodal learning environments. Key Affiliations: Department of Education, Sibelius Academy collaboration, Gaudeamus publishing network Research Themes: AI in music education, safe spaces for artistic expression, responsible AI pedagogy, historical evolution of Finnish music institutions Recent Work Highlights : 2025: Generative AI as a Collaborator in Music Education (Action-Network Theory application) 2025: Voicing Responsible AI Pedagogy (Ethical frameworks for arts education) 2024: Changing Role of Sibelius Academy (Historical analysis of Finnish music education) Leadership & Engagement : Project Manager for SKAPA, organizing committee member for the 2024 Ainedidaktinen Symposium, and active participant in AI research events.

• Educational Sciences
• Theatre, Dance, and Music Education
• Artificial Intelligence in Education
• +3 more

Anton Berg is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Department of Digital Humanities within the Faculty of Arts and the Helsinki Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (HSSH). He is also a member of the methodological unit at HSSH, focusing on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of cognitive science, religious studies, and artificial intelligence. His educational background spans computer science, cognitive science, and religious studies, enabling him to bridge technical and humanistic approaches to AI. His research primarily investigates how commercial image recognition systems interpret and categorize religious content, exploring issues of bias, representation, and the datafication of religion. Berg's research interests include computer vision systems, automatic image recognition, machine and deep learning, large language models, and the relationship between religions, worldviews, and values related to AI technologies. He particularly focuses on inequality issues, the datafication of religion, the datafication of societies, the social scientific study of religion, and the cognitive science of religion. His work combines technical analysis of AI systems with social scientific perspectives on religion and technology. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on examining biases in commercial image recognition services, particularly regarding religious content, with significant contributions to understanding representational silence and racial biases in these systems. He has also conducted important work on pandemic psychology, contributing to large-scale international studies on COVID-19 responses across 69 countries. Berg has been actively involved in numerous academic activities, including presentations at international conferences on topics such as computer vision in religious studies, mediatized religious populism, and biases in image recognition services. His research has been presented at venues including the International Association for the Cognitive Science of Religion. His teaching areas include religious studies, cognitive science, data science, and religion and technologies, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to understanding the relationship between digital technologies and religious phenomena.

• Cognitive Science
• Computer Vision
• Religious Studies
• +7 more

Päivi Häkkinen is a **Professor and Vice Director** at the **Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER)**, part of the University of Jyväskylä. Her research focuses on technology-enhanced learning, particularly in collaborative problem-solving, computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), and the integration of virtual/augmented reality in education. She leads projects like the EDUCA Flagship for future education and LearnDigi , exploring digitalization in learning. Research Interests: She investigates ICT integration in education, learning analytics, and the cognitive and social dynamics of collaborative learning. Her work emphasizes remote collaboration mechanisms, digital tools for assessment, and AI-driven educational innovation. Key Projects: EDUCA Flagship: Addresses future education challenges through interdisciplinary research. LearnDigi: Examines technology’s role in knowledge construction and digitalization impacts. METEOR: Enhances transversal skills for early career researchers via teamwork methodologies. Recent Work Trends: Her publications analyze joint attention in remote collaboration, AI-human partnerships in education, and neural bases of problem-solving. She emphasizes practical applications for teachers and educators. Labs/Teams: Active in FIER and LearnDigi, focusing on collaborative learning design and technology evaluation.

• Educational Technology
• Collaborative Learning
• Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL)
• +4 more

Mika Nieminen serves as Senior University Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at Aalto University's School of Science, specializing in the Human-Computer Interaction and Design (HCID) research area. With a Doctoral degree from Aalto University (2015) and extensive background in engineering and technology, he maintains active research leadership through multiple projects including ARISE: Advanced Realities for Cultural Innovation in Europe (2025-2029). His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction with particular expertise in Virtual Reality , Participatory Design , and Strategic Usability . His work spans multiple application domains including healthcare systems, educational technologies, and cross-cultural interfaces. His Strategic Usability Research Group (STRATUS) develops frameworks for integrating user-centered approaches into business contexts. Nieminen's publication record shows a clear trajectory toward applying HCI principles to medical education (particularly ophthalmology) and migration support systems. His recent work demonstrates increasing focus on asymmetric VR environments and their impact on presence, collaboration, and user experience. His projects often involve international collaboration, particularly with European partners. As principal investigator for the Lapsus research project (2015-2018), he developed patient experience frameworks for pediatric healthcare settings. His current ARISE project continues this healthcare technology focus while expanding into cultural innovation applications of advanced realities. His academic service includes conference presentations on topics such as crowdsourced translation within refugee information systems and visiting researcher positions at foreign academic institutions, demonstrating commitment to both theoretical and applied aspects of HCI research.

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Participatory Design
• User-Centered Design
• +6 more

Juho Pesonen is a Professor at the Centre for Tourism Studies in the University of Eastern Finland’s Business School. His research focuses on the intersection of information and communication technologies (ICT) with tourism business , including digital destination marketing , tourist behavior , and peer-to-peer accommodation . He has led projects such as Metaverse meets the Experience Industry and High-skilled Internationals: Bottom-up Insights into Policy Innovation . Research Interests : Digital transformation, sustainable tourism, rural tourism, consumer behavior, and ICT applications. Editorial Roles : Co-editor-in-chief of Finnish Journal of Tourism Research , associate editor for Journal of Information Technology and Tourism , and vice-president of the International Federation for Information Technology in Travel & Tourism . Recent Projects : HIWE (2023–2025), New Solutions for Sustainable Tourism Business (2025–2026). Publications highlight trends in destination image analysis , virtual tourism , and peer-to-peer accommodation . His work bridges academic research with industry applications , emphasizing data-driven strategies and digital innovation.

• Tourism Business
• Digital Transformation in Tourism
• Destination Marketing
• +5 more

Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen is a Professor of Craft Studies at the University of Helsinki and Docent at Aalto University. She leads the Co-inquiry, co-design, co-teaching, and co-regulation (Co4-Lab) laboratory and contributes to the Maker@STEAM research group. Her work bridges cognitive theories of design with collaborative learning environments, emphasizing materiality and knowledge building in education. University of Helsinki: Professor of Craft Studies Aalto University: Docent Her research focuses on: Cognitive theories of design processes and expertise development Collaborative learning and social creativity in maker education Role of external representations (sketching, visualization) in design Scaffolding mechanisms in craft and technology education Materiality in digital age pedagogy Knowledge building theory applications Recent publications (2020-2025) demonstrate sustained output in collaborative design education, virtual reality learning environments, and STEAM pedagogy. Her work consistently explores intersections between cognition, collaboration, and digital/material artifacts in educational settings.

• Design Processes
• Collaborative Learning
• Maker Education
• +5 more

Reza Movarrei is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Aalto University's Department of Information and Service Management. His work focuses on consumer behavior, supply chain dynamics, and the intersection of technology with marketing strategies. He has conducted extensive research on topics including status consumption, gamification in prosumption, pandemic logistics, and supplier-buyer relationship management. Research Highlights: Investigates how consumer traits influence intentions to use luxury VR products Analyzes pandemic-era consumer perceptions of home delivery services Explores supplier failure attribution mechanisms through buyer-supplier arbitrator perspectives Examines the paradox of retail buyers' consumer vs industrial purchasing behaviors Awards & Recognition: Best Full Paper Award at British Academy of Management (2024) Best Paper in Operations, Logistics & Supply Chain Management Track (2024) Palkinto tai huomionosoitus tuotoksesta (2024) Key Research Themes: Status signaling and luxury consumption patterns Gamification's role in consumer participation Supply chain resilience and risk management Crisis logistics during health emergencies

• Consumer Behavior
• Supply Chain Management
• Retail Purchasing Behavior
• +5 more

David Derichs serves as a Senior University Lecturer in the Department of Accounting at Aalto University, where he pioneers technology-driven pedagogical innovations and interdisciplinary research bridging accounting, healthcare management, and educational technology. His research spans Accounting Education , Management Accounting , and Digital Finance Transformation , with notable work on VR-based business teaching, spatial design in learning environments, and healthcare cost variation analysis. He actively explores how productivity information can reshape professional identities and reduce unwarranted clinical practice variations. Derichs' 2022-2025 publications reveal a clear trajectory toward immersive educational technologies and digital finance function optimization, characterized by extensive international collaboration across business schools and healthcare institutions. His award-winning contributions include: Teacher of the Year at the Department of Accounting (November 2021) Teaching Developer of the Year for VR case development (August 2021) Entrepreneurship Facilitator of the Year for educational conception innovation (September 2021) No information regarding student advisement or research grants is available in the source material.

• Accounting Education
• Management Accounting
• Digitalization in Finance
• +3 more

Roope Raisamo is a Professor in the Department of Computing Sciences at Tampere University, part of the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences. His research focuses on advanced human-computer interaction, virtual/augmented reality systems, haptic feedback technologies, and their applications in medical, automotive, and assistive technology domains. He leads multidisciplinary projects involving collaboration with industry partners like car manufacturers and healthcare institutions. Key areas of expertise include: (1) Design of immersive XR environments with multimodal feedback integration, (2) Haptic actuator development using smart materials like magnetorheological fluids, (3) Ergonomic interfaces for autonomous vehicles, and (4) Accessibility solutions for seniors and disabled populations. His work bridges theoretical HCI research with practical applications seen in surgical training systems, automotive UIs, and wearable communication aids. Raisamo's research outputs from 2023-2025 show strong focus on: - Sensory augmentation in food perception through XR (2025) - Medical VR applications for surgical planning and tumor visualization (2024-2025) - Haptic-mediating technologies for automotive and industrial interfaces (2023-2025) He has pioneered the use of embedded haptic waveguides in steering wheel interfaces and developed novel textile-based AAC systems for non-verbal communication. Current projects include exploring the medical metaverse for collaborative surgical planning and creating AI-enhanced research tools like TAUCHI-GPT.

• Virtual Reality (VR)
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Haptic Feedback Systems
• +7 more

Mario Di Francesco is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science, Aalto University. He holds the position of Professor in Computing Systems (ComputingSystems) Research Area and leads multiple research projects in networking and IoT. Previously, he was a research associate and adjunct faculty at the University of Texas at Arlington (2012–2014), and completed his PhD in Information Engineering at the University of Pisa under Prof. Giuseppe Anastasi. He also served as a research fellow at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in 2009. Research Interests : His work focuses on wireless networking, mobile and ubiquitous computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Key areas include edge computing, fog networks, virtual/augmented reality, and AI-driven resource management. His research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities (SDG 11), and industry/infrastructure development (SDG 9). Publications : His recent work spans topics like private virtual reality conversations, cloud-based network measurement frameworks (CLAIM), microservice connectivity analysis, and edge-DNN optimization. These publications reflect a trend toward integrating AI with distributed systems for real-time, low-latency applications in IoT and edge computing. Awards : Recipient of the Google Internet of Things Technology Research Award (2016) and MobileHCI Honorable Mention (2020). Grants & Projects : CRUISE (2023–2025): Cross-system architecture for autonomous wireless networks using lifelong machine learning. MeXICO (2020–2024): Mobile cross-reality through immersive computing. ASPECT (2016–2018): Spectrum utilization for mobile video. Labs & Teams : Leads research groups focused on edge computing, IoT systems, and immersive technologies. Collaborates with international partners on projects like fog radio networks and autonomous system design.

• Wireless Networking
• Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing
• Internet of Things
• +4 more