Barbara Deml

Barbara Deml serves as Professor and director of the Institute for Industrial Engineering and Business Organization (ifab) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), specializing in adaptive human-machine interfaces that detect physical and emotional states through physiological sensing.

Her research employs eye tracking (gaze patterns, pupil dilation) and biometric measurements (heart rate, muscle activity, skin conductivity) to derive psychological states using model-based statistical analysis, distinct from deep learning approaches. This work enables applications in assistive robotics for disabled individuals, driver assistance systems, and industrial automation where machines adapt to human stress or cognitive load. She actively addresses privacy risks in smart environments through interdisciplinary collaboration spanning social, legal, and psychological domains.

As ifab director, she oversees research translating core human-machine interaction principles across diverse settings including healthcare, transportation, and home care, prioritizing practical implementation with built-in privacy safeguards.