معرفی
Friederike Fröbel is a Researcher at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) within the Design Research eXplorations group, affiliated with the interdisciplinary Design Research Lab network spanning Berlin University of the Arts, DFKI, Weizenbaum Institute, and Einsteincenter Digital Future. Her work focuses on socially and ecologically sustainable tools at the intersection of technology, materials, and social practices to advance digital inclusion through participatory design.
She completed her Master of Science degree in 2018 with a thesis titled 'Smart Fashion as Mobile User Interface' under Dr. Katharina Bredies' supervision, building foundational expertise in wearable interfaces.
Fröbel's research centers on human-computer interaction with emphasis on wearable technology, sustainable digital solutions, and community empowerment. She pioneers low-cost hardware and free/libre open source software (FLOS) applications to create accessible interfaces, particularly for minoritized groups. Her methodology prioritizes co-creation workshops and grassroots innovation to address real-world challenges in local development and networked societies.
Analysis of her 2019-2023 publications reveals consistent integration of machine learning with textile-based interfaces (e.g., MYOW, UPLINX projects) and community-driven sustainable development (MINODU, Miadé initiatives in Togo). A dominant trend is adapting technology for pandemic-era constraints while maintaining participatory design principles, demonstrating resilience in digital inclusion efforts across diverse contexts.
As a core member of the Design Research Lab, Fröbel contributes to projects including DDAI (Design-driven AI), MYOW (wearable creation platforms), and Minodu. The lab operates as a dynamic network of designers, researchers, and critical thinkers committed to ecological sustainability, gender-inclusive design, and material interactions, hosting events like virtual colloquia on AI ethics and digital sovereignty.
