Pietari Keskinen serves as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Computer Science at Aalto University, Finland, working under Professor Marko Nieminen's research group. His work bridges Human-Computer Interaction and ICT for Development, with dedicated focus on creating technology solutions for marginalized communities in the Global South, particularly Namibia. Research interests center on digital inclusion through community-centered design approaches. Keskinen investigates how digital platforms can support livelihoods via crowdfunding, microwork, and community-based tourism, emphasizing participatory co-design methods. His fieldwork with San communities and informal settlements examines technology adoption barriers and develops context-specific solutions like locally mediated crowdfunding access and mobile co-design tools. Analysis of his 2018-2025 publications reveals consistent thematic evolution: from early mobile weather services for Maasai farmers (2018) to sophisticated frameworks like the Tech Mediator Model (2022) and distributed co-design via WhatsApp (2024). His work increasingly focuses on socioeconomic impacts of digital platforms, with recent studies examining communication gaps in crowdfunding (2025) and worker empowerment in sharing economies. Keskinen maintains active international collaborations, primarily with Namibia University of Science and Technology researchers, enabling sustained field engagement in Namibia. While specific grant details aren't public, his publication pipeline suggests robust research funding. As a postdoctoral researcher, he contributes to team-based projects without independent student supervision, focusing on collaborative research within Aalto's computer science department.
