Subproject 8
Innovation Diffusion
Work package 8 combines theories of innovation diffusion with novel virtual/mixed reality approaches in order to understand the determinants of the diffusion of flexible bio-based production systems for a range of potential applications and locations. For this purpose we have planned the following steps:
1. Analysis of the innovation ecosystems: Through an institutional and stakeholder analysis we (a) identify relevant formal and informal institutions at transnational, national, regional and local level, and (b) identify and characterize stakeholders, multipliers, and co-producers along the value chain and in the respective urban spaces with regard to attributes that are relevant for the innovation process. On this basis we identify the different requirements, aims and needs with regard to innovative food production systems as well as the ensuing diffusion barriers and catalysts.
Lead: Peter H. Feindt (HU-Berlin)
2. User interaction in virtual/mixed reality approaches: Using grounded cognition and user experience theories we experimentally investigate the interactions between users and the CUBES systems. For this purpose, we develop virtual CUBES environments within which we conduct experiments (a) to analyse the perceptions and attitudes of future users; (b) to identify potential diffusion barriers and catalysts, including design aspects; (c) to test user interface designs with regard to the exterior design and information interactions; (d) to analyse spontaneous and emerging patterns of behaviour of CUBES users; (e) to evaluate the effectiveness of measures through interactive surveys, interviews and virtual/mixed reality user studies.
Lead: Linda Onnasch (HU-Berlin) in cooperation with Lennart Büth (IWF)
3. Development of guidelines for the design, the governance framework and communication of CUBESCircle applications and iterative insertion of the results as basis for a reflexive design of the CUBES applications.
Lead: Peter H. Feindt and Linda Onnasch (both HU-Berlin)
Prof. Dr. Peter Feindt is Professor of Agricultural and Food Policy at the Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. His research addresses a broad range of questions in agricultural and food policy, in particular links to environmental policy, sustainability transitions, the bio-economy and the resilience of bio-based production systems. Related interests include environmental and technology conflicts; public participation and conflict management; political communication and cooperative governance; strategic communication, policy discourse and narratives; and inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration. Peter is co-editor of the Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, member of the board of the German Agricultural Research Alliance (DAFA) and chair of the Scientific Advisory Council for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources at the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
In CUBES Circle, Peter leads the tasks on innovation systems and (with Linda Onnasch) on the development of guidelines for the design, the governance framework and communication of CUBES Circle applications.
Contact: peter.feindt(at)hu-berlin.de
Prof. Dr. Linda Onnasch is professor of engineering psychology at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Her research focuses on adaptation strategies in human-machine interaction to enhance safety and effectiveness. In laboratory experiments she investigates adaptive strategies for automated systems and robots, as well as adaptations of attitude and behavior on the human part and the impact on overall performance, mental workload, trust, and situation awareness.
In CUBES Circle, on the one hand, she works together with Steffen Hösterey on control concepts of the system in interaction with a human operator. On the other hand, they investigate the social acceptance of innovative farming methods such as CUBES Circle within the general population and potential consumers.
Contact: linda.onnasch(at)hu-berlin.de
Steffen Hösterey (M.Sc.) is research assistant at the chair of Engineering Psychology at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Automation research has been his most recent subject of studies. More particular his focus was on the impact of an assistance system’s degree of automation on performance, monitoring behavior and situation awareness of the operator working on a supervisory control task.
Together with Linda Onnasch he investigates innovative control concepts of complex systems and social acceptance of innovative farming methods.
Contact: steffen.hoesterey(at)hu-berlin.de
Zoltan Ferenczi (Ph.D.) designs and develops XR systems (VR/AR/MR) for CUBES Circle (working at FG Urbane Ökophysiologie). Previously, he worked as project coordinator at CUBES Circle. At present, he is increasingly shifting his focus to the above mentioned area.
Contact: z.ferenczi(at)hu-berlin.de
Victoria Dietze (M.Sc.) is research assistant at the chair of Agricultural and Food Policy at the Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Her research focuses on the design of environmental and agricultural policies at a European and national level as well as on policies impact on sustainability components. She already gained extensive knowledge in the application of qualitative and quantitative research methods in past research projects.
In CUBES Circle, Victoria will analyse relevant innovation ecosystems and develop guidelines for the design, governance framework and communication of CUBES Circle application.
Contact: victoria.dietze(at)hu-berlin.de
Marija Rosic is a research associate in the field Sustainable Manufacturing and Factory Systems at the Institute of Machine Tools and Production Technology (TU Braunschweig). In her research, she concentrates on digitalisation, condition monitoring through data mining approaches and augmented reality visualisation in the electroplating industry.
Regarding the user interaction, she will provide assistance for the development/implementation of VR/MR approaches for a CUBES-System.
Contact: m.rosic(at)tu-braunschweig.de
Other employees (cooperating or former): Lennart Büth
