Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE
The (Balanced) Human Systems Integration (SE) department refines user-centric approaches and unites them with technology-focused perspectives to create a seamless interaction of people, complex technical systems and processes. The aim is utility-oriented, balanced and integrated system design. At the same time, the department takes care to manage and minimize the existential risks associated with these systems.
Human-centered, technology-based and process-oriented perspectives are sensibly combined with one another. The central questions in this regard are: How can technology be adapted to humans? To what extent can humans adapt to systems through training? And, how can organization and processes bring people and technology together intelligently?
Based on the requirements of our customers and partners, requirements are systematically identified and structured into use cases. Based on technology surveys, a solution and design framework tailored to the problem at hand is then defined in close consultation with the client.
Co-creation workshops yield alternative solutions and assessments of initial effects. In this context, methods of participative design are applied to make solution options tangible and verifiable at an early stage and at a reasonable cost. Once the hardware and software prototypes of the target system and the necessary human-machine interfaces have been developed, they are tested in extensive user studies in simulations and in the field.