Dr. Ilhan Aslan

Associate Professor | Aalborg University

Researcher
& Artist

01

About me

I am a German researcher and artist born in Turkey. I have studied Computer Science in Saarbrücken, Germany, and received a PhD end of 2014 from Salzburg University in Austria, conducting research at the interdiciplinary Center for HCI. My research is often transdiciplinary and continues to revolve around two main areas: (i) improving HCI through the study and application of emerging technologies and (ii) (emotional) AI development for human-centered design. I consider my computing and design research as positive and constructive (and occasionally critical), aiming to test the current state of human-artefact relations in specific situations and to explore future (digital) alternatives.

02

Experience

  • Sempter 2024 -

    Aalborg University, Denmark


    Associate Professor
    @ Human-Centered Computing Group, Department of Computer Science
    Research Focus: Improving HCI with Affective Computing and Multimodal Interaction Design

  • January 2020 - May 2024

    Huawei Technologies, Germany


    Senior HCI Research Scientist, Lead HCI Research Team
    @ Device Software Lab, Munich Research Center, Consumer Business Group
    Research Focus: Improving HCI with Affective Computing (Machine Learning for emotional HCI), Consumer Device Use Cases

  • July 2015 - December 2020

    Augsburg University, Germany

    Postdoc/Akademischer Rat a.Z. (~ Assistant Professor)
    @ Human-Centered AI Lab, Department of Computer Science,
    Research Focus: Improving HCI with Multimodal Interaction Design and Positive/Affective Computing, HRI and Mental Health Use Cases

  • September 2010 - June 2015

    Salzburg University, Austria

    Researcher, Postdoc, Project Lead, Co-Lead "Embodied Interaction Design" team
    @ Embodied Interaction Design Team, Center for HCI
    Research Focus: Improving HCI with Human-Centered Interaction Design and Contextual Interfaces; Smart Home, Factory, and Automotive Use Cases

  • March 2007 - August 2010

    Fraunhofer ESK, Munich, Germany

    Researcher, Interaction Designer & Project Lead
    @ Mobile Applications Group, Enterprise Communication
    Research Focus: Improving Mobile HCI with Multimodal Interaction Design and Contextual Interfaces, SME Use Cases

  • October 2004 - February 2007

    DFKI (German Research Center for AI), Saarbrücken, Germany

    Researcher, Interaction Designer
    @ Intelligent User Interfaces Department
    Research Focus: Improving Mobile HCI with Multimodal & Multilingual Interaction Design and Contextual Interfaces, Travel/Touristic Assistance Use Cases

  • 1998 - Oktober 2004

    Part-time jobs

    Perl/C/VC++ Programmer, Tutor/TA for CS Lectures, AI-lab Research Asssistant
    @ Saarland University & DFKI spin-offs, Germany

03

Research



My early research was greatly influenced by visionaries such as Mark Weiser and his concept of Ubiquitous Computing, as well as Paul Dourish's insightful book "Where the Action Is: The Foundation of Embodied Interaction," and Löwgren and Stolterman's "Thoughtful Interaction Design: A Design Perspective on Information Technology." As my interests evolved, I turned my attention to designing multimodal interactions for the well- being of individuals and enhancing human potential. Calvo and Peter's work on "Positive Computing" served as a significant source of inspiration during this phase.To better comprehend the profound connection between our bodies and our experiences in relation to the environment, I began drawing inspiration from diverse disciplines and fields. Notably, Shusterman's philosophical work on Somaesthetics and Hartmud Rosa's social work on "Resonance Theory" provided valuable insights that shaped my human-centered approach to designing emerging technologies.

My main research is about improving HCI through the study and application of emerging technologies, and one class of important emerging technologies has been machine learning solutions. ML is enabling a new wave of human-centered user interface and experience designs. To this end, I have been studying the realm of highly perceptive, interactive, and emotional AI development.

"Recent" research publication highlights

Recent publications worth mentioning are the IUI 2022 paper titled "Robust and Deployable Gesture Recognition for Smartwatches" which was a result of a collaboration with Aalto University, where I have been the co-advisor of Utkarsh Kunwar's graduate research (open pdf). The resulting paper is a good example of research combining human centered design methods with state of the art AI techniques to create "usable/useful" smart technology. An extended version of our paper titled "How to Compliment a Human - Designing Affective and Well-being Promoting Conversational Things" has been accepted and apeared early 2024 in the journal for IxD & Architecture(s). The extended journal version is available here: (open pdf) or at the journal´s website https://ixdea.org/table-of-contents-n-58/). The paper describes iterative human centered design research (including a month long exhibition in an architecture museum) to enable artifacts to generate meaningful and positive utterances (i.e. compliments) using machine learning based visual perception (Computer Vision). We also touch the topic of large language models and human-centered prompt engineering. And most recently (spring, 2024) our submission titled "Audio Enhancement for Computer Audition – An Iterative Training Paradigm Using Sample Importance" to the international Journal of Computer Science and Technology has been accepted. The paper describes a novel ML training technique to achieve robustness in various (mostly HCI related) computer audition applications (e.g., emotion recognition, automatic speech recognition, audio scene analysis) which we evaluated in multiple experiments. Here you can access the accepted preprint version of the submission (open pdf)

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  • Kunwar, U., Borar, S., Berghofer, M., Kylmälä, J., Aslan, I., Leiva, A., & Oulasvirta, A. (2022). Robust and deployable gesture recognition for smartwatches. In Proceedings of 27th International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces (pp. 277-291).open pdf
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  • Aslan, I., Neu, D., Neupert, D., Grafberger, S., Weise, N., Pfeil, P., & Kuschewski, M. (2023). How to Compliment a Human – Designing Affective and Well-being Promoting Conversational Things. Interaction Design & Architecture(s) Journal (pp. 157-184). (https://doi.org/10.55612/s-5002-058-007) open pdf
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  • Milling, M., Liu, S., Triantafyllopoulos, A., Aslan, I., & Schuller, B. (2024). Audio Enhancement for Computer Audition – An Iterative Training Paradigm Using Sample Importance. In Journal of Computer Science and Technology. open pdf (preprint version)

Award winning research

The following research papers have been nominated for best paper runner-up. Two papers are about gestures (participative design of gestures, and a proof of concept for using mid-air gestures as a form of "biometric-behavioral" authentication), and the other two are about using AI (interactive ML, and RL) for user behavior adaptive interactions (i.e., personalization of drink activity recognizers on a smartwatch, and adapting the behavior of robots)

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  • Weber, K., Ritschel, H., Aslan, I., Lingenfelser, F., & André, E. (2018, October). How to shape the humor of a robot-social behavior adaptation based on reinforcement learning. In Proceedings of the 20th ACM international conference on multimodal interaction (pp. 154-162). open pdf
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  • Aslan, I., Schmidt, T., Woehrle, J., Vogel, L., & André, E. (2018, October). Pen+ mid-air gestures: Eliciting contextual gestures. In Proceedings of the 20th ACM International Conference on Multimodal Interaction (pp. 135-144). open pdf
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  • Flutura, S., Seiderer, A., Aslan, I., Dang, C. T., Schwarz, R., Schiller, D., & André, E. (2018, April). Drinkwatch: A mobile wellbeing application based on interactive and cooperative machine learning. In Proceedings of the 2018 International Conference on Digital Health (pp. 65-74). open pdf
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  • Aslan, I., Uhl, A., Meschtscherjakov, A., & Tscheligi, M. (2014, November). Mid-air authentication gestures: An exploration of authentication based on palm and finger motions. In Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Multimodal Interaction (pp. 311-318). open pdf

Joint Lab on Affective Computing

Affective Computing is simply put an extension of the field of HCI, making mainly use of (human-centered) Machine Learning solutions to enable machines to recognize, express/mimic, or stimulate affective user contexts (e.g., emotional states). From beginning of 2020 until mid 2023 I managed the Affective Computing and HCI Joint Innvovation Lab and all sub projects between Augsburg University and Huawei, in the process co-advicing the research work of all the PhDs within the joint-lab projects:
  • "Smart Tutor" project, including research on recognizing and adapting to affective learner states, such as engagement and frustration (PhD researchers from Augsburg University: Alina Leidinger, Michael Dietz, Fabio Hellman, Anan Schütt)
  • "Emotional TTS" project, including research in Voice Conversion, Speech Emotion Recognition, and Text Emotion Recognition (PhD researchers from Augsburg University: Lukas Christ, Thobias Hübner, Zijiang Yang, Meishu Song, Shuo Liu)
  • "Audio Enhancement" project, mainly to enable robust Automatic Speech Recognition (PhD researchers from Augsburg University: Shuo Liu)
  • "Affective Multimodal Dataset" project, including reserach in Tool-support for semi-autonomously collecting and labelling Datasets (PhD researchers from Augsburg University: Meishu Song)
While managing the Machine Learning projects I had to follow the white AI rabbit, extending my expertise in ML and AI trough the regular discourses with all the ML PhDs working on the projects. I am thankful for everyone I worked with, including internal colleagues from Huawei who were located all around the world.

Academic Research Examples with Demo Videos

For the following (public) case studies the available video material provide deeper insights to my research activities, especially my human-centered and multimodal interaction design activites and the mixed-methodologies that I typically use.

Tangible Heart Displays

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  • Aslan, I., Seiderer, A., Dang, C. T., Rädler, S., & André, E. (2020, October). PiHearts: Resonating Experiences of Self and Others Enabled by a Tangible Somaesthetic Design. In Proceedings of the 2020 International Conference on Multimodal Interaction (pp. 433-441). open pdf
The paper was presented at ICMI 2020, which was due to Covid an online only event. The positive is that there is short recording of my 8min presentation of the paper on youtube in which I also touch on the theories which motivates the research and design decisions.




Human-Robot Interaction

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  • Ritschel, H., Aslan, I., Sedlbauer, D., & André, E. Irony Man: Augmenting a Social Robot with the Ability to Use Irony in Multimodal Communication with Humans. Proc. of the 18th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (AAMAS 2019). open pdf


Pre-touch Proxemics

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  • Aslan, I., & André, E. (2017, November). Pre-touch proxemics: Moving the design space of touch targets from still graphics towards proxemic behaviors. In Proceedings of the 19th ACM International Conference on Multimodal Interaction (pp. 101-109). open pdf

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  • Aslan, I., Krischkowsky, A., Meschtscherjakov, A., Wuchse, M., & Tscheligi, M. (2015, September). A leap for touch: proximity sensitive touch targets in cars. In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Automotive User Interfaces and Interactive Vehicular Applications (pp. 39-46). open pdf
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  • Aslan, I., Kraus, J., & André, E. (2016, October). LeapArm-facilitating sensory spaces for mid-air gestural interaction. In Proceedings of the 9th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (pp. 1-6). open pdf

IoT plants and implicit interaction design

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  • Bittner, B., Aslan, I., Dang, C. T., & André, E. (2019, March). Of Smarthomes, IoT Plants, and Implicit Interaction Design. In Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction (pp. 145-154). open pdf


Digital Bookshelf

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  • Moser, C., Aslan, I., Neureiter, K., Randelshofer, I., Sundstroem, P., & Tscheligi, M. (2018). Exploring intended and unintended uses of (e) books as design inspiration for ambient displays in the home. open pdf


Gaze interaction in Games

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  • Maurer, B., Aslan, I., Wuchse, M., Neureiter, K., & Tscheligi, M. (2015, October). Gaze-based onlooker integration: exploring the in-between of active player and passive spectator in co-located gaming. In Proceedings of the 2015 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play (pp. 163-173). open pdf



04

Teaching

To date, I have teaching experience in 3 different countries. Currently, I am teaching at Aalborg University and receiving additional pedagocial education in problem based learning (PBL), which is the education model applied at Aalborg University. I was a lecturer both at Augsburg University in Germany and Salzburg University in Austria. Before, I have taken lead TA and TA roles in Saarbrücken, at Saarland University. I was an advisor and mentor for multiple graduate students at Universties. I have also taken the role of co-advicer and co-mentor from industry during my time at Fraunhofer and Huawei when students have worked on their theses and internships with me. For example, at Huawei I have co-supervised the master theses of
  • Utkarsh Kunwar (which resulted in a IUI full paper in 2022 open pdf)
  • Moritz Berghofer (which resulted in a separate paper at the 7th International Workshop on Sensor-based Activity Recognition and Artificial Intelligence in 2022 open ACM link)
  • Muhammad Mehran Sunny (which resulted in a CHI 2011 workshop presentation/paper open ACM link)
In the past I have mainly taught HCI and IxD lectures but I am also able to teach AI and ML lectures, including introductory but also advanced lectures about generative ML, Affective Compuitng, Intelligent UIs, AI for embedded/wearable devices, Multimodal ML, ML for NLP and conversational UIs. I am also comfortable programming and developing functional prototypes in various programming languages.

Teaching @ Aalborg University, Denmark

User Experience (new focus on Affective Computing for/in UX) 2025 (2026) (2027) lecturer
Selected topics in HCI (block of 4 lectures/weeks on emotionally IUI) 2024/2025 lecturer

Teaching @ Augsburg University, Germany

Human-Computer Interaction 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 lecturer
Multimedia 1 2018/19, 2017/18, 2016/17 lecturer
Praktikum (Studio) Usability Engineering 2019, 2017, 2016 lecturer
Machine Learning and Innovative Interaction Technologies Seminar 2018/19 lecturer
Usability Engineering 2018/19, 2017/18, 2016/17, 2015/16 lecturer
Physical Computing 2017/18, 2016/17, 2015/16 lecturer

Teaching @ Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, Austria

User Interface Engineering 2015 lecturer
HCI: case studies 2014 lecturer
User Interface Design 2013/14 lecturer

Teaching @ Saarland University, Germany

Introduction to AI 2005/06 Lead TA
Semantic Web Technologies 2005 Lead TA
Data Structures and Algorithms 2000/01, 2001/02 TA
Computer Science 3 (Theoretical Computer Science) 2000/01, 2001/02 TA
Computer Science 2 (Intro to CS, System Architectures) 1999, 2000 TA

05

Art Gallery

My art compensates my research and design activities focussed on software/code, grounding me often to physical materials and crafting with my eyes, hands, and body. I enjoy painting for my friends, or painting self-portraits as a somaesthetic practice of self-reflection and expression. I enjoy both painting on large and small canvases. On small canvases I prefer to paint portraits. I enjoy expressing my feelings expreimenting with colors. This art gallery shows a few samples of my paintings.



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06

Education

  • End of 2014

    PhD (Dr. techn.)

    @ Center for HCI, Paris Lodron University, Salzburg, Austria
    PhD thesis: "Interfacing Through Movement: An Integration of Context and Movement-Based Interaction towards Embodied Interaction Design”.
    Thesis grade: “sehr gut (1)”. (Supervisor: Prof. for HCI Dr. Manfred Tscheligi & Postdoc Dr. Alexander Meschtscherjakov)
  • End of 2004

    Computer Science Diplom (Dipl. Inf.)

    @ AI lab, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany
    Diplom thesis: "The Bum Bag Navigator: A Configurable Mobile Multi-purpose Navigation System for Pedestrians”.
    Thesis grade: “sehr gut 1.3” (Supervisor: Prof. for AI Dr. Wolfgang Wahlster & Postdoc Dr. Antonio Krüger)

07

Contact Me

to be defined