VME Interaction Design Environment

Welcome!

VME Interaction Design Environment is a competence center and pilot environment for future user interfaces. Being strategically located in the multi-domain laboratory Technobothnia in Vaasa, VME offers an open environment for collaboration by researchers, students and companies in research on human-computer interaction and user interface innovations.

Project   Environment   Activity   Expertise   Contact

Suomeksi

Project

The development of the VME Interaction Design Environment is promoted by the University of Vaasa's "Pilot Environment for Future User Interfaces" -project. The project contributes to development, growth and business opportunities of Ostrobothnia by offering an open, low-threshold environment for user interface design, development and testing. Our services enable universities, companies and researchers to operate across borders, so that the research work combines the needs of the local enterprises. The steering group is formed by University of Vaasa, Åbo Akademi University, ABB, Visma and Wärtsilä.

News

See recording of
XR Ocean Hackathon

Kick off & key notes  and
Finals

VME lab and University of Vaasa a partner of XR Ocean network!

Participants worked in international teams
– and had 48 hours challenge to build an XR-prototype that helps future citizens participate.
Prototypes were presented to the public and jury.

Read more about the non-profit XR OCEAN network here.

Vaasa region went XR!

Third year students Tarmo Kähkönen & Kasper Kovanen were representing VME & University of Vaasa at the XR Ocean Hackaton. University teacher and XR-expert Sebastian Laitila was invited to mentor the contest teams. The CEO of Vaasa headquartered company Platonic Partnership, Jussi Loukiainen, was appointed a jury member at the contest.

A shot from pitch of university students from Vaasa at the finals!

Juho-Pekka Mäkipää representing VME at SFV Start -challenge!

Our accessibility specialist Juho-Pekka Mäkipää is competing in the SFV Start! – challenge. The challenge seeks social innovations to help all children and young people thrive in their lives regardless of their background. The purpose is to find new solutions that tackle inequalities so that everyone has a chance to reach their full learning potential.
Twelve teams have been nominated to the challenge. Juho-Pekka represents the University of Vaasa and user interface research in the team “Read and write with the digital tools in your pocket” that works works towards a system which at an early stage helps families and the school to recognize hereditary reading and writing difficulties, and with a low threshold implements the digital compensatory tools that help the student in knowledge acquisition.
VME is eagerly following the competition – Good luck Juho-Pekka & team!
Read more about the challenge: https://start.sfv.fi/en/


Juho-Pekka Mäkipää
works as a university teacher and PhD-candidate in computer science at School of Technology and Innovations
in the University of Vaasa.
Juho-Pekka’s research interest are web accessibility, usability, user experience and user participation (citizen science).

Contact Juho-Pekka

 

 

 

Environment

The VME environment consists of two workspaces. The incubation laboratory is a 60 square meter space, which is suited for training and testing, and easily adapted to group work and workshops. The 3D laboratory provides opportunities for 3D modeling and printing. The workspaces are currently equipped with multiple high-performance computers, 3D printers, cameras, and provide a comprehensive framework for the development and testing of user interfaces e.g. eye tracking and XR environments, e.g. Hololens 2, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest with suitable software, e.g. Unity, Unreal Engine, Visual Studio, Adobe XD, Adobe software packages, Eclipse.

Book the laboratory

Activity

Our activity is based on collaboration between universities and industries, in which experts from different fields meet to create innovative solutions and pilot projects. The environment is open for researchers and students, as well as for local enterprises. We also organize workshops and events based on the interests of our stakeholders and collaboration partners.

Ongoing projects in collaboration with VME

Current and planned courses supported by VME

  • Pelisuunnittelu, pelit ja pelikulttuurit (Sebastian Laitila)
  • Introduction to game studies (Sebastian Laitila)
  • Human Computer Interaction (Juho-Pekka Mäkipää)
  • Accessiblity (Juho-Pekka Mäkipää)
  • User Innovations (Minna-Maria Jaskari)
  • Technology Management (Rayko Toshev)
  • Simulations of Production systems (Rayko Toshev)
  • Visual communication (Meniina Wiik)
  • Brand Management (Minna-Maria Jaskari)

Expertise

Our operations are based on a multidisciplinary network of experts in various universities and schools. The core team of experts is responsible for leading the teaching, research and project work in the laboratory. To get contact details for the specialists, click on their profile picture.

Abol Basher

is attending his doctoral program in the Department of Computer Science, and working as a Project Researcher with the Digital Economy Research Platform, University of Vaasa. His research interests include 3D reconstruction, visual image-based localization, medical image processing, computer vision, and deep learning.

Jani Boutellier

is Associate Professor in Computer Science in School of Technology and innovations, at the University of Vaasa. Jani’s research interests are in computer vision, machine learning, heterogeneous computing, models of computation.

Laura Havinen

is University Teacher in Information Systems at the School of Technology and Innovations. She is responsible for the course “Introduction to Human Computer Interaction” and supervises master´s thesis related to Human Computer Interaction.

Suvi Isohella

is University Teacher in Communication studies in School of Marketing and Communication Studies at the University of Vaasa. Suvi has expertise in user-centered technical communication, technical communication curriculum development, accessibility of textual web content, and minimalist document design. Suvi teaches courses in technical communication, usability, accessibility, visualization & methodology, and is involved in multilateral teaching projects with focus on usability testing.

Minna-Maarit Jaskari

is University Lecturer in Marketing, in School of Marketing and Communication at the University of Vaasa. Minna-Maarit has expertise on consumer research, service design, Lego serious play and gamification.

Oskar Kenttälä

is UX Designer in Visma Enterprise and is mainly working on the School Information System Wilma. Oskar specializes in prototyping, UX analysis and practical UX solutions in electrical tools

Merja Koskela

is Professor in Communication Studies in School of Marketing and Communication at the University of Vaasa. Merja’s area of expertise are related to text analysis, discourse analysis and professional discourse, and her specific reaserach interests are expert communication, organizational communication, financial discourse, and popularization of science and technology.

Heidi Kuusniemi

is the Director of the Digital Economy research platform and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vaasa. Heidi is specialized in positioning technologies and systems with special interest towards self-contained sensors, indoor positioning, smart mobility, IoT, and the role of space-based data and localization in the digital economy.

Sebastian Laitila

is University teacher, in Digital communication at the University of Vaasa. Sebastian is specialized in Software and game development in XR environments, game research, content creation, service design, and his research interests are in engagement and usability in interactive systems, games as an art form.

Jussi Loukiainen

is the CEO of Platonic Partnership, an Vaasa-heaquartered and award winning game studio that provides expertise in gamification, applied games and digital solutions to their partners. Jussi is one of the four founders of Platonic Partnership, a true enthusiast and pioneer in the Ostrobothnia game scene and has helped numerous start-ups in the West Coast Start Up incubator to succeed with emerging business ideas.

Liisa Mäkelä

is a Professor of Human Resource Management at the University of Vaasa and Liisa is heading the HRM research group. Her expertise area is well-being in a modern working life with the special interest towards remote and virtual work, international mobility and the management of work well-being.

Juho-Pekka Mäkipää

is University Teacher in Information Systems at the School of Technology and Innovations. He’s research interest and expertise are web accessibility, usability, user experience and user participation (citizen science).

Olli Raatikainen

is the project manager/product owner responsible for wireless communication systems at ABB. Olli’s area of expertise are managing agile software development according to SCRUM principles and also desktop application eye tracking including the original VME laboratory testing setup design

Satu Rantakokko

is a PhD Student in Communication studies, in School of Marketing and Communication, at the University of Vaasa. Satu’s research interests relate to extended reality (Mixed Reality + Virtual reality), and extended reality as a medium for technical instructions and affordances of technical instructions

Rebekah Rousi

is associate Professor in Communication studies. Rousi takes an embodied semiotic approach to examining human experience in the context of technology design. She has specialized in User Experience ranging from human-robot interaction to user interface design. Key topics central to her studies include emotions, trust and ethics. Rousi also has a background in cultural studies and as a performance artist.

Tanja Sihvonen

is Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Vaasa. She is specialized in digital media, games, and participatory cultures on the internet. Her most recent work considers role-playing games, blockchain technologies, and algorithmic agency in social media.

Ilona Söchting

is founder and CEO of Analytics Pika Oy - a data science expert company focusing on marine situational awareness solutions. Ilona specializes in data fusion, remote sensing and pattern recognition.

Rayko Toshev

University Lecturer in Production in School of Technology and Innovations at the University of Vaasa. Rayko is responsible for the 3D workspace at VME with expertise in 3D and XR environments and production.

Maarit Välisuo

is University Teacher in Computer Science in School of Technology and Innovations at the University of Vaasa. Maarit expertise relates to web-and mobile application development, and she also has experience and interests in AI & AR applications, as well as art history.

Meniina Wik

is a doctoral student in Communication studies in School of Marketing and Communication. Meniina is specialized in graphic design, visual communication, fan communication & practices and media studies.

Nannan Xi

is Assistant Professor at School of Technology and Innovations at University of Vaasa. Nannan areas of expertise are in game-based approaches (e.g. gamification, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, live streaming) for consumer decision making in different business domains such as retail, finance, online community.

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