“Good design means that an interactive smart system not only does what it is supposed to do, but also allows its users to integrate it seamlessly into their everyday life.”  

Berry Eggen is Full Professor of Design for User Experience in Ambient Intelligent Systems. He heads the Future Everyday group and he is the director of research of the department. In addition, he is adjunct professor at the School of Software, FEIT, at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. Eggen has an interest in ubiquitous computing, multimodal interaction (including intelligent lighting and sound design) and seamless interaction design for everyday life. He has a background in physics, perception and human-computer interaction.

Eggen has been on the Board of Management of the Dutch Design Week (DDW) from 2004-2015. He was a member of the executive committee of the first national research program for the Dutch Creative Industry (CRISP). He is currently leading one of the roadmap teams for the 2018-2021 Knowledge and Innovation Agenda for the Dutch Creative Industries.

Berry Eggen obtained his master’s degree in Physics from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in 1986, followed by a PhD in Perception and Synthesis of Computer-Generated Speech in 1989. He worked for Philips Research as a Principal Scientist for 14 years, where he led research clusters around themes like information ergonomics, multimodal interaction, user-interface concepts and intelligent interfaces. He was also responsible for the Ambient Intelligence research lab on the Philips High Tech Campus. He started as Full Professor at TU/e in 2003. In 2006, he became the Vice Dean of the Department of Industrial Design, a position he held until march 2018. He is also a member of the Supervisory Board of the Next Nature Network.

Squad: New futures

Research focus, project topics I like to coach

“I am very interested in sound and user experience. The interaction with smart technology in the home or office environment, enabling e certain experience. For example shared spaces like an open office environment, equipped with intelligent devices. How do you design a smart technology that is only there when you need it, but does not bother you when you do not need it. My first interest is sound, but also light and/or haptic sensory interaction modalities or their multimodal combinations I study in  interaction design for ambient intelligent systems”

Keywords: User experience, peripheral interaction, sound design, multimodal interaction.
See for instance the FBP of Cyril Mengin: RIVA – Social context display for the office soundscape

Coaching style
“I am acting as a coach for the bachelor and M1 students, but I like to see the graduating students, or master students working on their research project, as a junior staff member. I like to work with them in a team when there is a mutual interest. As I consider the students as a junior staff member, I also expect a professional attitude. I am working with fixed meetings for which the students draft an agenda. Sometimes my appointments are overruled by other urgent meetings. In that case we will have to reschedule or cancel. When a student cannot come to a meeting, I expect them to notify me in time. I also appreciate enthusiastic students. However, I think I can usually enthuse my students.”