Areas of Interest

• Mixed Reality (MR), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) in general
• Applied Computer Science and Information Technology
• Virtual and Augmented Reality and Three-Dimensional User Interfaces (3DUI)
• Interactive Visualisation of complex information
• Design Thinking and Information Science
• VR/AR in Psycho- and Physiotherapy
• Urban planning and architecture
• Automotive, aerospace, transportation industries
• Psychological Aspects of Mixed Reality
• Embodied Interaction

Professional Experience

Scientific Leader (team leader) [2002-2004], Project Manager [2000-2004], Research Scientist [1999-2002]
Virtual and Augmented Environments (Virtual Reality Competence Center), DaimlerChrysler Research Center, Ulm, Germany
Responsible as team leader for a team of 5-10 researchers, head of research field "Distributed Virtual Environments", major activities in general project acquisition and finance, involvement in strategic work.

Research Scientist [1994 - 1999]
Bauhaus University Weimar, Germany
Research management and contributing development to VR based sketch-, design-, and modeling programs: voxDesign, planeDesign, Virtual Reality Aided Modeler VRAM (www.igroup.org), and design, implementation, and analysis of surveys on the sense of presence within virtual environments: acrophobia, amt, ipq; 1994-1996 part-time.

Computer Programmer (contractor) [1992-1996]
Sofistik GmbH, Munich, Germany
Development of several CAD software components for civil engineers and architects, 2D and 3D AutoCAD programming in C/C++; part-time.

Computer Programmer (contractor) [1991-1992]
acadGraph GmbH, Munich, Germany
Development of CAD components for architects, 2D functions programming in Lisp and C; part-time.

Computer Programmer (contractor) [1990-1991]
IMES GmbH, Bochum, Germany
Programming of computations for steel constructions according to German standard DIN, Pascal; part-time.

Education

• Polytechnical school in Berlin (10th class) [1971-1981]
• Professional training as a mechanic for building machines [1981-1983]
• Graduation diploma in Berlin [1982-1984]
• Diplom study course in Civil Engineering with specialization in Computer Science at the University of Architecture Weimar / Germany [1988-1990]
• Diplom study in Computer Science at the University of Architecture Weimar / Germany, Diploma: Virtual Reality and Design, Grade: A [1990-1994]
• Doctoral degree (Dr. Ing.), PhD-Thesis: Factors of Presence within Virtual Architecture, Bauhaus University Weimar, Grade: magna cum laude [1996-1999(2000)]

Academic Research & Teaching Experience

• Academic staff member at University of Otago [2004-present]
  - lectures in Interactive Systems Design (HCI fundamentals) for 3rd year students in information science (content definition, notes preparation, lecturing) [annually]
  - lectures in Multimedia Systems (incl. 3D environments and serious games) for 4th year students in information science (content definition, notes preparation, lecturing) [annually]
  - supervision of 4th year honours and postgraduate diploma students with research theses projects [annually]
  - contributions (lectures) to courses at University of Otago [occasionally]
  
• Research and Study Leave (sabbatical) [6 months, 2009]: HIIT Helsinki, Finland, Fraunhofer FIT, St. Augustin, Germany, TU Graz, Austria, University Jaume I, Castello, Spain.
• Research Assistant at Bauhaus University Weimar, Germany [1994-1999]: Computer Science in Architecture (Prof. Donath). Focus on interdisciplinary VR research and teaching.
• Manager of atelier, virtual (VR research laboratory and "classroom") at BU Weimar [1995-1999]
  - Idea and initiation of laboratory (as a place for research and teaching using VR technology)
  - Systems selection and set-up, co-system-administration
  - Management and development of laboratory
• Lecturer at BU Weimar [1994-1999]
  - lectures in Virtual Reality fundamentals and applications for graduate students in computer science (content definition, notes preparation, lecturing) [annually]
  - lectures in VR aided design and modeling for graduate students in architecture (content definition, notes preparation, lecturing) [annually]
  - courses on basics of Internet technologies for undergraduate and graduate students in architecture and industrial design (content definition, notes preparation, training) [annually]
  - teacher/supervisor for project seminary on VR aided communication and design for graduate students in architecture, computer science, industrial design, and psychology [1994/95]
  - teacher/supervisor for project seminary on voxel based modeling in Virtual Environments (voxDesign & platform) for graduate students in architecture, computer science, and industrial design [1995/96]
  - teacher/supervisor for project seminary on VR aided modeling (VRAM) for graduate students in computer science and architecture [1998/99]
  
• Lecturer at HTW Dresden [1997/1998]: lecture and courses on VR fundamentals and programming for students in computer science (content definition, notes preparation, lecturing).
• Supervisor and advisor for 20+ diploma, master, and PhD thesis students (at BUW, DC, and UO) [1995 - present]
• Supervision of several internships at DaimlerChrysler and Uni Otago [2000 - present]
• Visiting Student at University of Washington/Seattle [Fall 1993]: Human Factors Lab (Prof. W. Barfield).

Awards

• German Körber Research Prize, 4th winner [1998]
• Award at VR/AR idea contest of German government (15 out of 200+) [2001]
• Winner of bi-annual Science Price at Bauhaus University Weimar [2003]

Patents

• Wearable Augmented Reality device [2000]
• Kinetose decreasing system in cars [2002]
• Improvement of spatial impression of conventional 3D displays [2003]

Computer Experience

• Programming Languages: C, C++, (Lisp, Fortran, Modula-2, Pascal, Asm-i86, Asm-Z80, Basic)
• Operating Systems: UNIX (Irix), MS Windows
• Misc: OpenGL, Optimizer, Open Inventor, MS Office applications, HTML

Other Professional Activities

• Reviewer and Consultant for German government (VR/AR and "Futur" program)
• Reviewer and Auditor for European Commission ("IST" program, "Mixed Reality and New Imaging Frontiers")
• Reviewer for and member of Program Commitees for 20+ conferences.
• Member (Professional) of IEEE and ACM

Languages

• mother tongue: German
• fluent: English
• some knowledge: Spanish, Russian, French

Publications

References

Personal