Smart Technologies, Empowered Citizens (STEC) is a research project running from 2017 to 2021 at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. STEC focuses on citizen empowerment through technology and design, asking the question: how can tech and design be used to build capacity and enable people to influence their own lives?

News

MAKING CIVIC INITIATIVES LAST – DIS 2020 workshop

This workshop aims to collect experiences, tools, and insights that help civic initiatives last beyond a project lifespan. To that purpose, we bring together researchers and practitioners interested in how to make civic initiatives have a lasting impact. We welcome participants with different interests: from active participants in citizen-driven initiatives, over companies working in this…
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This workshop aims to collect experiences, tools, and insights that help civic initiatives last beyond a project lifespan. To that…
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Workshop at C&T 2019 on Empowerment and Toolkits

Ben Schouten and Nicolai B. Hansen was part of organizing a workshop at the ACM conference Communities and Technologies. During the workshop participants showed their own toolkits, analyzed each others, and discussed new research directions for empowerment and toolkit research. Check the great summary made by the CT organizers here: https://comtech.openlab.dev/workshop_3 and check the workshop abstract…
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Ben Schouten and Nicolai B. Hansen was part of organizing a workshop at the ACM conference Communities and Technologies. During…
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Nicolai B. Hansen and Ben Schouten runs workshop at NordiCHI 2018. 

One of the main aims of STEC is empowerment and that includes advanced technologies. At this years nordic hci conference, nicolai and ben had a workshop paper that… One of the main aims of STEC is empowerment and that includes advanced technologies. At this years nordic hci conference, nicolai and ben had a workshop paper…
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One of the main aims of STEC is empowerment and that includes advanced technologies. At this years nordic hci conference,…
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Nicolai Brodersen Hansen Ben Schouten

Making civic initiatives last – DIS 2020

Making civic initiatives last

In this workshop we aim to collect experiences, tools, and insights that help civic initiatives last beyond a project lifespan. To that purpose, we bring together researchers and practitioners interested in how to make civic initiatives have a lasting impact.…
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In this workshop we aim to collect experiences, tools, and insights that help civic initiatives last beyond a project lifespan.…
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How the workshop runs

The workshop will take place 6-7 July and will be structured as shared video-call sessions as well as working together in smaller groups with participants around individual workshop themes and cases. This organisation allows us to accommodate DIS 2020’s  online…
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The workshop will take place 6-7 July and will be structured as shared video-call sessions as well as working together…
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Submission

In order to participate in this workshop, you must submit a single poster (A2 PDF format) by June 5th 23:59 (anywhere) to n.b.hansen@tue.nl describing your own work or a specific project you worked on, as well as what motivates your…
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In order to participate in this workshop, you must submit a single poster (A2 PDF format) by June 5th 23:59…
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Workshop results

The output of the workshop will be the start of an outline of an edited volume with participants as writers on individual chapters, and the workshop organizers as the editors. The volume will not be peer reviewed, but open-access and…
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The output of the workshop will be the start of an outline of an edited volume with participants as writers…
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Program

Stay tuned and for now: submit your workshop poster.
Stay tuned and for now: submit your workshop poster.

Design Tools for Collaborative Building Groups

Crowdbuilding.nl

For this project, we collaborate with the Amsterdam based companies OneArchitecture and Space & Matter. OneArchitecture is a design and planning firm, specialized in large-scale resilience planning and infrastructure. Space & Matter focuses on off- and online architectures to design…
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For this project, we collaborate with the Amsterdam based companies OneArchitecture and Space & Matter. OneArchitecture is a design and…
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Gwen Klerks Nicolai Brodersen Hansen Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) One Architecture & Urbanism

Research approach

In this project, we contribute to this vision. By combining case studies, literature research, co-design and prototyping, we explore how to create online communities that are willing to build their dream home together. We currently study how online community building can be…
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In this project, we contribute to this vision. By combining case studies, literature research, co-design and prototyping, we explore how to…
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Smart Toys for Empowerment in Oral Healthcare
First event: Kicking off smart toys empowered citizens in oral healthcare at the HvA Raadzaal!

Brushy

Brushy the crocodile is an interactive, smart toy for children (ages 2-6) who not only makes brushing more fun, but teaches children the importance of oral healthcare. Children can pet and feed Brushy, while also taking care of the toy’s teeth.…
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Brushy the crocodile is an interactive, smart toy for children (ages 2-6) who not only makes brushing more fun, but teaches…
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Student project: The Playful Charger by Wytze Duinmeijer

The Playful Charger

The Playful Charger is a space saving toy-charger combination which motivates teenagers (age 13-16) to take better care of their oral health. Connected with the user’s toothbrush the playful charger integrates a brushing timer, pressure indicator, and displays which sections…
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The Playful Charger is a space saving toy-charger combination which motivates teenagers (age 13-16) to take better care of their…
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Root

Root uses playful interaction to inspire teenage users to make teeth brushing an everyday habit! By using the Philips smart toothbrush as a controller, the brusher becomes Root’s puppet master. Starting as cute and clumsy, Root becomes a more and…
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Root uses playful interaction to inspire teenage users to make teeth brushing an everyday habit! By using the Philips smart…
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Empowering Prosumers in Circular Economy
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Background

In a circular economy, being able to control the flow of (obsolete) products is essential for service providers and manufacturers. Control over the flow of tangible products allows service providers and manufacturers in a circular economy to leverage resources and…
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In a circular economy, being able to control the flow of (obsolete) products is essential for service providers and manufacturers.…
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Ben Schouten Nicolai Brodersen Hansen Gwen Klerks KPN Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

ConnectMinds

Can we bridge the gap between knowledge and action for co-design session participants?

ConnectMinds is a tool for co-design session facilitators, and a serious game for participants. Understanding their own thoughts and feelings in the landscape of the group, ConnectMinds participants are more likely to translate the session’s insights into real, meaningful action.…
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ConnectMinds is a tool for co-design session facilitators, and a serious game for participants. Understanding their own thoughts and feelings…
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URAN

URAN: a Serious Game to empower children

URAN is designed to guide children through the complexities of societal challenges, by means of storytelling and intuitive graphic elements. This makes discussing on societal matters not only relevant, but also fun! In this way URAN contributes to the development…
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URAN is designed to guide children through the complexities of societal challenges, by means of storytelling and intuitive graphic elements.…
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Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)