Creativity-enhancing Virtual Work Environments

Assigned Human-Computer Interaction Master Project Thesis No Affiliation

In recent years, companies have increasingly focused on innovative work environments to foster the creative potential or performance of their employees. Google or Apple are typical examples of companies that have received a lot of media attention with their modern work environments. Due to the current Covid 19 pandemic, more and more people are working from home. Here, companies are faced with the challenge of creating a working environment that promotes creativity in the private sphere as well. In this context, the use of Virtual Reality (VR) can be used to promote creative processes. Within the framework of a master thesis, a virtual, creativity-enhancing working environment is to be generated and piloted within the research community of the XRHUB-Würzburg (located at the chair of Human-Computer Interaction and the working group Human-Technology-Systems, University of Würzburg) and the organizational unit “Perceptual Sensor Technology” at the Fraunhofer IVV Freising. First, the virtual, creativity-enhancing working environment will be defined on the basis of a detailed literature research. In a requirements analysis, physical (especially visual, auditory, olfactory) parameters for the improvement of creativity in a real working environment are developed. In the course of the work, individual parameters are then prototypically modeled in a virtual environment. Subsequently, the virtual working environment (visual, auditory and olfactory input) is piloted with test persons.

What you can expect:

• Insights into the latest research on the design of creative work environments
• Insights into the latest research on virtual realities
• An interdisciplinary research and support team (psychology, physics, chemistry, olfactory sciences, computer science, human-computer interaction)
• An open, collegial and friendly working environment
• Participation in scientific conferences

Please apply online with a letter of motivation and a short biography.

Prerequisites

• You are studying psychology, computer science, human-computer interaction or a comparable field of study
• Basic knowledge of creating virtual environments
• Basic knowledge in statistics (SPSS or R), empirical studies
• Very good language skills in German and English
• Personal initiative, ability to work in a team and interdisciplinary communication

Cooperation Partners

Contact Persons at the University Würzburg