Outstanding Achievements by Our Students

Viktoria Frank

OCG Scholarship Award - University of Applied Sciences 2024 · Award-Winning Master's Thesis

The graduate of the Human-Centered Computing (HCC) program at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FH OÖ) in Hagenberg impressed the jury with a study on a navigation aid for blind and visually impaired people using thermal-tactile biofeedback. Her innovative solution offers hazard prevention through heat and cold signals in the lumbar region and addresses key challenges in navigation for this target group.

“People who are blind or visually impaired are not adequately protected in the head and back areas when moving around with a white cane. In addition, detecting static or dynamic obstacles presents difficulties. Thermal-tactile directional and stop cues are used as an alternative to conventional vibration signals,” explains Frank.

An Innovative Approach with Practical Implementation
As part of her research, the Wels-based researcher developed a prototype consisting of a camera cap for obstacle detection and a textile belt with thermal-tactile feedback elements. Early heat signals indicate the optimal evasion path, whereas in the event of an impending collision, a cold stimulus triggers a stop. “All eight participants had sufficient perceptual capacity to trigger timely and reliable responses—even in response to stop signals. Furthermore, the assessment of the users’ cognitive load yielded a satisfactory result. The main cause of various collisions was the synchronization of individual technical components,” said Frank.

Recognition for Scientific Excellence
The Austrian Computer Society (OCG) Award, endowed with 2,000 euros, is presented annually for outstanding master’s theses in computer science. The jury praised Frank’s work as exemplary for combining scientific excellence with societal relevance. Wilfried Seyruck, President of the OCG, emphasized: “Awards like this promote exceptional achievements and build an important bridge between academic research and practical application.”

Viktoria Frank expressed special thanks to the participants in her study: “Without their voluntary participation, these findings would not have been possible. A portion of my prize money is dedicated to expressing my appreciation for them.”

From Linz to Hagenberg—an Interdisciplinary Journey
Viktoria Frank began her academic career in the Industrial Design program at the University of Art and Design Linz before enrolling in the part-time master’s program in Human-Centered Computing at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FH OÖ) Campus Hagenberg to pursue her newly awakened interest in human-centered computing.
Her work, under the supervision of HCC program director Werner Kurschl, combines technological innovation with user-centered design. As an expert in human factors engineering and industrial design, she focuses on developing technologies that make everyday life easier and optimize the interaction between people and technology.

With her award-winning research, Viktoria Frank is setting a new standard in supporting blind and visually impaired people and demonstrating how technological solutions can be made more inclusive.

Jakob Reiter

Teufelberger Master’s Thesis Award 2024 · Outstanding Master’s Thesis

Together with FH OÖ President Dr. Gerald Reisinger and Mag. Florian Teufelberger, Markus Achleitner, State Councilor for Economic Affairs and Research, presented this year’s Teufelberger Master’s Thesis Award to Jakob Reiter, BSc, MSc, a graduate of the Human-Centered Computing master’s program at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FH OÖ) Hagenberg Campus, for his thesis “User-Centered Development of a Test Environment for Control Software Based on a Digital Twin Prototype.”

The master’s thesis addressed the question of how to test control software independently of the corresponding physical machine. To this end, a digital model of a machine created using a game engine was employed. During development, special attention was paid to creating a user-friendly interface for the test personnel operating the virtual machine.

“With the Teufelberger Master’s Thesis Award, we are forging an important connection with graduates who are advancing forward-looking topics that are also of great significance to us,” emphasized Mag. Florian Teufelberger, Executive Board Member and CEO of the Teufelberger Group.

The Teufelberger Master’s Thesis Award comes with a prize of 2,500 euros and is intended to recognize and highlight outstanding student achievements. Each year, a jury selects the winner(s) from among up to eight of the best master’s theses from all four faculties at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria.

We are delighted that once again an HCC graduate, Jakob Reiter, has received this award, and the entire HCC team extends its warmest congratulations!

Janine Mayer

OCG Scholarship Award - University of Applied Sciences 2023 · Award-Winning Master’s Thesis

Her thesis, “Volumetric Data Interaction in AR Using a Handheld Touch-Sensitive Tablet,” impressed the OCG jury. In this thesis, Janine—under the supervision of FH-Prof. Dr. Christoph Anthes, MSc.—explored the use of a multi-touch tablet for interacting with three-dimensional data in augmented reality (AR). Her innovative concept was successfully implemented in a prototype and evaluated as part of a qualitative user study. The results show that a tablet is perceived as an effective and intuitive input device for examining objects in AR. Janine’s work will be featured in the first issue of the OCG Journal in 2024 (Young Researchers in Austria), and she will receive her award at the Austrian Computer Science Day on June 14, 2024, in Vienna. Congratulations!

Melanie Berger

Ph.D. Graduate at Eindhoven University of Technology · Cum laude!

HCC graduate Melanie Berger completed her Ph.D. program at Eindhoven University of Technology in 2023 with an outstanding “cum laude” in record time!

Melanie Berger began our part-time master’s program in Human-Centered Computing in Hagenberg in the fall of 2017. Her excellent organizational skills allowed her to work full-time while studying and to immediately apply the knowledge she gained in the business world. A native of the Innviertel region, she completed her HCC program on schedule in July 2019 with outstanding results.

As early as October 2019, the now 29-year-old felt called to pursue her Ph.D. at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands in the Department of Industrial Design. It comes as no surprise that Melanie Berger, who is both creative and skilled in the arts and crafts, also completed this doctoral program in record time and with an excellent “cum laude” distinction. We extend our warmest congratulations to her and wish her all the best, both personally and in her future academic and professional career!