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Bernd PlodererI am an Associate Professor at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where I lead the Digital Wellbeing Lab. My research contributes to the areas of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Health Informatics.

My primary research area is e-Health with fitness trackers and wearable devices. While at the University of Melbourne, I studied early adopters of fitness trackers, such as fitness enthusiasts and the Quantified Self community. Since joining QUT, I have pursued a research program to apply my health informatics knowledge to clinical domains. Working with experts in the domains of diabetic foot care, post-stroke rehabilitation and sleep, I create digital solutions that empower patients in their self-care.

My research is based on an inclusive co-design approach that seeks to empower end users in the design process. This work is based on my experience in working with groups that are often overlooked in technology design, such as people with language disorders from a stroke and older adults with diabetes, to ensure that technologies reflect the rich diversity of people and how they wish to interact.

In the QUT Digital Wellbeing Lab we investigate the wellbeing challenges created through our daily interactions and reliance on digital technology, ranging from distracting notifications to problematic gaming play. Our vision is a future where all digital technology is co-designed with end users to ensure technologies promote social, mental, and physical wellbeing.

Currently, I am involved in the following projects:

Student research opportunities: I am seeking students with an HCI background to work with me on the above projects.