Faculty of
Design Computer Science Media
in Wiesbaden
The SSMT (Smart Systems for People and Technology) Research Center at Hochschule RheinMain – University of Applied Sciences and Arts was founded in 2024, evolving from the previous research focus of the same name. It is dedicated to interdisciplinary research and the transfer of knowledge in the field of intelligent IT systems. These systems are characterized by their security, adaptability to users’ individual needs and environments, and user-friendliness. The center addresses a broad spectrum of research questions, ranging from the basics of IT infrastructure to the design of human-machine interaction. Its goal is to serve as an innovative partner in research and development for all relevant stakeholders in society.
The SSMT Research Center focuses on a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to addressing practice-oriented research questions. The focus is on developing intelligent, secure, and user-friendly IT systems that adapt to users’ individual characteristics and environments. Since Hochschule RheinMain – University of Applied Sciences and Arts also has a long tradition in the field of design, SSMT has combined this expertise with that in Computer Science and media management. This enables the center to investigate a broad spectrum of research questions, ranging from IT infrastructure to user interface technologies, user acceptance, cost-effectiveness, media production, media use, and the design of human-computer interaction.
The center’s research is distinguished by its timeliness and societal relevance, as IT systems are increasingly permeating all areas of life. The SSMT strives to ensure that intelligent systems not only make optimal use of the available IT infrastructure without overburdening users with configuration and administrative tasks, but also guarantee user control. The applications of the approaches and technologies developed within this research focus are diverse and encompass all IT-driven aspects of users’ lives, in both professional and private contexts. The SSMT’s research also extends to topics in media management, examining issues related to the media industry. In addition, expertise in economics and the social sciences is applied to assess the economic and societal dimensions of the technology.
To achieve its goals, the SSMT Research Center is divided into several specialized working groups (WGs):
- Smart User Interface Design and Technology (SMARTUI): This group investigates new interaction paradigms and technologies for the increasingly blurred boundaries between virtual representations and real objects in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
- Digital Business & E-Government (DBEG): This group focuses on innovative approaches to intelligently supporting business processes and information systems in areas such as e-business, digital finance, administrative digitization, and smart cities. It also addresses topics related to digital transformation.
- Smart Tools for Software Engineering (STSE): This group combines software engineering expertise with machine learning to support software developers in creating and maintaining application systems.
- Learning and Visual Systems (LAVIS): This group works with machine learning and AI, as well as their applications in the fields of computer vision, natural language processing, and data visualization.
- Internet of Smart Things (IOST): This group brings together research interests and activities in the areas of security, privacy, and communication technologies for both the Internet of Things and the related field of Industry 4.0.
The SSMT Research Center targets various target groups with its activities, including the international research community, companies (particularly in the Rhine-Main region), civil society organizations, policymakers at the European, federal, state, and local levels, interested citizens, and funding agencies. The center maintains close ties between applied research and teaching in order to incorporate new findings into the curriculum and involve students in current research topics. Hochschule RheinMain – University of Applied Sciences and Arts is also one of the first universities of applied sciences to hold independent doctoral authorization in the field of Computer Science, which makes research at SSMT particularly attractive for early-career researchers.
You can find the professors involved in this research focus and the contact person for the DCSM faculty here.
Further information is available on the SSMT website.
