Current employment and workplace

Aalborg University

How did I become interested in my field of research?

My interest in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and novel healthcare technologies emerged during my academic journey at Aalborg University, where I started working on using tablet-based games to "digitizing" mental and physical rehabilitation exercises during my Master's degree on Medialogy.

Collaborating with Danish health institutions allowed me to conduct field studies that identified the needs and behaviors of stroke patients and occupational therapists in rehabilitation contexts.

The ball has been rolling from there ever since, and today the work has extended to many more technologies like virtual reality, brain-computer interfaces and electromyography.

What am I most passionate about in my work?

What I enjoy the most is how my research can help society build meaningful and impactful technology solutions that support individuals in their mental and physical rehabilitation, enriching their quality of life.

I also enjoy how the line of work allows me to challenge myself and push boundaries for what I am capable of doing.
I care a lot about making my research reach the public and using open tools and standards.

In the long term, what impact can my research have on society?

My research has the potential to change how we approach game design, and technologies can be adopted for rehabilitation.

What made the strongest impression on you during my PhD defense?

Network and good feedback is everything in your PhD, so make sure to search for good summer schools, and attend at least one doctoral consortium.

What piece of advice would you offer current PhD fellows who want a career outside academia?

Use the PhD as an opportunity to develop new skills and teach yourself new tools.

A little bit about the person behind the researcher?

In my free time, I immerse myself in creative projects, often focusing on reusing existing materials to redefine their purpose and create new items of value.
I enjoy exploring analog techniques, such as ink and pencil drawing, as well as watercolor painting during my travels. I have found that my research greatly benefits from my interest in drawing from life, because visuals are extremely important for successfully communicating new concepts and terminologies.

LinkedIn - Bastian Ilsø