Topic Health and Technology

Health is gaining importance in our society. Demographic change causes an increase in older population and, hence, an increasing relevance of healthcare. Wellness and fitness sectors are still showing a remarkable growth potential. The health market is expected to become a major growth and employment driver in the future. In nearly all areas, technical developments will play an important role. The topic Health and Technology focuses on interactions between the often undesired effects of technical developments and health and on technologies developed or used for preserving or restoring health. These technologies extend from the molecular or cellular level (nanoparticles, biotechnology, metabolomics) to the effects of technical development on society (obesity diseases) with all consequential effects due to akinesia that is partly enhanced by technology. Physical exercise is deemed one of the most important measures to prevent type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases as well as injuries and damage of the active and passive musculoskeletal system. Technical aids to assess movement quality (technically correct execution) and to monitor physical exercise over time and space represent important means to reach these objectives. Moreover, assistance systems play an important role for patients and to provide support in decision-making processes (e.g. logistical questions in hospitals). In this connection, mathematical methods can improve these processes and ensure a more efficient use of resources.

These are the aspects covered by the area of “Technology for the Benefit of Health”. It is aimed at analyzing which new technologies for preventive and therapeutic actions can be developed and used efficiently in the healthcare sector. Aspects of use, sustainability, risks, and costs are of particular importance.

Current projects (selection)

Selected publications

  • Bartenbach, V., Sander, C., Pöschl, M., Wilging, K., Nelius, T., Doll, F., Burger, W., Stockinger, C., Focke, A. & Stein, T. (2013). The BioMotionBot - a robotic device for applications in human motor learning and rehabilitation. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 213, 282-297.
  • Bringeland, S., Heine, T., Hoffmann, M., Stein, T. & Deml, B. (2016). Ergonomische Evaluation eines Handwerker-Kraftassistenzsystems. In M. Jäger (Hrsg.), Arbeit in komplexen Systemen – Digital, vernetzt, human?! Tagungsband 62. Frühjahrskongress der Gesellschaft für Arbeitswissenschaft. Dortmund: GFA Press.
  • Bub, A., Kriebel, A., Dörr, C., Bandt, S., Rist, M.J., Roth, A., Hummel, E., Hoffmann, I., Kulling, S.E. & Watzl, B. (2016) The Karlsruhe Metabolomics and Nutrition (KarMeN) Study: Protocol and Methods of a cross-sectional study to characterize the metabolome of healthy men and women. JMIR Res Protoc, 5 (3): e146.
  • Cardoso, T., Oliveira, M.D., Barbosa-Póvoa, A. & Nickel, S. (2016). Moving towards an equitable long-term care network: A multi-objective and multi-period planning approach. Omega, 58, 69-85.
  • Graichen, S., Stein, T., Neff, C., Hoffmann, M. & Deml, B. (2015). Biomechanical Analysis of Manual Assembly Tasks. Zeitschrift für Arbeitswissenschaft, 69 (2), 105-112. ("Best-Paper-Award unter allen 2015 eingereichten Artikeln im Bereich "Wissenschaft")
  • Nickel, S., Reuter-Oppermann, M. & Saldanha-da-Gama, F. (2016). Ambulance location under stochastic demand: A sampling approach. Operations Research for Health Care, 8, 24-32.
  • Niermann, C., Herrmann, C., von Haaren, B., van Kann, D. & Woll, A. (2016). Affect and subsequent physical activity: An ambulatory assessment study examining the affect-activity association in a real-life context. Frontiers in Psychology, 7:677.
  • Reichert, M., Törnros, T., Hoell, A., Dorn, H., Tost, H., Salize, H.J., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., Zipf, A. & Ebner-Priemer, U.W. (2016). Using ambulatory assessment for experience sampling and the mapping of environmental risk factors in everyday life. Die Psychiatrie, 13, 94-102.
  • Reichert, M., Tost, H., Reinhard, I., Schlotz, W., Zipf, A., Salize, H., Meyer-Lindenberg, A. & Ebner-Priemer, U.W. (2016). Exercise versus Nonexercise Activity: E-diaries Unravel Distinct Effects on Mood. Med Sci Sports Exerc., 49 (4), 763-773.

Participating research groups and laboratories