Motivation
People use technology to chat with each other or make video calls. However, while such “connectedness technologies” can be used to exchange information, emotional closeness is rarely achieved. The project VEREINT aims to gather knowledge that can be used to make technology-mediated “closeness across distance” more emotional, fulfilling and acceptable.

Goals and approach
Psychologists, designers, computer scientists and ethicists will develop models for a better design of connected technology. For this purpose, existing knowledge from human-technology interaction and other disciplines will be compiled and made applicable for designers. Methods and standards will be developed to quantify and qualify the effects and acceptance of new connectedness technologies.

Innovations and perspectives
VEREINT lays the foundation for more emotional and fulfilling “proximity over distance”. A digital “library of closeness” (connectedness technology for lending) involves citizens in research in an innovative way. Models and methods increase the creative quality and set standards.

The VEREINT project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the “Together through Innovation” research program.