Living Lab Expo for the Universities of the Applied Sciences in Porvoo, Finland

ENoLL had the change to be invited to host a workshop on October 12^th  at the Living Lab Expo in Porvoo, Finland in the framework of the Finnish Universities Living Lab Network hosted event of the Neloskierre-project

ENoLL presented their active and dynamic network of over 300 Living Labs and various different initiatives relating to Smart Cities, Future Internet, Design ect. Including provided some tips and guiding on EU-funding and EU RDI recent policy developments relevant for Living Labs.

ENoLL had the change to be invited to host a workshop on October 12^th  at the Living Lab Expo in Porvoo, Finland in the framework of the Finnish Universities Living Lab Network hosted event of the Neloskierre-project

ENoLL presented their active and dynamic network of over 300 Living Labs and various different initiatives relating to Smart Cities, Future Internet, Design ect. Including provided some tips and guiding on EU-funding and EU RDI recent policy developments relevant for Living Labs.

Neloskierre-project is a 3-year national, ESF-funded project, which aims to create a generalized best practices, tools and operational guidelines for demand-and user-innovation, i.e Living Lab activities by learning from existing Living Labs of Applied Sciences in Finland.

Innovation policy and strategies refer more and more increasingly to the demand-and user-oriented approaches, and open innovation. Universities of Applied Sciences have been actively involved in establishing and promoting user-driven innovation in the Finnish Innovation Policies. Neloskierre includes a total of 13 polytechnics in Finland, as well as around the 10-member international advisory board, with many ENoLL members. The project aims at introducing new, user-driven encouraging approaches to the network of Living Labs of the Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences. The project is testing, introducing and continuing to develop the tools, designed and implemented through trainings and user-oriented innovation seminars.

Neloskierre will generate:

• Living Lab-operator manual
• Living Lab Repository of activities and methods
• Quality criteria for Living Labs
• Living Lab training and coaching for Universities of Applied Sciences

For pictures and presentations from the expo, you will find here and more information about the deliverables in Neloskierre available here (in Finnish).

Some of the interesting demos on how to gather userdata presented at the event were:

How do you sleep – Impact on your vitality

Testing and co-creating with the users the ergonomics of sleeping. Demo was run by University of Applied Sciences Tampere and Tempur Finland.

Café Joensuu

Café Joensuu concenpt on how to gather user-experiences data in an optimal way. Demo was run by University of Applied Sciences of Pohjois-Karjala.

User-experience and data visualization in designing spaces and services

Focus on different methods that allow as to use data visualization

Visual ethnography in designing restaurant services for visually impaired

Visual ethonography focuses on the photo-, discussion and interview material on user-experiences in every-day life.

Let the user innovate – participatory design methods in innovation in products

Aim is to through participatory design methods to map the needs, wishes and feelings of the users, often ending with a creation of a prototype and usage simulation in real-life context.

Design Game refining data from user experiences

Through a Design Game, the aim is to gather ideas from the users/citizens/ workers/ students on how to develop the Porvoo Campus.

Following Living Labs were presented at the event:

• Living Lab for Design and AKI Living Lab (University of Applied Sciences Pohjois-Karjala)
• Pasila Living Lab (University of Applied Sciences Haaga Helia)
• HEA- Energia tehokkuutta asumiseen (University of Applied Sciences Metropolia)
• MAINIO OuluLabs (University of Applied Sciences Oulu)
• SYMBIO Living Lab (University of Applied Sciences Haaga Helia)
• Kasarminmaki Living Lab (University of Applied Science Kymenlaakso)
• Habitcentre Living Lab (University of Applied Sciences Seinajoki)
• Rajalla Living Lab on Cross-border services between Finland and Sweden (University of Applied Sciences Kemi-Tornio)
• SimLab (University of Applied Science Oulu)
• Virvelinranta (University of Applied Sciences Hame)
• Arcada : Eye-tracker Viual Impact LL (University of Applied Sciences Arcada)
• Practico Living Lab ® (University of Applied Sciences Tampere)
• HONKA (University of Applied Sciences Centria)
• SAIMIA Living Lab (University of Applied Sciences Saimaa)
• SkaftKarr (Posintra Oy)
• We Design the Future (University of Applied Sciences Haaga Helia)

In addition to these interesting Living Lab experiments, the attandees gained a rich knowledge on the different initiatives that have been developed in Living Labs such as Meeting Room and Hotel of Tomorrow, Talking Key Chain to identify colours, expiration dates on foods and medications through RFID technology.

Great conference and gathering of the Living Lab community of the Finnish Applied Sciences, ENoLL was delighted to be present! Many thanks for the organisers!

You will also meet Neloskierre at the Creative Media Days in Ghent (BE) in November 7th where they will present among others the results of the 3-year project such as the Living Lab-operator manual, Living Lab Repository of activities and methods, and finally their Quality criteria for Living Labs of Applied Sciences.