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The User in the Energy System - Interfering Factor or Actor?
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Presentation (in German)
Environmental Psychology (not only) for Engineers
For the tyical engineer, human beings appear as a disruptive factor which is hard to calculate. But the tragedy is that efficiency measures only work if the user is implemented. That is why the profession of environmental psychology came into being. In the context of the lecture series "Energy in Development" it refers to the human being in the energy system, especially in the field of Man-Technics-Interaction (MTI). To get a clearer idea of this topic Prof Matthies explained the origins of this profession.
Defining Psychology: Most people think psychology would only look at behaviour that deviates from the norm. Actually, psychology is more generally defined as science of experience and behaviour. Cognition is the most general part of psychology.
Defining Environment: To give an idea of how psychologists define "environment" Prof. Matthies gives some examples.
Architecture can be designed to support communication and prevent vandalism.
She also asks us to look around and to become aware of th lecture room. It can tell us something about the social situation that we are in. The room enhances one-directional lecture. It stands for an educational tradition. Even if we try to create a new way of learning by organizing this lecture series, the social environmental has an inflict on our discourse.
Nowadays, psychologists usually conduct priming experiments in laboratories, but environmental psychologists want to study humans in their environment.
Technical innovations are always social innovations too. Environmental psychology can help to enhance the diffusion of technical innovations by motivating in a social way.
Users as interfering factor in the energy system
Users as actors
Being supported by technology
Helping to design and spreading the word
Conclusion
The multidisciplinary research group "MicroEnergy-Systems" is looking into strategies and instruments to conceptualize, produce and implement sustainable microenergy systems in off-grid regions in developed and developing countries.
Environmental psychologists can help to conceptualize and to implement new technologies.
1. Users can be understood in their respective context: social impacts, culture
2. Users can be integrated to conceptualize and to spread the word.
