From HCI course project to Student Research Competition
What started as a group project in the Human-Computer Interaction course at IfI made its way to Mensch und Computer 2026: Andrea Fernandez, David Meinert, David Polke, Elisabeth Philippi, and Malti Redeker further developed their project “Flaura: A Screen-Free Ambient Light Ring for the Intuitive Care of Uncommon Home Plants” and submitted it to the conference’s Student Research Competition. Their work was accepted, giving them the opportunity to attend the conference and present their research as part of the competition – congratulations! 🎉
Flaura explores how technology can support people in caring for uncommon home plants without relying on apps, screens, or constant notifications. Based on interviews with plant enthusiasts, the students found that while people value caring for their plants through observation and intuition, they still want reliable information when something is wrong.
To address this, the team developed Flaura, an ambient light ring designed to sit around the base of a plant. Instead of displaying numbers or sending notifications, it uses colors, brightness, and light animations to communicate information about conditions such as soil moisture and light exposure. The interaction concept was evaluated with experts and potential users, who particularly appreciated the simple and screen-free approach.
The evaluation also revealed an interesting design challenge: the same minimalism that makes the device appealing can make it difficult to communicate more complex information, such as several alerts at once or a problem with the device itself. The project therefore also offers insights into how calm, screen-free technologies can provide useful information without demanding constant attention.
The project was originally developed as part of the Human-Computer Interaction course at IfI. Encouraged to take their work further, the students independently developed the project into a submission for the Student Research Competition at Mensch und Computer 2026.
From a course project to a conference publication and Student Research Competition entry, Flaura is a great example of where ideas developed during their studies can lead – and hopefully encourages other students to continue exploring their own projects beyond the classroom.
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