iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner) @thomasmildner.me · 25/11/2025

I’m truly honoured to share that my dissertation, "Mitigating Dark Patterns Through Responsible Design – Ethical Design Considerations for User-Centred Technologies", has been awarded the “Thematischer Preis” of the Bremer Studienpreis 2025. 🥳 #Bremen #UniBremen

Two men in suits standing next to each other. One holding a price certificate, the other a bouquet of flowers.

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Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner) @thomasmildner.me · 28/04/2025

#CHI2025 is kicking of in #Yokohama 🌸 and what a fantastic location to host and get to visit! Very happy to be here 🎊 Each year, I am impressed by the size of this community and the great energy it holds! Looking forward to a fascinating and inspiring week!

Stage for the opening keynote of the CHI 2025 conference.

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Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner) @thomasmildner.me · 05/12/2024

This year was my first time at #MUM2024, and what an incredible community and conference it was! Thanks to all who made it happen in #Stockholm. ❄️🇸🇪 Not only did I co-host a workshop, but present two papers. And it still doesn't stop here: We received an honourable mention for one of them! 🏆

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Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner) @thomasmildner.me · 30/11/2024

🚅Again in a train to the airport for my final conference of the year and what better destination than #Stockholm! At #MUM2024, I get to co-host a workshop and present two papers.. did not expect this academic year to wrap with such a wonderful opportunity! Thanks to all!

Foto out of a train in late autumn. The Rhein river and some wine fields are seen.

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Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner) @thomasmildner.me · 06/11/2024

During our workshop on Responsible and Ethical AI in CUI Technologies, with Nima Zargham, Rainer Malaka, and our Digital Media Lab, we had the great pleasure of welcoming a fantastic group of researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology, University College Dublin, and Stockholm University. 🎉

Robert Porzel presenting at the REACT workshop in Bremen.

Benjamin Cowan presenting at the REACT workshop in Bremen.

Minha Lee presenting at the REACT workshop in Bremen.

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Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner) @thomasmildner.me · 28/09/2024

Yesterday, I was fortunate to present my work on #darkpatterns and #responsibledesign at #TU/e. Thank you so much, Minha Lee, for having me. As always, it’s been a joy catching up and thinking about how to give people more agency when engaging with design. Hope to meet you soon again!

Person standing in front of a large display presenting.

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Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner) @thomasmildner.me · 19/09/2024

Didnt even realise: Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #986,810!

A virtual certificate with text "Celebrating 10M users on Bluesky, #986,810, Thomas Mildner ‪@thomasmildner.bsky.social‬, joined on Sep 13, 2023"

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Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner) @thomasmildner.me · 24/06/2024

🎓Although a few days have already passed, I still cannot quite grasp it. Last Friday, I defended my dissertation at the University of Bremen. I'm deeply touched that I got to share this incredible moment with many friends, colleagues, and my family. Thank you all very much for being part of this! 💛

PhD candidate after a defense sitting with a custom crafted PhD hat.

A PhD committee of six people and the PhD candidate standing in front of a white wall. One committee member joined online and is cast on the wall via a projector.

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Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner) @thomasmildner.me · 16/05/2024

After what was an amazing 3 years, I submitted my dissertation at the University of Bremen, Digital Media Lab Bremen, titled: "Mitigating Dark Patterns Through Responsible Design - Ethical Design Considerations for Responsible Design" 🎉

Me holding a copy of my dissertation at the campus of the University of Bremen.

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Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner) @thomasmildner.me · 09/02/2024

Für das #Bundesgesundheitsblatt haben wir über die möglichen Gefahren und Probleme durch #darkpatterns in digitalen #Gesundheitsanwendungen geschrieben. Großer Dank gilt meinen Co-Autoren Gian-Luca Savino, Johannes Schöning und Rainer Malaka! 🙌 link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Beispiel eines Nagging Dark Patterns, was Nutzer:innen dazu manipulieren soll, teure Abonnements mit einer Gesundheitsapplikation abzuschließen.

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Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner) @thomasmildner.me · 29/01/2024

Based on these ethical caveats, we propose the #CUI Expectation Cycle to address the gap between #user and #CUI expectations. The model adopts Norman's gulf of execution and evaluation to bridge the Expectation Gap.

This figure presents the CUI Expectation Cycle. In the centre is the expectation gap, separating user and CUI systems through mismatched expectations. The expectation gap is connected to the "setting expectations" theme. Two arrows bridge this expectation gap. The first connects the user with the CUI and is called the execution bridge. It describes users' ability to realise their goals. The "inclusivity and diversity" theme is connected to this bridge. The second is the evaluation bridge, which returns from the CUI toward the user. It entails how well the CUI communicates its capabilities. Here, the "guiding through interactions" theme is further linked. The ideal state of this cycle is interrupted by two delimiting factors: Deception and distrust. Either can occur extrinsically and intrinsically, and both feature the "building trust and guarding privacy" and "human-like harmony" themes.

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Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner) @thomasmildner.me · 23/10/2023

After 6 years, my 2nd gen iPad Pro's battery life had dwindled. Apple wouldn't swap it, only offering device replacement, which I found not very environmentally friendly and decided to fix it myself. Now I am even more grateful for right-to-repair regulations! Here's to another 6 years for my iPad!

iPad with display removed showing the inner hardware.

iPad with display reattached and working.

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