Type of Project: Funded project Joint project
ComIn2Assist

Innovative working environments in SMEs: The value creation of the future can only be sustainable if people, technology and organization work together in an integrative manner. The aim of the "Innovative working environments in SMEs" funding measure is to make collaboration and work more sustainable by means of innovative digital tools. The aim is to develop socio-technical solutions that combine research and practice. As the backbone of the German economy, SMEs are supported in their implementation by application-oriented, ergonomic support. R&D needs focus on the lifelong acquisition of knowledge and skills within the company, the intelligent provision of knowledge at work and new forms of cooperation between people within or between companies. Context-specific assistance at work for skills acquisition and inclusion: The digitalization of working life promotes access to infrastructure, accessibility, skills development and thus greater social participation in addition to networking. This digital transformation presents people with disabilities in particular with personal and organizational challenges and adaptations. To ensure that they can also participate in a process of lifelong learning and be introduced to the requirements of the workplace, it is not only necessary to create personal simplifications - continuous, individually context-specific assistance during work is also desirable. The aim of the KomIn2Assist research project is to develop an assistance system that provides knowledge and coaching in a context-aware manner, particularly for people with disabilities, using text-based interaction. The project thus follows the "Design for All" concept. Instead of permanent monitoring, which can be seen as paternalism, the users' competence, autonomy and self-confidence are strengthened through situation-specific instructions. At the same time, gamification elements are used to increase motivation for explorative learning and work. The basis for the assistance system is the "Smart Klaus" assembly assistance table, which is already established on the market. This will be further developed in three areas within the project for the work of people with disabilities. First, the interface that gives employees context-specific feedback is being developed. This will be followed by the development of gamification, which will be used to positively influence motivation with elements from the gaming sector. The last area comprises the development of an AI that is intended to support the so-called teaching-in process. This makes it easier to transfer work orders quickly and easily to the system in a semi-automated way. The development process will consist of three iteration cycles, at the end of which there will be user-centered studies and evaluations. These will take place under real conditions at the three application partners, based on standardized methods for measuring stress and acceptance. The result is a new type of assistance system for people with disabilities, which does not attempt to compensate for the disability, but rather adapts the work process to the employees through adaptability levels. Work knowledge is shared and employees are enabled to work independently and thus participate in the labor market. In the future, this assistance system can be transferred to other groups, such as people with a migration background or older people.