The PIONEER Project: A PrIvacy companion for mOtivatioN and knowlEdge transfER
Simon Althaus (Technical University of DarmstadtATHENE - National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity)Nina Gerber (Technical University of DarmstadtATHENE - National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity)Sara Hahn (Technical University of DarmstadtUniversity of Applied Sciences DarmstadtATHENE - National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity)Andreas Heinemann (University of Applied Sciences DarmstadtATHENE - National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity)Angela Menig (Technical University of DarmstadtATHENE - National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity)Max M\"ulh\"auser (Technical University of DarmstadtATHENE - National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity)Christian Reuter (Technical University of DarmstadtATHENE - National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity)Ephraim Zimmer (Technical University of DarmstadtATHENE - National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity)
Sep 2026
Human-computer Interaction
Abstract
Remaining control over their private data is one of the key challenges in this century for users. We know from prior work that users are often neither in a position to fully grasp the content of the usually complicated texts, nor are they motivated to spend the time necessary to do so. We report on the progress made by the PIONEER project on a privacy support tool that combines knowledge transfer and persuasive elements to increase users' privacy awareness and motivation; thus empowering them to more privacy sovereignty. Throughout the research and design process, we consider user group specifics that may result in different requirements, e.g., for children, adolescents, parents, or elderly people. We further target sustainable behavior change by addressing different states of change, precisely: spark initial motivation, facilitate the creation of new habits, and encourage habituation of these habits in the long term (volition). Finally, we provide a privacy support tool demonstrator that can be utilized for research and education purposes, e.g., in school contexts.
Agile - denoting "the quality of being agile, readiness for motion, nimbleness, activity, dexterity in motion" - software development methods are attempting to offer an answer to the eager business community asking for lighter weight along with faster and nimbler software development processes. This is especially the case with the rapidly growing and volatile Internet software industry as well as for the emerging mobile application environment. The new agile methods have evoked substantial amount of literature and debates. However, academic research on the subject is still scarce, as most of existing publications are written by practitioners or consultants. The aim of this publication is to begin filling this gap by systematically reviewing the existing literature on agile software development methodologies. This publication has three purposes. First, it proposes a definition and a classification of agile software development approaches. Second, it analyses ten software development methods that can be characterized as being "agile" against the defined criterion. Third, it compares these methods and highlights their similarities and differences. Based on this analysis, future research needs are identified and discussed.
P. Abrahamsson, O. Salo, Jussi Ronkainen et al.· arXiv.org· 728 citations· ⚡54
Context: Software startups are newly created companies with no operating history and fast in producing cutting-edge technologies. These companies develop software under highly uncertain conditions, tackling fast-growing markets under severe lack of resources. Therefore, software startups present a unique combination of characteristics which pose several challenges to software development activities. Objective: This study aims to structure and analyze the literature on software development in startup companies, determining thereby the potential for technology transfer and identifying software development work practices reported by practitioners and researchers. Method: We conducted a systematic mapping study, developing a classification schema, ranking the selected primary studies according their rigor and relevance, and analyzing reported software development work practices in startups. Results: A total of 43 primary studies were identified and mapped, synthesizing the available evidence on software development in startups. Only 16 studies are entirely dedicated to software development in startups, of which 10 result in a weak contribution (advice and implications (6); lesson learned (3); tool (1)). Nineteen studies focus on managerial and organizational factors. Moreover, only 9 studies exhibit high scientific rigor and relevance. From the reviewed primary studies, 213 software engineering work practices were extracted, categorized and analyzed. Conclusion: This mapping study provides the first systematic exploration of the state-of-art on software startup research. The existing body of knowledge is limited to a few high quality studies. Furthermore, the results indicate that software engineering work practices are chosen opportunistically, adapted and configured to provide value under the constrains imposed by the startup context.
Nicolò Paternoster, Carmine Giardino, M. Unterkalmsteiner et al.· Information and Software Tec...· 394 citations· ⚡54
A new method, called CW-Net, translates the reasoning process of an autonomous vehicle’s AI system into understandable concepts that explain its behavior.
