Research-Initiatives

Mobile communication has major advantages: it makes us more flexible and enhances many working procedures. However, permanent accessibility via mobile communication devices can be a source of stress; especially in the context of their job, many people are finding it difficult to consistently safeguard private space. In the LOEWE research cluster Social Link researchers from informatics, information technology, psychology, law and economics are together working on a new communication paradigm that is intended to help people to find a work-life balance in the age of the internet. Through the application of compulsory rules about who should communicate or absorb what, when and how much, their aim is to help people to avoid stress. Alongside sustainable legal and psychological concepts, technical solutions are to be developed, for example, that – like an email spam filter – block specific information at certain times and in certain contexts so that it is not sent to the intended recipient.