Tien-Ying Lu

In Intelligent Heart Technology Lab (I-Heal), my doctoral work explores how wearable technologies can enhance physical, emotional, and social well-being through Research through Design (RtD), Soma Design, Movement-based Design, and Participatory Design. Currently, I work for Age-Wear project to promote physical activity among older adults, emphasising digital inclusivity to ensure they are active co-creators of technologies that improve their cardiovascular health and quality of later life.

My academic foundation is built on a diverse background in Philosophy, Literature, and Interactive Media, which informs my approach to tangible technology and embodied interaction. As a passionate designer and entrepreneur, I have led international teams to victory in global hackathons (e.g., International Reply Creative Challenges, Milan) and co-founded NeXR Labs, an XR-focused startup. Beyond the lab, I am a passionate communicator and translator dedicated to crafting compelling UX narratives that bridge complex technical ideas across languages and cultures.

Publications

• Lu, T.-Y., Dual, S., & Kuoppamäki, S. (2026). Moving Together: A Co-Design Study on Wearable Materials and Aesthetics for Active Ageing.ACM Conference on Designing Interactive Systems (DIS 2026). (Submitted Jan 2026).

• Rosato, A.,Lu, T.-Y., Che, J., Andersson, E., Kuoppamäki, S., & Dual, S. (2025). Device-Guided Diastolic Stepping During Walking among Older Adults: A Home-Based Feasibility Pilot Study.European Heart Journal – Digital Health. (Submitted; Preprint available at DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6172990/v1).

• Lu, T.-Y., Che, J., Rosato, A., Dual, S. A., & Kuoppamäki, S. (2025). The use of wearables with real-time feedback in rhythmic activity among older adults: A qualitative study.JMIR Preprints. DOI: 10.2196/preprints.71509. (Under 2nd review).

Conference Presentations

• Lu, T.-Y., Che, J., Rosato, A., Dual, S. A., & Kuoppamäki, S. (2025). Lived experiences of older adults using wearables with real-time feedback for heart-paced stepping. Karolinska Institutet Cardiovascular Research Retreat, Nov 27–28, Sånga Säby, Sweden. (Poster)

• Lu, T.-Y., Dual, S., & Kuoppamäki, S. (2025). Move Together to Shape Future Wearables: Co-designing materials and aesthetics. Exhibition: Women Shape Science, Nov 5, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden.

• Lu, T.-Y., Che, J., Rosato, A., Dual, S. A., & Kuoppamäki, S. (2025). Lived experiences of older adults using wearables with real-time feedback: A phenomenological study. 7th Annual Meeting of the Socio-Gerontechnology Network, Sept 24–25, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden.

• Lu, T.-Y., Che, J., Rosato, A., Dual, S. A., & Kuoppamäki, S. (2025). The use of wearables with real-time feedback in rhythmic activity among older adults. Digital Futures Young Scientist Conference 2025, Feb 20, Stockholm, Sweden. (Poster)

• Lu, T.-Y., Dual, S., & Kuoppamäki, S. (2024). Designing Interactive Wearables for Inclusivity in Physical Activity with Older Adults through Movement-based Design. DIS 2024: Why Movement-Based Design!? Workshop, July 1–5, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark. DOI: 10.1145/3656156.3658399.

Thesis Supervision

• Sævarsdóttir, K. (2025). Active Ageing with Wearables: Designing and Evaluating Interaction Modalities. MSc Thesis, KTH School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH).

• Ahmed, S. & Kraft, H. (2025). Design, development, and evaluation of an Artificial DJ software for musical feedback. BSc Thesis, KTH School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH).

Research Communication & Societal Impact

• Talk: "Participatory Design for Movement: Co-Creating Exercise Wearables with Older Adults."2nd ACM Europe Summer School on Accessible and Inclusive Technologies, June 19, 2025, University of Borås, Sweden.

• Talk: "Designing Wearables with Older Adults: Movement-Based Methods for Meaningful Engagement."MID Mini Conference, KTH, Sweden, April 14, 2025.

• Exhibition: Kuoppamäki, S.,Lu, T.-Y., & Sævarsdóttir, K. "Improving older adults' physical activity through age-inclusive design."Välfärdsteknikmässan, Stockholm City, March 21, 2025.

• Blog Post: "Co-designing Interactive Wearable Technologies for Physical Activity with Older Adults."KTH Digitizing Life, Nov 28, 2024.

Community Outreach & Stakeholder Engagement

• Research Outreach:Hälsodagen i Skärholmen (Skärholmen Health Day). Attended talk by Håkansson, K. (KI) and dialogue with seniors, Sept 16, 2025.

• Community Visit & Recruitment:Baggeby gårds trygghetsboende, Lidingö. Introduction of wearable research and participant recruitment, June 28, 2025.

• Community Visit & Recruitment:Ankaret, Solna. Research presentation and recruitment for studies on wearables, June 2, 2025.

• Community Visit & Recruitment:Bergshamra Trygghetsboende, Solna. Introduction of wearable research and participant recruitment, May 20, 2025.

Scholarships and Grants

• Project Grant:Lu, T.-Y., Liu J., & Kaijage N. "Innovating Wireless Power Transfer for IMDs: A Student Competition and Showcase." Unite! Seed Fund Initiative for student activity, 2025-2026

• Travel Scholarship: Karl Engvers Foundation, Sept 2025.

• Travel Grant: ACM Europe Summer School, July 2025.