# Antti Oulasvirta

> Finnish psychologist (PsyD), professor of user interfaces and usability at the Aalto University

**Wikidata**: [Q30333195](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30333195)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/antti-oulasvirta

## Summary
Antti Oulasvirta is a Finnish psychologist and computer scientist who serves as a Professor of User Interfaces and Usability at Aalto University. He is a prominent researcher in the fields of informatics and human-computer interaction, recognized for applying psychological principles to the design and optimization of computational systems.

## Biography
- Born: 1979 in Tampere, Finland
- Nationality: Finland
- Education: Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
- Known for: Research in user interfaces, usability, and computational informatics
- Employer(s): Aalto University
- Field(s): Informatics, Computer Science, Psychology

## Contributions
Antti Oulasvirta has made significant contributions to the academic study of user interfaces and informatics by bridging the gap between psychology and computer science. As a professor at Aalto University, he leads research into how humans interact with computational systems, focusing on usability and the efficiency of data retrieval. His work is heavily rooted in informatics—the study of computational systems for data storage—and computer science.

Oulasvirta’s research often incorporates machine learning, utilizing statistical models and algorithms to help computer systems perform tasks more effectively without explicit instructions. His scholarly output is documented extensively across major scientific databases; he is indexed in the ACM Digital Library (ID: 81100333050) and the DBLP computer science bibliography (ID: 93/99). His work is highly visible in the scientific community, as evidenced by his Google Scholar profile and his role as a university teacher. By applying his background as a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) to technical fields, he has contributed to a more rigorous, scientific approach to interface design, ensuring that computational tools are optimized for human cognitive capabilities.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Antti Oulasvirta’s primary area of research?
A: Antti Oulasvirta focuses on user interfaces, usability, and informatics. He specifically studies the intersection of computer science and psychology to improve how humans interact with computational systems.

### Q: Where is Antti Oulasvirta currently employed?
A: He is a professor at Aalto University in Finland, where he teaches and conducts research in the fields of computer science and informatics.

### Q: What are his academic qualifications?
A: He holds a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree. Despite his background in psychology, he is a recognized computer scientist and a member of the industrial and service sectors of the informatics field.

## Why They Matter
Antti Oulasvirta is significant because he represents the interdisciplinary evolution of computer science. By holding a Doctor of Psychology while serving as a professor of user interfaces, he has helped shift the field of usability from subjective design toward a data-driven, scientific discipline. His work in informatics is essential for understanding how computational systems can be better structured for human data storage and retrieval.

His influence is reflected in his extensive bibliographic presence. He is recognized by international authority files such as the Library of Congress and the German National Library (GND), indicating that his research has global reach and impact. Without his contributions, the integration of machine learning and psychological modeling in user interface design would lack the academic rigor he provides through his research at Aalto University. He plays a vital role in ensuring that as computer systems become more complex, they remain usable and grounded in the reality of human psychology.

## Notable For
*   **Professor of User Interfaces and Usability:** Holds a senior academic position at Aalto University, a leading institution in Finland.
*   **Interdisciplinary Expertise:** Successfully bridges the fields of Psychology (PsyD) and Computer Science.
*   **Extensive Bibliographic Record:** Indexed in major scientific databases including DBLP, ACM Digital Library, and Google Scholar.
*   **Informatics Leadership:** Recognized for research in the study of computational systems and machine learning algorithms.

## Body
### Academic Background and Education
Antti Oulasvirta was born in 1979 in Tampere, Finland. He attained the degree of Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), a foundation that informs his scientific approach to human-computer interaction. He is a citizen of Finland and speaks both Finnish and English.

### Professional Career at Aalto University
Oulasvirta serves as a professor at Aalto University, where he is affiliated with the study of user interfaces and usability. His professional roles are categorized as computer scientist, university teacher, and scientist. His work is primarily situated within the industrial and service sectors of the technology industry.

### Research Fields and Informatics
His primary fields of work include informatics and computer science. Within these areas, he focuses on:
*   **Machine Learning:** The study of algorithms and statistical models used by computer systems to perform tasks.
*   **Informatics:** The study of computational systems, specifically those designed for the storage and retrieval of data.
*   **Usability:** Applying psychological insights to ensure computer systems are efficient for human users.

### Digital and Academic Identifiers
Oulasvirta maintains a significant presence in global knowledge bases and academic registries:
*   **VIAF ID:** 1352154380974930291396
*   **GND ID:** 1154951952
*   **Library of Congress:** n2022027752
*   **ACM Digital Library:** 81100333050
*   **DBLP Author ID:** 93/99
*   **Google Scholar:** _z41TLwAAAAJ

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. [Source](https://viaf.org/viaf/data/viaf-20230206-links.txt.gz)
3. Virtual International Authority File