Digital solutions for the real world

Hello, my name is Lukas Twardon. In 2019, I completed my PhD at Bielefeld University. Since then, I have been working as a self-employed software engineer. My internet cafe of things is all about connecting the digital world with the physical world—so digitalization doesn't become an end in itself.

Teaching robots to handle clothes

If future robots are to assist people with activities of daily living, they must learn to handle a wide variety of objects—including complex deformable objects such as items of clothing. As part of my PhD project, I studied how robots can recognize, understand, and interact with clothes. To this end, I investigated, developed, and applied topological and geometric algorithms as well as computer vision and machine learning methods. You can read my PhD thesis here.

Transforming QR codes into AR holograms

QR codes are great for creating a link between a physical object and the virtual world. To make this link even closer and longer-lasting, I have developed talking codes. A talking code is an extended QR code for augmented reality. The code can be read with any QR scanner. Then, a video message (AR hologram) is projected onto the code in the user's web browser. Here you can easily create your own talking code.

Being creative in the real world, sharing with friends in the digital world

In the coronavirus era, even small children had to learn how to use digital media. Unfortunately, most services are not designed for young children, whose communication is in many ways different from that of adults. My contribution to solving this problem was to develop the Android app DiGiKiNDi. In this social network for families, children can exchange ideas, play, and be creative together—always supported by their parents. The project has been reported on by the Westfalen-Blatt and SAT.1, among others. You can find more about DiGiKiNDi here.
Want to know more?
Click here for my blog
Got inspired?
Write me if you have an exciting project idea: mail@icot.de

Legal notice

The internet cafe of things is a service provided by

Dr. Lukas Twardon
Dammwiese 23
33613 Bielefeld
Germany

Contact:
Phone: +49 521 94594201
E-Mail: mail@icot.de

VAT ID:
VAT identification number according to §27a UStG:
DE341228849

Dispute settlement:
The European Commission provides a platform for online dispute resolution (ODR):
https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr
I am not willing or obliged to participate in dispute resolution procedures before a consumer arbitration board.

Data policy

I treat personal data as confidential and in accordance with the law. This data policy explains what happens to your data when you visit the website.

Data controller

The data controller according to Art. 4(7) EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is

Dr. Lukas Twardon
Dammwiese 23
33613 Bielefeld
Germany

Phone: +49 521 94594201
E-Mail: mail@icot.de

How your data is processed

When you use icot.de, data collection is minimized. The website collects and processes data from its users when necessary to provide the service. In addition, personal data may be processed if the data processing is necessary for financing, securing, or improving the service, or if required by law, or if you give your consent.

Log files

The website icot.de is hosted by an external service provider (Hetzner Online GmbH) whose certified data centers are located exclusively within the EU. In the hoster's log files, the anonymized IP address of the user, the browser used (if transmitted), the operating system used, and the time of the request are stored. In order to ensure data protection-compliant processing, a data processing agreement (DPA) has been concluded with the hoster.

How long your data is stored

The anonymized log files are stored permanently on the server.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are temporarily stored on your device when you visit a website and enable the identification of the web browser when you visit it again. When using icot.de, no cookies are set.

Encrypted transmission

All data are transmitted via HTTPS which uses TLS encryption. This means that data sent from your device to the server or vice versa cannot be read by third parties.

Email communication

When you send a message to mail@icot.de, it may be stored in order to process it, to improve the service and support, or to contact you.

Social media pages

The data controller according to the GDPR for the Pinterest and LinkedIn pages of the internet cafe of things is the respective provider, i.e., Pinterest Europe Limited or LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited, together with me. Data processing in connection with the social media pages is carried out in accordance with Art. 6(1) f GDPR based on my legitimate interest in communication and public relations. Your data (e.g., comments, postings, likes, pictures, or videos) are published by the respective provider. I do not use this data for other purposes. I may share your posts on the respective platform if this feature is available. I also reserve the right to delete content from my social media pages if possible and necessary. Pinterest and LinkedIn use cookies and similar technologies. For data transfers to the U.S., the providers rely on model contract clauses which have been approved by the European Commission as a means of ensuring adequate protection when transferring data outside of the EU. I have very limited control over how Pinterest and LinkedIn process your data. For more information, please visit https://policy.pinterest.com/privacy-policy or https://linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.

Your rights

According to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the following rights as a data subject:

  • Right of access: You have the right to obtain from me as the controller access to personal data concerning you and further information as per Art. 15 GDPR.
  • Right to rectification: You have the right to obtain from me the rectification or completion of personal data concerning you that is inaccurate or incomplete.
  • Right to erasure: You have the right to obtain from me the erasure of personal data concerning you if one of the grounds referred to in Art. 17 GDPR applies.
  • Right to restriction of processing: You have the right to obtain from me restriction of processing if one of the conditions referred to in Art.18 GDPR applies.
  • Right to be informed: You have the right to obtain from me the communication of any rectification, erasure, or restriction of processing of personal data concerning you to each recipient to whom personal data have been disclosed, unless this is impossible or involves disproportionate effort. You also have the right to obtain from me information about these recipients.
  • Right to withdraw your consent: You have the right to withdraw your consent to the processing of your personal data at any time.
  • Right to data portability: You have the right to receive personal data concerning you in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format, or to request that it be transmitted to another controller.
  • Right to object: You have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you which is based on Art. 6(1) e or f GDPR.
  • Right to object to automated processing You have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing which produces legal effects concerning you or similarly significantly affects you.
  • Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority: You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the member state of your habitual residence, place of work, or the place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data concerning you infringes the GDPR.
Changes to the data policy

I reserve the right to change this data policy. The current version is always available on the website.