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Thomas Olsson
Associate Professor at Tampere University
Professional Background
Thomas Olsson is a distinguished interdisciplinary and practice-oriented academic, dedicated to advancing the fields of human-technology interaction and digital communication design. With a strong foundation as a human-centered software designer and a computer scientist, Thomas strives to enhance the way digital services are envisioned, built, and utilized, ensuring that social sustainability and digital ethics are prioritized. His extensive experience in the social sciences complements his technical expertise, paving the way for innovative approaches to technology design.
Over the years, Thomas has made significant contributions to the study of how information and communication technologies (ICT) influence social behavior and interactions. He is particularly interested in creating technology that not only delivers exceptional user experiences but also fosters genuine connections among individuals. His scholarly work has led him to publish more than 100 scientific papers in prestigious international journals and at major conferences, such as the Communications of the ACM, CHI (the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems), and CSCW (the ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work).
Education and Achievements
Thomas Olsson's academic journey began with his graduation from Porin Suomalaisen Yhteislyseon Lukio and progressed through higher education, culminating in a Doctor of Technology degree focused on User Experience at Tampere University of Technology. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Usability, acquired from Tampereen teknillinen korkeakoulu, which positions him at the forefront of usability and human-centered design.
Throughout his academic tenure, Thomas has held several influential positions, including his current role as Associate Professor (tenure track) at Tampere University, where he continues to inspire and educate future leaders in the realm of technology design. He previously served as an Associate Professor at the University of Tampere and as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Tampere University of Technology, where he honed his research skills and deepened his understanding of user experience in technology.
Notable Roles and Contributions
Thomas has played essential roles in various organizations and committees, contributing to the advancement of the field both locally and internationally. His work as Research Director and UX wiseguy at Suuntaamo was pivotal in bridging research with practical applications in user experience design. He has also been an active board member at SIGCHI Finland ry, promoting human-computer interaction research and education in Finland.
His international collaborations highlight his commitment to knowledge sharing and innovation. Notably, Thomas was a visiting researcher at the University of Stuttgart in 2014 and again at the University of Oldenburg in 2017, where he actively engaged with fellow researchers and expanded the understanding of the global landscape in human-technology interaction.
In addition to his academic positions, Thomas has held several committee roles, including significant contributions to Alumni ry (TUT) and TEA ry, further showcasing his dedication to fostering communities around technology and design.
Research Interests and Topics
Thomas's research interests span a wide array of topics primarily focused on human-technology interaction and computer-supported collaborative work. Among the most notable areas he has explored include:
- Social Technologies: Understanding how technology can facilitate social connections and enhance communication.
- Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Investigating how collaborative efforts can be effectively supported through technology.
- Professional Social Matching: Designing platforms that help connect professionals based on their skills and interests.
- Computer-Mediated Communication: Examining how digital communication affects interactions among users.
- Enhancing Collocated Social Interaction: Researching methods to improve in-person interactions through the use of technology.
- People Nearby Applications: Analyzing applications designed to connect individuals in close physical proximity.
- Social Computing: Exploring how technology influences social behavior and community building.
- Social Extended Reality: Investigating immersive technologies and their impact on social experiences.
Publications and Contributions
Thomas is well known for his prolific output, with over 100 scientific papers to his name, each contributing to the expanding body of knowledge in human-technology interaction. His publications are available for review through his Google Scholar profile, where interested parties can access his research on various topics surrounding user experience, social computing, and collaborative work.
Conclusion
With a robust academic background, extensive experience in interdisciplinary research, and a passion for creating technology that enhances societal connections, Thomas Olsson continues to be a prominent figure in the realm of human-technology interaction. His commitment to ethical practices and user-centered design inspires the next generation of researchers and practitioners. For those interested in his work and insights, reaching out through professional platforms or consulting his published papers is highly encouraged.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
User feedback consistently highlights Clay's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Clay as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Clay eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.
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