since 2022
Informatics
ÖAW DOC Fellowship (2025–2026; awarded 2024). Project: Perception vs. Reality: The Illusion of Security – Why We (Erroneously) Trust Technologies in the Age of AI Revolution.
Profile
Why do we trust technologies that don’t deserve it, and distrust ones that do? I’m a Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) researcher at TU Wien and I study perceived security, the gap between how secure digital systems are and how secure they feel. My work combines empirical user research, research software development, and security education, with a focus on usable security, trust in digital technologies, and security on Apple’s platforms.
In my doctoral project Perception vs. Reality: The Illusion of Security – Why We (Erroneously) Trust Technologies in the Age of AI Revolution, funded by an ÖAW DOC Fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, I investigate how people form judgments about the security of everyday technologies, why those judgments diverge from the actual properties of these systems, and how design can narrow that gap. These questions become more urgent as AI systems grow harder to inspect and easier to trust.
Alongside my research, I’ve taught and supervised theses at several universities, building on a background in Software & Information Engineering and experience in research prototyping and software-development internships.
Education
2020–2022
Media & Human-Centered Computing
Graduated with honors. Thesis: Increasing User Satisfaction by Detecting Emotions in German-language Human-Robot Conversations with Q.bo One.
2016–2020
Software & Information Engineering
Graduated with honors and completed the TU Wien Bachelor with Honors, an individually designed additional curriculum extending the regular bachelor’s program. Thesis: Design and Implementation of a “Student Relationship Management” System.
Languages
- German — native
- English — professional proficiency
- Latin — intermediate certificate
Areas of Expertise
- HCI theories and methodologies
- Usable Security
- Human–Robot Interaction
- IT Security on Apple’s platforms
Grants & Prizes
- ÖAW DOC Fellowship, 2025–2026 (awarded 2024)
- Nomination for Best Student Paper at CHIRA 2025
- Nomination for Best Industrial Paper and Best Student Paper at CHIRA 2024
- Admission as TU Wien TOP Fellow, 2024
- Nomination for the TU Wien Best Poster Award, 2022
- Huawei “Seeds for the Future” scholarship, 2022
- Ars Docendi State Prize shortlist nomination, 2021
- TU Wien Bachelor with Honors, 2021
- TU Wien merit-based scholarship, 2019, 2021, and 2022
- Dr. Hans Riegel Awards, second place in Vienna, 2016
Positions
2025–2026
Project Assistant (ÖAW DOC Fellowship) at TU Wien
Independently funded doctoral research on perceived security, trust, and emerging technologies.
since 2022
Research Assistant at INSO GmbH
Lecturing on security on Apple’s platforms and assisting with the organization of lectures, exercises, and related teaching activities.
2024–2025
Project Assistant at Paris Lodron University of Salzburg
Worked on Diversity Computing Spaces, implementing prototypes, developing a study concept, and conducting workshops.
2022–2023
Project Assistant at TU Wien
Projects: MAXimizeMe, TREND 2023, and AR in the Factory.
2021–2023
Student Staff & Project Assistant at TU Wien
Research, documentation, public relations, and strategy planning.
2017–2021
Student Staff at TU Wien
Assisted in more than ten courses and served as head of tutors in three.
Internships
Feb. 2021
Intern · Research Industrial Systems Engineering (RISE)
Developed wireframes and a React prototype with Material-UI for a web-based administration interface.
Aug. 2019
Intern · Research Industrial Systems Engineering (RISE)
Developed automated software tests in C++14 and integrated them into a GitLab continuous-integration platform.
Volunteering
2025
TU Wien Representative at the BeSt Job Fair
Informed prospective students about studying at TU Wien.
2018–2019
Mentor for Beginners, TU Wien Mentoring Program
Supported new students during their start of studies, including organizing regular group meetings.
Affiliations to Research Projects
2024–2025
DivComp — Diversity Computing Spaces
- Co-conceptualized two distinct DivComp Spaces.
- Implemented both prototypes.
- Conducted on-site field observations.
- Contributed to qualitative and observational data analysis.
- Supported dissemination through publications and presentations.
2021–2023
MAXimizeMe — XXLMontage für alle [XXL Assembly for Everyone]
- Conceptualized and led a user study with more than 25 participants using semi-structured interviews, video and audio recordings, NASA-TLX, and the System Usability Scale.
- Analyzed, evaluated, and curated the results.
- First-authored an industrial experiences paper.
- Visited Wiener Linien and ÖBB maintenance facilities.
- Led two workshops on future and diversity.
- Communicated with project stakeholders.
2022–2023
TREND — Transparency and Trust: Yes, but how?
- Conceptualized and led a user study with more than 10 participants using semi-structured interviews and workshops.
- Analyzed, evaluated, and curated study results.
- Worked on publication of the results.
- Communicated with stakeholders.
2022
AR in the Factory
- Assisted with the conceptualization and execution of a user study with more than 15 participants.
- Used semi-structured interviews, video and audio recordings, NASA-TLX, and the System Usability Scale.
- Assisted with analysis, evaluation, and curation of results.
- Co-authored the corresponding full paper.
Publications
Depending on the paper and the respective publisher’s policy, I can provide an author copy for personal, scholarly use on request. Please email rafael@vrecar.eu.
Peer reviewed
- Vrecar, R., Geld, B., Dobrosovestnova, A., Čolakovová, M. G., & Weiss, A. (2026). Do Cookies Taste Different? The Impact of Options and Website Type When Setting Cookie Preferences. In J. F. Krems, H. P. da Silva, & P. Cipresso (Eds.), Computer-Human Interaction Research and Applications (CHIRA 2025). Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol. 2834, 56–77. Springer. DOI
- Vrecar, R., Weiss, A., Lepuschitz, W., Wedral, A., & Čolakovová, M. G. (2025). Why Do(n’t) You Trust Us? Highlighting the Importance of Trust and Transparency for Designing B2B Platforms in Electronics Manufacturing. In Computer-Human Interaction Research and Applications, 177–192. DOI
- Wedral, A., Vrecar, R., Ebenhofer, G., Pönitz, T., Wührer, P. H., Weiss, A., & Stübl, G. (2023). Spatial Augmented Reality in the Factory: Can In-Situ Projections Be Used to Communicate Dangers and Health Risks? In INTERACT 2023, 574–594. DOI
- Vrecar, R., Steinlechner, M., Rupprecht, P., Wedral, A., Negele, M., Palucki, M., Ratzer, B., & Weiss, A. (2023). How to Bring Diversity into Industry: Industrial Experiences in Public Transport Repair and Maintenance. In INTERACT 2023, 267–272. DOI
- Weiss, A., Vrecar, R., Zamiechowska, J., & Purgathofer, P. (2023). It’s Only a Bot! How Adversarial Chatbots can be a Vehicle to Teach Responsible AI. In Responsible Artificial Intelligence: Challenges for Sustainable Management, 235–250. DOI
- Weiss, A., Vrecar, R., Zamiechowska, J., & Purgathofer, P. (2021). Using the Design of Adversarial Chatbots as a Means to Expose Computer Science Students to the Importance of Ethics and Responsible Design of AI Technologies. In INTERACT 2021, 331–339. DOI
Others
- Vrecar, R. (2023). Student Review: “Sustainability” — a Term with Various Meanings and Implications. reposiTUm
- Vrecar, R. (2023). Dare to Care — Designing Differently, Imagining Collaboratively. reposiTUm
- Vrecar, R. (2022). Increasing User Satisfaction by Detecting Emotions in German-language Human-Robot Conversations with Q.bo One [Diploma Thesis, TU Wien]. reposiTUm. DOI
- Sabie, A.-C., Brunnmayr, K., Weinberger, K., Singer, R. S., Vrecar, R., & Spiel, K. (2020). This is not the new normal: studying during a pandemic. Interactions, 27(4), 12–15. DOI
Talks & Presentations
2026
Why AI Shouldn’t Decide What We Share with AI and How We Can Do Better
2025
Perception vs. Reality: The Illusion of Security – Why We (Erroneously) Trust Technologies in the Age of AI Revolution
2024
Academic Service
Conference committee roles
- Mensch und Computer [Human and Computer] (MuC 2025) — Associate Chair (handling five full papers as 1AC and six as 2AC) and ConfTool Chair
- Conversational User Interfaces (CUI 2026) — Web Chair
- Augmented Humans (AHs 2026) — Program Committee Member, reviewing three papers
Reviewing
2026
Three full papers as Program Committee Member for AHs 2026, two posters for CHI 2026, one full paper for RO-MAN 2026, and one Late-Breaking Work submission for MobileHCI 2026.
2025
Eleven full papers as Associate Chair for MuC 2025 (five as 1AC, six as 2AC), four full papers for INTERACT 2025, one full paper for C&T 2025, and one full paper for ISS 2025.
2024
Three full papers and one short paper for CHI 2025; one full paper for EICS 2024; one full and one short paper for MuC 2024; one talk proposal for INCOM 2024; and one full paper for ICSR 2024.
Teaching & Supervision
I’ve taught and contributed to courses at TU Wien, FH Wiener Neustadt, TU Graz, Montanuniversität Leoben, and Paris Lodron University Salzburg, touching on usable security, mobile and Apple-platform security, Human–Computer Interaction, Design Studies, Design Thinking, and personal informatics.
I created the Quantified Self course at Paris Lodron University Salzburg and taught its first two iterations in 2024 and 2025.
I’ve also helped with course organization and exams, and supported tutoring and student relations in various courses.
Selected topics
Completed diploma theses
- Düzgün, A. L. (2026). Designing and Evaluating Socially Assistive Robots: The Role of Language Choice in Dementia Care Scenarios [Diploma Thesis, TU Wien]. reposiTUm.
- Demoulin, C. (2025). Increasing User Satisfaction, Engagement and Retention in Life-Tracking Apps for Students: A Case Study of Methods on the App Habits.Network [Diploma Thesis, TU Wien]. reposiTUm.
- Kroll, M. (2025). CommentSense: An On-Device AI Browser Extension for Real-Time YouTube Comment Understanding [Diploma Thesis, TU Wien]. reposiTUm.
Appendix
- Head student representative at my high school
- Trained peer mediator
- “Soci” of FC Barcelona and board member of the club’s official supporters’ association in Vienna
- Wrote tactical analysis for years for the leading German-language FC Barcelona outlet
- Ran one of the leading German-language Simpsons fan pages as a teenager