Prof. Dr. Alexandre de Spindler

ZHAW School of Management and Law
Institute of Information Systems
Theaterstrasse 17
8400 Winterthur

+41 (0) 58 934 68 39
alexandre.despindler@zhaw.ch

Work at ZHAW

Position

Professor of Information Systems
Co-Leading the Center for Information Systems and Technologies at the ZHAW Institute of Business Information Technology.

Focus

Alexandre’s research focuses on frameworks for multi-party human-AI collaboration, where digital agents act as context-aware partners within human teams. His work combines approaches from Design Theory and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) to design and implement conversational and multimodal interactions with information systems. Through frameworks such as PROMISE and Social Behaviour Regulation (SBR), he develops methods that make large language model–based systems predictable, reliable, and socially responsive. These frameworks support applied research on forms of collaboration in healthcare, learning environments, and advisory contexts, enhancing the quality and feasibility of complex bilateral and multilateral interactions.

Teaching

Enabling students to design, develop and validate value of IT products. As part of the Information Systems Teaching (BSc, MSc) and Continuing Education (CAS) programs, we teach agile requirements engineering and prototyping and validation of data-driven full-stack applications. Our contributions to Data Science programs (BSc, MSc, CAS) range from traditional machine learning to generative AI applied to numerical, text, and image data.

Education and Continuing education

Education

Dr. sc. / Computer Science
ETH Zurich
08 / 2005 - 12 / 2010
MSc / Computer Science
ETH Zurich
09 / 1999 - 07 / 2005

Continuing Education

CAS Higher Education
ZHAW
04 / 2015

Network

Membership of networks

Competence Center for Generative AI

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8002-4157

Social media

Projects

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

Unger, T., Kühnis, B., Sauerzopf, L., Spiess, M. R., de Spindler, A., Luft, A. R., Easthope Awai, C., Schönhammer, J. G., & Gavagnin, E. (2025). Using deep learning to detect upper limb compensation in individuals post-stroke using consumer-grade webcams : a feasibility study. Frontiers in Medicine, 12(1645369). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2025.1645369
Meng, M., Hediger, H., de Spindler, A., & Händler-Schuster, D. (2024). Health issues of young adults with hearing loss or deafness : a basis for the development of a chatbot. Zeitschrift Für Evidenz, Fortbildung Und Qualität Im Gesundheitswesen, 190, 20–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zefq.2024.09.002
Leone, S., de Spindler, A., Norrie, M., & McLeod, D. (2014). Component-based web engineering using shared components and connectors. Journal of Web Engineering, 13(3&4), 183–202. https://journals.riverpublishers.com/index.php/JWE/article/view/3923/2719
Grossniklaus, M., Leone, S., de Spindler, A., & Norrie, M. C. (2013). A platform to support object database research. Journal of Object Technology, 12(2), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.5381/jot.2013.12.2.a2
de Spindler, A., Norrie, M. C., & Grossniklaus, M. (2008). Recommendation based on opportunistic information sharing between tourists. Information Technology & Tourism, 2008(10), 297–311. https://doi.org/10.3727/109830508788403178

Books, peer-reviewed

de Spindler, A. (2012). Collection-oriented programming : a collection-oriented application framework for mobile information systems [Doctoral dissertation]. Südwestdeutscher Verlag für Hochschulschriften.

Written conference contributions, peer-reviewed

Heierli, J., Gavagnin, E., Wu, W., Händler-Schuster, D., Dolata, M., Schwabe, G., & de Spindler, A. (2025). From conversation to agent : LLM-driven design of structured healthcare agents [Conference paper]. Procedia Computer Science, 272, 269–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2025.10.205
Mladenov, P., Heierli, J., de Spindler, A., & Gavagnin, E. (2025). Missing pieces : how humans and GPT-4.1 detect absence and predict the unseen [Conference paper]. Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on MLLM for Unified Comprehension and Generation, 9–13. https://doi.org/10.1145/3746276.3760466
Fries, T., Grünert, D., de Spindler, A., & Dellwo, V. (2025, July 23). DSER : dialog-structure-aware metric for speaker diarization evaluation in forensics. 33rd Annual Conference of the International Association for Forensic Phonetics and Acoustics (IAFPA), the Hague, the Netherlands, 20-23 July 2025.
Wu, W., Dolata, M., de Spindler, A., & Schwabe, G. (2025, June 1). Persuasive prompting : the case of digital health. ECIS 2025 Proceedings. https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2025/health_it/health_it/10/
Städeli, R., Leu, R., Heierli, J., Meisterhans, M., Gavagnin, E., & de Spindler, A. (2024). Multimodal conversational interactions for facial composites : a case for stateful prompt orchestration [Conference paper]. In C. Capol, M. Cieliebak, A. Weichselbraun, C. Musat, E. Maier, & L. Zimmermann (Eds.), Proceedings of the 9th edition of the Swiss Text Analytics Conference (pp. 59–67). Association for Computational Linguistics. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-32139
Wu, W., Heierli, J., Meisterhans, M., Moser, A., Färber, A., Dolata, M., Gavagnin, E., de Spindler, A., & Schwabe, G. (2024). PROMISE : model-driven stateful prompt orchestration for persuasive conversational interactions. 9th Swiss Text Analytics Conference – SwissText 2024, Chur, Switzerland, 10-11 June 2024.
Wu, W., Heierli, J., Meisterhans, M., Moser, A., Färber, A., Dolata, M., Gavagnin, E., de Spindler, A., & Schwabe, G. (2024). PROMISE : a framework for model-driven stateful prompt orchestration [Conference paper]. In S. Islam & A. Sturm (Eds.), Intelligent Information Systems (pp. 157–165). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-61000-4_18
Helland, S., Gavagnin, E., & de Spindler, A. (2023). Divide et impera : multi-transformer architectures for complex NLP-tasks [Conference paper]. Proceedings of the 8th Edition of the Swiss Text Analytics Conference, 70–75. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-30386
Färber, A., de Spindler, A., Moser, A., & Schwabe, G. (2023). Closing the loop for patients with chronic diseases : from problems to a solution architecture [Conference paper]. 2023 IEEE 11th International Conference on Healthcare Informatics (ICHI), 361–370. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICHI57859.2023.00055
Frei, E., Färber, A., Sidler-Brand, C., & de Spindler, A. (2016). Leveraging the impact of occupation on health and well-being. Nationaler Kongress Der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft Für Gerontologie, “Alter”@Technik”, Freiburg, 28.-29. Januar 2016.
Bloch, A., Erdin, R., Meyer, S., Keller, T., & de Spindler, A. (2015). Battery-efficient transportation mode detection on mobile devices [Conference paper]. 2015 16th IEEE International Conference on Mobile Data Management, 185–190. https://doi.org/10.1109/MDM.2015.16
de Spindler, A., Leone, S., & Norrie, M. (2013). Co-ODB : integrating support for collaborative information systems into an object database [Conference paper]. 2013 International Conference on Collaboration Technologies and Systems (CTS), 538–545. https://doi.org/10.1109/CTS.2013.6567284
Leone, S., de Spindler, A., Norrie, M., & McLeod, D. (2013). Integrating component-based web engineering into content management systems [Conference paper]. In F. Daniel, P. Dolog, & Q. Li (Eds.), Web engineering : 13th International Conference, ICWE 2013, Aalborg, Denmark, July 8-12, 2013. Proceedings (pp. 37–51). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39200-9
Leone, S., de Spindler, A., & McLeod, D. (2013). Model-driven composition of information systems from shared components & connectors [Conference paper]. In R. Meersman, H. Panetto, T. Dillon, J. Eder, Z. Bellahsene, N. Ritter, P. De Leenheer, & D. Dou (Eds.), On the move to meaningful internet systems : OTM 2013 conferences (pp. 204–221). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41030-7_13
Leone, S., de Spindler, A., & Norrie, M. C. (2012). A meta-plugin for bespoke data management in WordPress [Conference paper]. In X. S. Wang, I. Cruz, A. Delis, & G. Huang (Eds.), Web Information Systems Engineering - WISE 2012 (pp. 580–593). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35063-4_42
de Spindler, A., Leone, S., Nebeling, M., Geel, M., & Norrie, M. C. (2011). Using synchronised tag clouds for browsing data collections [Conference paper]. In H. Mouratidis & C. Rolland (Eds.), Advanced Information Systems Engineering : 23rd International Conference, CAiSE 2011, London, UK, June 20-24, 2011. Proceedings (pp. 214–228). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21640-4_17
Grossniklaus, M., Leone, S., de Spindler, A., & Norrie, M. C. (2010). Dynamic metamodel extension modules to support adaptive data management [Conference paper]. In B. Pernici (Ed.), Proceedings of CAiSE 2010 : 22nd International Conference on advanced information systems engineering (pp. 363–377). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13094-6_29
Leone, S., de Spindler, A., & Norrie, M. C. (2010). Framework for experimentation with ambient wall displays [Conference paper]. In R. Meersmann, T. Dillon, & P. Herrero (Eds.), On the move to meaningful internet systems : OTM 2010 workshops (pp. 140–149). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16961-8_31
Grossniklaus, M., de Spindler, A., Zimmerli, C., & Norrie, M. C. (2010). A flexible object model and algebra for uniform access to object databases [Conference paper]. In A. Dearle & R. V. Zicari (Eds.), Objects and databases (pp. 56–69). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16092-9_8
de Spindler, A., Leone, S., Geel, M., & Norrie, M. C. (2010). Using tag clouds to promote community awareness in research environments [Conference paper]. In L. Yuhua (Ed.), Cooperative Design, Visualization, and Engineering : 7th International Conference, CDVE 2010, Calvia, Mallorca, Spain, September 19-22, 2010, Proceedings (pp. 3–10). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16066-0_1
Leone, S., Grossniklaus, M., De Spindler, A., & Norrie, M. C. (2010). Synchronising personal data with Web 2.0 data sources [Conference paper]. In L. Chen, P. Triantafillou, & T. Suel (Eds.), Proceedings of WISE 2010 : 11th international conference on web information systems engineering (pp. 411–418). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17616-6
Signer, B., de Spindler, A., & Norrie, M. C. (2009). Collaborative ad-hoc information sharing in cross-media information environments [Conference paper]. In R. Meersmann & T. Dillon (Eds.), Proceedings of CoopIS 2009 : on the move to meaningful internet systems. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-05148-7
Grossniklaus, M., Leone, S., de Spindler, A., & Norrie, M. C. (2009). Unified event model for object databases [Conference paper]. In M. C. Norrie (Ed.), Proceedings of ICOODB 2009 : 2nd International Conference on object databases (pp. 113–131). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14681-7_7
de Spindler, A., Grossniklaus, M., & Norrie, M. C. (2009). Development framework for mobile social applications [Conference paper]. In P. van Eck, J. Gordijn, & R. Wieringa (Eds.), Advanced Information Systems Engineering : 21st International Conference, CAiSE 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 8-12, 2009. Proceedings (pp. 275–289). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02144-2_24
Leone, S., Norrie, M. C., Signer, B., & de Spindler, A. (2009). From static methods to role-driven service invocation : a metamodel for active content in object databases [Conference paper]. In A. H. F. Laender, S. Castano, U. Dayal, F. Casati, & J. Palazzo M. de Oliveira (Eds.), Conceptual Modeling - ER 2009 : 28th International Conference on Conceptual Modeling, Gramado, Brazil, November 9-12, 2009 : Proceedings (pp. 444–457). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04840-1_33
de Spindler, A., Grossniklaus, M., Lins, C., & Norrie, M. C. (2009). Information sharing modalities for mobile ad-Hoc networks [Conference paper]. In R. Meersman, T. Dillon, & P. Herrero (Eds.), On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems: OTM 2009 : Confederated International Conferences, CoopIS, DOA, IS, and ODBASE 2009, Vilamoura, Portugal, November 1-6, 2009, Proceedings, Part I (pp. 322–339). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-05148-7_22
Signer, B., de Spindler, A., & Norrie, M. C. (2009). A framework for link sharing in cooperative cross-media information spaces [Conference paper]. In Y. Luo (Ed.), Proceedings of the 6th international conference on cooperative design, visualization and engineering (pp. 185–192). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04265-2_27
Norrie, M. C., Grossniklaus, M., Decurins, C., de Spindler, A., Vancea, A., & Leone, S. (2008). Semantic data management for db4o [Conference paper]. In S. Edlich & J. H. Paterson (eds.), Proceedings of ICOODB 2008 : 1st International Conference on Object Databases (pp. 21–38). Tribun EU.
de Spindler, A., Leone, S., Grossniklaus, M., & Norrie, M. (2008). Harnessing facebook for the evaluation of recommender systems based on physical copresence [Conference paper]. In M. Zanker, A. Felfernig, & R. Burke (Eds.), Proceedings of ECAI 2008 : Workshop on Recommender Systems (pp. 20–25). IOS Press.
de Spindler, A., Norrie, M. C., & Grossniklaus, M. (2007). Collaborative filtering based on opportunistic information sharing in mobile ad-Hoc networks [Conference paper]. In R. Meersman & Z. Tari (eds.), On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2007: CoopIS, DOA, ODBASE, GADA, and IS : OTM Confederated International Conferences CoopIS, DOA, ODBASE, GADA, and IS 2007, Vilamoura, Portugal, November 25-30, 2007, Proceedings (pp. 408–416). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-76848-7_28
de Spindler, A., Grossniklaus, M., & Norrie, M. C. (2007). A collection-oriented framework for social applications [Conference paper]. In R. Meersman, Z. Tari, & P. Herrero (Eds.), On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems 2007: OTM 2007 Workshops : OTM Confederated International Workshops and Posters, AWeSOMe, CAMS, OTM Academy Doctoral Consortium, MONET, OnToContent, ORM, PerSys, PPN, RDDS, SSWS (pp. 437–446). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-76888-3_66
de Spindler, A., Norrie, M. C., Grossniklaus, M., & Signer, B. (2006). Spatio-temporal proximity as a basis for collaborative filtering in mobile environments [Conference paper]. In T. Latour & M. Petit (Eds.), CAISE ’06 : 18th Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering : trusted information systems, Luxembourg, 5-9 June, 2006 : proceedings of the workshops and doctoral consortium (pp. 912–926). Presses universitaires de Namur.

Other publications

Brucker-Kley, E., Keller, T., Borghoff, B., Stutz, I., Michot, J., de Spindler, A., Gavagnin, E., & Turegard, J. (2024). Science fiction prototyping : friendship with artificial intelligence. ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2495
Brucker-Kley, E., Keller, T., Borghoff, B., Stutz, I., Michot, J., de Spindler, A., Gavagnin, E., & Turegard, J. (2024). Science Fiction Prototyping : Freundschaft mit Künstlicher Intelligenz. ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2494
Moser, A., Brucker-Kley, E., de Spindler, A., Leikert-Böhm, N., Mallepell, M., Bianchi, R., & Barattiero, A. (2021). Vom Formular zum Dialog : neue Wege der Auftragserteilung in der Finanzbranche. ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2407
Färber, A., de Spindler, A., Frei, E., Moser, A., Meisterhans, M., & Stalder, P. (2018). FairCare : the network based solution for collaborative future care : AAL final project report. Eidgenössisches Departement für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung.
Frei, E., Färber, A., Sidler-Brand, C., & de Spindler, A. (2016). Plattformen zur Weitergabe von Erfahrungen älterer Menschen : Beschäftigung als wichtiger Einflussfaktor auf Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden. 5. AAL Tagung, Wädenswil, 18. März 2016.
Signer, B., de Spindler, A., & Norrie, M. C. (2009). A peer-to-peer-based distributed link service architecture. ETH Zürich. https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-006836279

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

de Spindler, A., Heierli, JasminJ., & Händler-Schuster, D. (2026, March 17). From hearing loss to the SIRA-framework : Ergebnisse aus dem Projekt GeHör. ZHAW Digital Health Lab, Winterthur, Schweiz, 17. März 2026.
Grünert, D., Pfister, D., de Spindler, A., & Dellwo, V. (2024, August 28). Generating synthetic datasets for the validation and training of automatic speech analysis systems in the context of organized crime. 2nd Interdisciplinary Conference on Voice Identity, Marburg, Germany, 28-30 August 2024. https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/fb09/institutes/german-linguistics/phonetics/media/voiceid-booklet.pdf
Grünert, D., de Spindler, A., & Dellwo, V. (2023). Speaker diarization systems in the context of forensic audio analysis [Conference presentation]. 31st IAFPA Conference : Book of Abstracts, 74–75.
Keller, T., Brucker-Kley, E., Borghoff, B., de Spindler, A., Michot, J., & Stutz, I. (2023, November 28). Science Fiction Prototyping für verantwortungsvolle Innovationen – Freundschaft mit KI immersiv erleben. Projektabschluss-Event Swiss Science Center Technorama, Winterthur, Schweiz, 28. November 2023.
Borghoff, B., Brucker-Kley, E., Keller, T., Stutz, I., de Spindler, A., Michot, J., & Turegard, J. (2023, October 26). Freundschaft mit KI immersiv erleben – Science Fiction Prototyping für verantwortungsvolle Innovationen. IAM MediaLab Veranstaltung, Winterthur, Schweiz, 26. Oktober 2023.
Zigan, N., & de Spindler, A. (2018, April 17). Projekt FairCare. Fachtagung Altersforum, Winterthur, 17. April 2018.
de Spindler, A. (2017). A feasibility study of measuring indoor people encounters for the analysis of the spread of infectious diseases. 4th Medtech & Pharma Platform Annual Conference, Basel, Switzerland, 26-27 October 2017.
Färber, A., Frei, E., de Spindler, A., & Moser, A. (2017). FairCare - die Vermittlung von formeller und informeller Pflege für ältere Menschen optimieren : EU-Forschungsprojekt aus dem AAL Programm. 6. AAL Tagung Netzwerktreffen FM Perspektiven, Wädenswil, 7. April 2017.
Keller, T., Bloch, A., Erdin, R., Fueglistaler, S., & de Spindler, A. (2014). Transportmittelerkennung : Motivation, Ideen, Umsetzung und Validierung. IWI Faculty Workshop, Winterthur, 13. Februar 2014.
de Spindler, A. (2014). XINIX : bisherige Arbeiten, Stand und nächste Schritte. IWI Faculty Workshop, Winterthur, 13. Februar 2014.
Rohrkemper, R., Keller, T., & de Spindler, A. (2013, January 24). Hot author detection via social network analysis. IWI Faculty Workshop, Winterthur, 24. Januar 2013.

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