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Volume 16 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.949138 This article is part of the Research TopicHybrid Brain-Robot Interfaces for Enhancing MobilityView all 6 articles Human–computer integration is an emerging area in which the boundary between humans and technology is blurred as users and computers work collaboratively and share agency to execute tasks The sense of agency (SoA) is an experience that arises by a combination of a voluntary motor action and sensory evidence whether the corresponding body movements have somehow influenced the course of external events The SoA is not only a key part of our experiences in daily life but also in our interaction with technology as it gives us the feeling of “I did that” as opposed to “the system did that,” thus supporting a feeling of being in control This feeling becomes critical with human–computer integration wherein emerging technology directly influences people’s body we analyse and classify current integration technologies based on what we currently know about agency in the literature and propose a distinction between body augmentation we describe agency considerations and markers of differentiation that illustrate a relationship between assistance level (low We conclude with a reflection on the opportunities and challenges of integrating humans with computers and finalise with an expanded definition of human–computer integration including agency aspects which we consider to be particularly relevant The aim this review is to provide researchers and practitioners with guidelines to situate their work within the integration research agenda and consider the implications of any technologies on SoA and thus overall user experience when designing future technology This means that this integration can happen between the user and a software agent (e.g. In both cases, body assistance and behaviour influence, a common aspect of human-computer integration is the mixed agency between humans and systems. The sense of agency (SoA), often referred to as the feeling of being in control, arises when a person has an intention to produce a particular outcome, the body moves by action of the brain’s voluntary motor system, and produces the intended outcome in the environment (Chambon et al., 2014) Emerging integrated technology is changing how we experience these events as designers aim to augment how the user experiences their own body We argue that by looking at integration systems through the lens of SoA we could provide a clearer and more accurate definition of human–computer integration which we consider to be particularly relevant The aim of this review is to provide researchers and practitioners with guidelines to situate their work within the integration research agenda and consider the implications of any technologies on SoA The SoA refers to the experience of being the initiator of one’s own voluntary actions and through them influencing the external world (Beck et al., 2017). Georgieff and Jeannerod (1998) defined this phenomenon as a “who” system that permits the identification of the agent of an action and thus differentiates the self from external agents Unlike views of agency related to beliefs or felt capacity to act (e.g., the sense of self-efficacy described by Bandura, 1982), the SoA rather refers to the experience that is associated with actual goal-directed motor acts, that is, the body moving under intentional control, to achieve the goal state (Haggard, 2017) a person may have agency beliefs over some aspect of their lives (“I could lift that weight”) but might not actually do anything to bring this about if the person moves their body and succeeds in lifting the weight they are assumed to have SoA with respect to the corresponding displacement of the weight whereas SoA is strictly factual and event-related Infants gradually develop control over their own body in simple actions are increasingly repeated suggests that the infant may experience a link between their control of the action and the rewarding sensation that the action produces Therefore, the SoA contains two layers, body agency and external agency (Wen, 2019). The first is illustrated in Figure 2A, and refers to the experience of controlling one’s own body, and receiving the bodily feedback that results from the movement one had commanded (e.g., moving my hand). The second is illustrated in Figure 2B and refers to the experience of controlling external events and receiving the appropriate external feedback from the environment (e.g. We mark this difference as we use these two layers in our classification in later sections An intention to produce an outcome followed by the body moving to perform the action that produces such outcome (A) Body agency: the outcome occurs in the body itself (mainly movements) (B) External agency: the outcome occurs outside the body (in the environment) The SoA is the experiential aspect of this fact This action-effect causality is particularly crucial in our interactions with the technologies that figure in HCI Human–computer interaction is defined as a stimulus–response interplay between humans and technology (Farooq and Grudin, 2016). Actions are represented by user input commands, and outcomes are represented by system feedback. Input modalities thus serve to translate user’s intentions into state changes within the system, while system feedback informs the user about the system’s current state (see Figure 3A) the SoA is crucial to support a feeling of being in control we expect the system to respond to our input commands as we want to feel we are in charge of the interaction If this stimulus–response interplay elicits a SoA then the user will have a feeling of “I am controlling this.” (A) Human–computer interaction—a stimulus–response interplay between humans and technology (B) human–computer integration—a symbiosis/fusion in which humans and technology share agency augmenting the capabilities of body Loss of SoA during interactions with technology is commonplace (try buying a train ticket when you first arrive in a new country) SoA is gaining increasing attention from the field of HCI Designing interactions that increase the user’s SoA will provide the feeling of “I did that” as opposed to “the system did that,” thus supporting a feeling of being in control If the user is to feel a strong and convincing SoA we argue that events must follow from the user’s intentions true shared agency would seem to require the system to understand the user’s intentions facilitating them rather than frustrating them we describe the challenges of human–computer integration Unlike HCI, human–computer integration refers to a partnership in which humans and systems act with autonomy. A characteristic of such integration is the designers’ goal to augment the capabilities of the user’s own body, the actions executed, and the outcomes resulting from those actions. For example, systems can augment the user’s body by adding an extra limb that makes actions faster, also resulting in amplified sensory outcomes (see Figure 3B) We define augmentation technology as integration systems that aim to enhance the path from intention to outcome addressing current limitations from the user’s body or the environment where the outcomes occur a robotic prosthesis which circuits are connected directly to the human nerves and communicate with the user’s motor system allowing the user to freely control the robotic prosthesis the system always prompts the user to make an action We use the terms “fusion” and “symbiosis” to differentiate our classification in later sections While prior work has discussed the challenges around human–computer integration, an articulation of the key challenges around agency is missing in the literature. To help practitioners interested in agency implications for human–computer integration, this paper reviews emerging integration systems and classifies them intro three main categories—body augmentation, action augmentation, and outcome augmentation (summarised in Table 1) In each category we discuss how agency is shared between the user and the system and provide discussion that we hope can serve as guidelines for agency implication when designing future integration technology We analyse integration systems that share agency with the user putting special attention on the psychology aspects of the technology our review already gathers a large number of innovations on integration The works reviewed here do not necessarily measure or show results on SoA most of the technology discussed in this paper does not consider implications for agency in its design or evaluation This is part of our motivation arising from the lack of focus on agency in the field of HCI and recently in human–computer integration To that end, based on what we know about agency in the literature (e.g., how it arises) and the characteristics of the technology (e.g., sharing control with the user), and motivated by the key elements of SoA (see Figure 2), we have created these three categories as summarised in Table 1 and expand them in terms of agency type To ensure we consider only technologies involving SoA we included only systems that meet the following two criteria: • Motor target: The device or technique needs to involve a movement from the user and not simply beliefs about potential actions the action might start by a simple thought or intention but needs to wind up in an actual motor movement we do not consider passive assistive technology such as music recommendations • Intentional actions: Only systems involving voluntary movements are considered they should at least involve intentions or pre-planning from the user technology involving completely passive assistance that actuates/assist the user without the user’s intention are not considered (e.g. We created our three categories based on three main elements that compose the SoA and that are key in human–computer integration (i.e., body, action, and outcome). We refer to body as the physical structure that acts via somatosensory inputs (Serino and Haggard, 2010), action as the process to achieve an aim including motor preparation, specification of motor commands and sensory feedback from actual body movement (Haggard et al., 2002) or technique (within our inclusion criteria) that facilitates the match between the intention and the outcome we refer to environment as the physical space where the outcomes occur (as opposed to internal outcomes occurring inside one’s own body) Below we describe markers of distinction of the different categories (rather than in their similarities or overlaps) in order to identify aspects that delimit augmentation type (body 1. The role of agency during the interaction: This refers to how SoA arises during the interaction and the type of control that the user has over the system and vice versa, to produce a match between the user’s intention and the intended outcome (see column 2 in Table 1) the user has a higher level of influence over the system as the user has full control to produce the outcome (e.g. controlling the movement of an extra limb) the system has more influence over the user as it assists them to achieve a desired outcome which might not be achieved without the system’s assistance (e.g. accelerate the user speed to catch an object) the system has more influence over the outcome than the user has as it modulates the experienced result of an action without the user realising (e.g. a VR system that creates the illusion that the environment is larger) 2. The limitations that the technology addresses: The integrated technology comes into play depending on the origin of the limitation (see column 3 in Table 1) technology helps in the limitations of the user’s own body (e.g. technology addresses the limitations of the user’s skills (e.g. the technology addresses the limitations of the experienced environment where the outcomes occur (e.g. technology assist when the user’s goal is basically not achievable in pure form 3. Where the agency is experienced: This refers to whether the user experiences a body agency or an external agency (see column 4 in Table 1) the body augmentation category includes extra devices that resemble the user’s own body and therefore the user mostly experiences a SoA over body movements The action augmentation category includes systems that involve assisted motor actions that produce outcomes in the environment and therefore the user can experience a SoA of both their own body movements and external events the outcome augmentation category includes systems that modify the experienced external environment and therefore the user mostly experiences a SoA over external events rather than over body movements The SoA reflects an experience of control over one’s own body. However, feeling that “my body moved” is not sufficient. We need to experience the voluntary experience of “I made my body move” to have a SoA (Haggard, 2017) The emerging area of human–computer integration is changing the way people control technology with their own body wearable devices and prosthetics can extend the user’s body not only by resembling the human shape but also by replicating human movements This creates a shared experience between the user and the system that we call body augmentation Agency process for body augmentation technology The user’s action controls the system to produce an intended outcome This effect allows people to experience a SoA even when a body extension is external and does not necessarily resemble a human shape agency delegation (human-technology) and integration type (fusion-symbiosis) we provide more examples of integration technology that add (extra limbs) and replace (prosthesis) body parts to the user Map of the three types of body augmentation technology that we identified (extra limbs and prosthetics) and their relationship with assistance level Scenario example | The user has a motor disability that constrains them from moving their arms and legs and therefore cannot control a conventional electric wheelchair (e.g., joystick-based) see Figure 9B but they can perform some subtle facial expressions the system detects small muscle movements from the user’s face (recorded by sensors located on the user’s cheeks) and translate them into patterns to control the wheelchair This input produces an expected outcome (e.g. the extra arm moving to the left) that gives the user an experience of controlling the robotic arm Figure 7. Examples of body augmentation technology that becomes action augmentation technology. Extra limbs and prosthetic technology that not only provide motor control but also help the user to perform complex tasks and achieve goals in the external world. (A) Royal College of Arts (2021), (B) Open Bionics (2021), (C) Sasaki et al. (2017), (D) Arm Dynamics (2020) Agency process for action augmentation technology The system assists the user’s action to produce the intended outcome Here also the system often goes beyond bodily limitations we argue that body augmentation technology amplifies the processes of the body itself such as the user’s movements or the sense of touch (body agency) by means of attached devices or by extending the body to external devices but not necessarily augments the user’s actions that produce external events in the outside world (external agency) When a device assists the user’s actions we call it action augmentation (explained in next section) then that system becomes an action augmentation technology as well This means that one single device can be considered at the same time under both types of augmentation body and action. However, we define the limits of the body augmentation to the outcomes being internal body processes (body agency), while action augmentation enables outcomes outside the body as well (external agency). Figure 7 shows examples of devices that share body and action augmentation In the emerging area of human–computer integration technology designers and researchers aim to augment the capabilities of action reflecting a shared agency between the user and the system While research suggests that assistance can negatively affect the SoA (Berberian et al., 2012; Le Goff et al., 2018; Berberian, 2019), studies have shown that giving assistance improves user performance, which in turn produces a positive effect on agency (Wen et al., 2015; Inoue et al., 2017) action augmentation technology aims to increase the perceived user’s performance by giving assistance but without diminishing the SoA While action augmentation technology can be seen as systems that might change the course of the user’s action this technology only changes the action to match the intention a person might want to walk but do not be able to due to a motor disability an intelligent exoskeleton) augments subtle motor movements (that without the technology assistance are not enough to meet the intention) to achieve the ultimate goal—to walk Map of the three types of action augmentation technology that we identified (input command motor actuation and intelligent systems) and their relationship with assistance level giving the user great levels of control over external events triggered by their own skin the wheelchair decreasing its speed) and then the user experiences a SoA One particular characteristic of the aforementioned technology is that although the input commands might be simple (as they will be augmented), the user the suer is delegated full agency over the actions executed, which means that there is low or null assistance from the system. Moreover, this type of integration is considered as a fusion (Mueller et al., 2020) as there is an embodied mediation, in which technology is attached or wearable (see Figure 10) action augmentation technology using motor actuation aims to augment the user’s actions increasing thus the perceived user’s performance by giving assistance but without diminishing the SoA Scenario example: The user is asked to catch a pen (see Figure 9F) To assist the user’s action (close their hand in the right moment) an electrode attached to the user’s forearm produces a small electric shock which causes their hand to close at the exact moment that the object is in front of their hand (i.e. This system assistance is in turn accompanied by the user’s intention to close her hand they believe they have made the action and their SoA is not lost Unlike motor actuation, in which the collaboration between humans and systems is physical (e.g., actuating the user’s muscles or exertion) and devices and sensors are attached (electrodes, wearables, tattoos), intelligent systems share agency on a cognitive level. That is, the system can influence our decisions, so that the action is augmented but without diminishing the SoA. This type of integration has been named symbiosis (Mueller et al., 2020) Some examples of symbiosis described by Farooq and Grudin (2016) are Artificial Intelligent (AI) systems that execute actions on behalf of the user This goes beyond simple reminders (a calendar agent that reminds you that today is your friend’s birthday) but they actually change or influence the course of the user’s actions an intelligent alarm that wakes you up 15 min earlier the time you had set because it detects that today’s bad weather will require you extra time to make sure you make it for your meeting at 8:30am or an intelligent agent in a tablet that requires a child to finish an academic task before allowing them to watch their favourite video cartoons that although autonomous systems might change the user’s actions or decisions the ultimate goal or intention remains the same AI predictors used in translation and browsing tools provide the user with text recommendations that suggest refinements of the user’s action These suggestions might differ from the user original action however since text recommendations can be quite precise (e.g. the user can easily agree and accept such suggestions and still attribute the outcome to themselves resulting in a SoA being experienced (e.g. that serve as a replacement for human labour in which agency is completely delegated to technology Scenario example: The user is translating a document from French to English using an autocompletion predictor (see Figure 9G) The user starts typing the first sentence and the system (which works with an extensive database) immediately predicts the most appropriate sentence in English which is different than the sentence the user had in mind The system shows the suggested sentence to the user who then approves it The user continues translating the whole document and then starts losing the feeling of being assisted translated this document”) and thinks the decisions are fully made by themselves they attribute the outcome to themselves (e.g. “I translated this document”) The SoA has been explained by retrospective theories suggesting that the experience of agency arises from variable post-hoc inferences occurring not only during the action but also after the action has occurred, rather than as a result of motor preparation and cognitive anticipation (Wegner, 2003). This means that the nature of the outcome can modulate the beliefs of the action (Johansson et al., 2005) Recent methods in HCI use outcome modulation to create the illusion that an action’s outcome happening in the environment It is important to highlight that this technology does not change the physical environment itself but changes the beliefs about the environment when this cannot be physically changed Although those illusions are usually unnoticed and they aim to match the user’s expectations there is a causation conflict (what I did vs what it actually occurred) representing a shared agency between the user and the system where technology addresses limitations of the body itself or action augmentation in which technology addresses limitations of the user’s skills outcome augmentation addresses limitations of the experienced environment where the outcomes occur Providing the user with the expected outcome is straightforward when the physical environment allows to change it (e.g. illuminating the room when pressing the light switch) there are situations in which the physical environment cannot be changed or when the expected outcome is not possible to occur in the physical environment (e.g. This is when outcome augmentation technology comes into play by modulating the beliefs about the outcome in the environment the user plans an action and expects an intended outcome but since the environment cannot offer such outcome (e.g. due to constraints in the physical space) the system detects the environment limitations and adjusts it in a way that the user experiences a match between the action and the intended outcome In this case, the SoA arises by a process in which the system modulates the outcome after the user executes an action. This outcome modulation is unnoticed by the user and therefore, they have an experience of agency. That is, the user observes the augmented outcome (conflicting the action) but still attributes it to their action. The main interaction is given by the influence that the system has over the outcome (see Figure 11) Agency process for outcome augmentation technology The system modulates the outcome to match the user’s intention fully attribution is given to the original authors Map of the two types of outcome augmentation technology that we identified (Illusions in VR and crossmodal correspondences) and their relationship with assistance level Since this technology modulates beliefs about the outcome in the environment, it might also change the course of the user’s actions (e.g., modifying the user’s movements) by providing assistance in order to meet the intention. Therefore, this type of integration can be considered a mix of fusion and symbiosis as shown in Figure 13 the user receives assistance from the system (mediated by body sensing) to execute actions but the user always has an intention and acts in conjunction with the system (mixed agency) induces the effect of infinite walking using electric stimulation by actuating the legs of the user (stimulating the sartorius muscle) allowing the user to infinitely walk in the virtual world without the necessity to have an infinite physical world people still experience both psychological and physiological responses to the events happening in the virtual environment outcome augmentation technology aims to modulate the beliefs about the outcome without diminishing the SoA when the environment conditions are limited Scenario example: The user is in a virtual world where they see three cubes in three different locations (Figure 12A) and then is asked to grab one by one. While grabbing each cube, they see how a virtual hand, matching their own hand’s position, travels different trajectories as they grab the different cubes. However, in the real world there is only one cube (Figure 12A) an algorithm modifies the virtual seen trajectories to make the user believe there are three physical cubes in the real word the user moves her hand along the same trajectory for each cube they do not notice such changes in her hand’s trajectories and therefore they experience a sensory match between her action and the seen resulting outcome and therefore a SoA occurs Taking advantage of this crossmodal effect CCs can be used to provide experiences of amplified sensory features when a certain sensory modality is limited lead people perceiving themselves as thinner/lighter While CCs are not too preeminent in the design of integrated technology we included it in our classification because we see previous insights on how to use them for attached devices we aim to highlight the advantages of using CCs as the effect they produce looks promising for outcome augmentation we argue that for future integration technology using CCs systems can modulate beliefs about the outcome in the environment but not necessarily changing the course of the user’s actions (e.g. modifying the user’s movements) but influencing the feelings toward an outcome (e.g. More opportunities around adopting CCs within human–computer integration technology can be studied in the future Scenario example: Imagine you want to improve your running time while training in the mornings then a wearable smart t-shirt (through close-loop multisensory stimulation) makes you feel faster and stronger while running consequently improving your actual performance This improvement perception thus helps you meet your expectations of exercise completion at the same time it promotes a positive feeling toward exercising we have introduced a classification of the key elements that compose the SoA (body action and outcome) and that technology designers aim to augment to give the user amplified experiences We not only describe how agency arises in each of those categories but also discern the type of agency experienced (body external) as well as different examples of technologies fitting each category and their relation to integration (fusion We argue that the integration technology described in the different categories should always augment the user capabilities (e.g. while a system could be seen as simply restoring a lost ability (e.g. the current physical attributes of the user should be augmented compared with their current constrains We consider these markers of differentiation more valuable to first help partitioners identify their work within the integration research agenda to better define integration from the lens of agency In the next sections we describe advantages that represent opportunities for the future of integrated systems as well as possible disadvantages representing ethical implications resulting from of the symbiosis between humans and computers we conclude with an expanded definition of human–computer integration from the lens of agency Integrated technology gives us the possibility to augment our own body improve the performance of our actions and modulate our beliefs about the resulting outcomes This effect can have many benefits for the user not only when a sensory modality is reduced or limited but also when we simply want to improve our performance or when reality cannot offer a desired experience It is crucial however to highlight that the increasing usage of integrated technology also requires to consider responsibility in social contexts which raises some ethical concerns that we discuss in the next section the introduction of new integrated systems could produce implicit and unplanned issues that need to be anticipated in order to avoid them or create appropriated regulations and therefore promote responsible innovations Moreover, responsibility becomes crucial in autonomous systems. Assistance levels given to the user need to be carefully designed since increased automation can lead to the question—who is in control now? (Berberian et al., 2012) While causality and accidents are usually attributed to human errors driving in public roads) have been delegated to computers it is important that automated systems give users the appropriate feeling of control in order to preserve the feeling of control Another ethical consideration is around body data usage. Usually, technology companies ask their users to consent sharing their information such as name, address, affiliation, etc. (Zimmer, 2020) being so close to the user body (involving biosensing) often uses data recordings of biological functions This data recording could need regulation in the future would you give your consent to share your brain activity with a technology company in which the system understands the user’s implicit precognitive needs through bio-sensing We expand upon those recent views to include other aspects related to agency in the presented classification of different integrated technologies but we further argue that the type of integration (fusion symbiosis) varies depending on the level of agency experienced (human—mixed—technology) For designers introducing novel integrated technologies it could be confusing to identify which term is more suitable to use Wearable systems can be fused with the user’s body but they can also act on the human’s behalf representing a symbiosis We suggest that a boundary that divides them for integrated technology where there is a fusion which means that the user has more degree of control over the system as is the case of body augmentation technology (extra limbs and prosthetics) For integrated technology representing more a symbiosis which means that the system assists and often acts on behalf the user as is the case of action augmentation technology (e.g. We also identify that the type of agency (body and external) influences integrated technology with outcomes being body movements or processes involving the body itself (e.g. both body and external agency can be experienced systems can provide outcomes inside or outside the body which means that outcomes occur in the external environment Therefore, in light of the present review, and building upon the recent views from Farooq and Grudin (2016) and Mueller et al. (2020) we argue that human–computer integration is a partnership between humans and technology in which systems augment the capabilities of the user’s body the more devices are fused to the user’s body (fusion) the more control humans have over the system the more the integrated technology acts on the human’s behalf (symbiosis) the less control the human has over the system A fusion-symbiosis trade-off that HCI researchers and practitioners need to balance we suggest designers and researchers to think about the type of limitation that a novel integrated system aims to solve Identifying where the limitation comes from (user’s body or the experienced environment) can help to identify the type of augmentation required (body outcome) which in turn can help to identify the type of agency that will be experienced (body or internal) We hope these considerations and markers of differentiation involving SoA within current integrated systems can help researchers and practitioners to better situate their work and consider a feeling of being in control for future integrated technology and writing—original draft preparation and review and editing PH: interpretation and writing—review and editing KH: interpretation and writing—review and editing All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version This work was supported by UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship grant (Reference: MR/V025511/1) and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No Authors PC and OG were employed by Ultraleap Ltd The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher three-handed manipulation is preferred to two-handed manipulation “Essence: Olfactory interfaces for unconscious influence of mood and cognitive performance,” in Proceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “I had super-powers when eBike riding” Towards Understanding the Design of Integrated Exertion,” in Proceedings of the 2018 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play Arm Dynamics (2020). 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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Patricia Cornelio, cGF0cmljaWEuY29ybmVsaW9AdWx0cmFsZWFwLmNvbQ== Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish The 11th edition of 3daysofdesign favours family businesses over tech startups with over 400 designers (including a Norwegian postman) exhibiting work Over at the Hem furniture shop, Finnish designer Yrjö Kukkapuro’s daughter Isa gave an equally personal speech at the launch of the new edition of Kukkapuro’s experiment chair She explained how the original launch of the chair coincided with the birth of her daughter Ida Panton and Kukkapuro may be two of the most esteemed names in the history of Nordic design, but at Copenhagen’s annual design festival 3daysofdesign this week it quickly became apparent that most companies are family-owned and there is huge pride in this Few furniture showrooms could be visited without hearing about the number of generations that worked there it was a rare presentation that started without a reference to the grandfather who started the business but looking at the success of 3daysofdesign The festival started in 2013 with four Danish brands in an old warehouse in the harbour district of Nordhavn more than 400 exhibitors – mainly from the Nordic countries but also farther afield – were housed in 11 different districts situated throughout Copenhagen the fourth generation of his family to run the company and puts a 30% increase in sales in the last year down in part to visitors to the design event This year Dux released a completely sustainable replaceable and recyclable component bed at the festival Ljung toasted 3daysofdesign as “the new epicentre of design” Peter Mørk, one of DDcated’s founders, said the location had been chosen because museums should be about looking forward as well as backwards. The venue could host individual designers as well as small companies because of the funding from Ege Carpets even if your grandfather hasn’t set up a design business an OG Danish company can fill that role for you Mørk thinks the sense of lineage comes from the fact that the country is small so keeping things in the family is important PR manager Mikkel Friis Ovesen instructed the guests: “Please touch and feel free to make a mess – this is furniture Home › Science & Technology News By StudyFinds Staff Denmark — Computers may be much more advanced than they were 15 years ago — but a new study finds despite vast improvements in computer technology a staggering 11 to 20 percent of our time spent on computers is still plagued by crashes and other failures Researchers at the University of Copenhagen and Roskilde University say the frustrations lead to wasted time “It’s incredible that the figure is so high,” says Professor Kasper Hornbæk including IT professionals and proficient computer users and identified situations where computers failed or hindered task completion Common issues reported included slow system performance and difficulty finding necessary functions the study found that these fundamental problems persist today The study underscores the need for improved computer systems that minimize malfunctions and enhance user experiences By investing in user-centric approaches and involving users in system design researchers aim to reduce frustrations and optimize productivity The findings shed light on the pressing need for more user-friendly systems and provide hope for a future with fewer computer-related headaches The study is published in the journal ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction StudyFinds sets out to find new research that speaks to mass audiences — without all the scientific jargon summarized versions of research that are intended to inform the reader as well as stir civil but always thoroughly reviewed and edited by a Study Finds staff member transparent research summaries that are intended to inform the reader as well as stir civil educated debate. 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Privacy Policy • Disclosure Policy • Do Not Sell My Personal Information A new study showed that despite advancements in computer technology users still experience computer malfunctions recently conducted by the University of Copenhagen and Roskilde University revealed that individuals spend an average of 11% to 20% of their computer usage time grappling with systems that do not work properly or are difficult to comprehend one of the researchers involved in the study expressed astonishment at the high percentage of time wasted due to computer issues He emphasized that frustrations arise from failing to complete everyday tasks such as losing unsaved data during a critical moment or encountering system crashes Hornbæk noted that involving ordinary users more actively in system development could help reduce these problems said that most frustrations primarily stem from performing ordinary tasks Hertzum asserted that unresolved problems can continue to frustrate a large number of users "The frustrations are not due to people using their computers for something highly advanced, but because they experience problems in their performance of everyday tasks. This makes it easier to involve users in identifying problems. But it also means that problems that are not identified and solved will probably frustrate a large number of users," Hertzum said in a statement the researchers enlisted the help of 234 participants who spent several hours in front of computers daily for work Participants were asked to report situations wherein the computer malfunctioned or was frustrated about being unable to perform their desired task The study revealed recurring problems such as system slowness even IT professionals encountered these fundamental issues The study also revealed that 84% of the reported episodes had occurred previously Hornbæk noted that the same fundamental problems persist today as they did 15-20 years ago with insufficient performance and lack of user-friendliness being the predominant categories of issues Considering that 88% of Danes utilized computers or other devices for work purposes the study implies that a significant portion of the workweek may be wasted due to computer problems This loss of productivity not only impacts organizations but also leads to frustration among individual users Addressing these challenges could yield substantial societal benefits Hornbæk suggested that resources should be allocated to revamp how computer faults are presented to users Shielding users from unnecessary information during problem-solving processes and providing seamless backup systems could enhance productivity involving users more actively in the design of user-friendly systems can mitigate frustrations The study's findings imply that the responsibility lies with system developers rather than users themselves the researchers hope to foster a greater focus on creating more user-friendly systems in the future The team's findings were published in the ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage IF YOU want a sandy beach holiday in Europe away from the crowds then we've found the perfect destination While most Brits flock to the French or Italian Riviera, a town in Northern Europe offers a relaxed alternative Set within the Danish Riviera in North Sealand the resort town of Hornbæk is a popular holiday spot among Danish locals Australian travel bloggers, Ky and Tess, made this observation in an article on their website, 2 Cups of Travel They wrote: "We both observed very early on that Hornbæk felt like a Danish version of Somers on the Mornington Peninsula in Australia "It was full of locals and other Danish families and friends. This removed the ‘tourist feel’ some beach towns get, especially in central and southern Europe." and it is also home to the largest beach on the Danish Riviera Hornbæk Beach is a Blue Flag beach with stretches of soft sand which protect holidaymakers from any seaside winds There aren't any places to rent parasols or sunloungers, so beachgoers will need to bring their own supplies. there are places to rent water sports equipment like paddleboards Other facilities include public toilets and lifeguards during the summer months At Hornbæk Beach there are several places to grab a bite to eat including Cafe Sunspot There's also a supermarket at the entrance of the beach The beach has been praised by holidaymakers on TripAdvisor too One person wrote: "It's a great beach with amazing waters in a lovely area. It's definitely Denmark’s best beach." A second wrote: "Wonderful sand and clear waters, it's the best beach that's close to Copenhagen." Other nearby activities include a stroll around Hornbæk Harbour, Hornbæk Church, and Til Tops - a zipline and aerial adventure park The easiest way to reach Hornbæk is to fly to Copenhagen Airport Ryanair operates direct flights from a range of UK Airports including London Stansted The resort town can also be reached via train, but passengers will need to change trains at Helsingor Station For holidaymakers who want to stay overnight, there are a range of accommodation options including hotels and holiday rentals costs £183 per night based on two people sharing In Hornbæk, the local language is Danish, but you can expect English to be spoken at some hotels and restaurants The currency is Danish Krone with £10 currently worth around 87.27 Danish Krone Brits can stay in Denmark for up to 90 days without a visa And this isn't the only overlooked Riviera in Europe either, the Polish seaside town of Sopot is another option for Brit holidaymakers who are looking to escape the crowds Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Futurity is your source of research news from leading universities You are free to share this article under the Attribution 4.0 International license people waste between 11 and 20% of their time in front of computers that don’t work or that are so difficult to understand that they can’t perform the task they want to The findings show there are major gains to be achieved for society by rethinking systems and involving users more in their development “It’s incredible that the figure is so high most people experience frustration when using computers and can tell a horror story about an important PowerPoint presentation that was not saved or a system that crashed at a critical moment,” says Kasper Hornbæk a professor at the University of Copenhagen “Everyone knows that it is difficult to create IT systems that match people’s needs and one thing that it shows is that ordinary people aren’t involved enough when the systems are developed,” he says Most frustrations are experienced in connection with the performance of completely ordinary tasks “The frustrations are not due to people using their computers for something highly advanced but because they experience problems in their performance of everyday tasks This makes it easier to involve users in identifying problems But it also means that problems that are not identified and solved will probably frustrate a large number of users.” The study included 234 participants who spend between six and eight hours in front of a computer in their day-to-day work the researchers told them to report the situations in which the computer would not work properly or where they were frustrated about not being able to perform the task they wanted The problems the participants most often experienced included that: “the system was slow,” “the system froze temporarily,” “the system crashed,” or “it is difficult to find things.” The participants had backgrounds such as student but several of them actually worked in the IT industry “A number of the participants in the survey were IT professionals while most of the other participants were highly competent IT and computer users and it turns out that this involves some fundamental functions,” Hornbæk says The participants in the survey also responded that 84% of the episodes had occurred before and that 87% of the episodes could happen again we are having the same fundamental problems today that we had 15 to 20 years ago “The two biggest categories of problems are still about insufficient performance and lack of user-friendliness,” he says they are often still experienced as frustratingly slow,” Hertzum says the new study indicates that a half to a whole day of a normal working week may be wasted on computer problems “There is a lot of productivity lost in workplaces throughout Denmark because people are unable to perform their ordinary work because the computer is not running as it should It also causes a lot of frustrations for the individual user,” Hornbæk says This means that there are major benefits to be gained for society if we experienced fewer problems in front of our computers be achieved if more resources are invested in rethinking how faults are presented to us on the computer “Part of the solution may be to shield us from knowing that the computer is working to solve a problem there is no reason why we need to look at an incomprehensible box with commands or a frozen computer The computer could easily solve the problems without displaying this while it provided a back-up version of the system for us so that we could continue to work with our tasks undisturbed,” Hornbæk says At the same time, IT developers should involve the users even more when designing the systems to make them as easy to use—and understand—as possible “When we’re all surrounded by IT systems that we’re cursing it’s very healthy to ascertain that it’s probably not the users that are the problem The study clearly shows that there is still much room for improvement and we therefore hope that it can create more focus on making more user-friendly systems in the future.” The study appears in the journal ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction Source: University of Copenhagen Add your information below to receive daily updates Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. There was an error processing the request. Please try again later. View upcoming auction estimates and receive personalized email alerts for the artists you follow. Chase Contemporary is very proud to announce an upcoming solo exhibition for renowned Danish artist Ole Aakjaer. The exhibition marks the culmination of Aakjaer’s 6-month residency in New York City. The 60-day exhibition will be on view April 27th through June 25th, with an opening reception on Thursday, April 27th, from 6-8pm. You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. 2016Photo: Courtesy of Anastasia Maria Loupis / @anastasia_fantasia_extasiaSave this storySaveSave this storySaveIn the past few years Copenhagen has made a name for itself as a real capital of cool From high-concept design shops to inventive restaurants there’s no shortage of noteworthy happenings in the Scandinavian city And while this has drawn visitors by the thousands to the capital the rest of Denmark has gone relatively unexplored because Denmark’s countryside is heavy on the pastoral charm (a perfect foil to Copenhagen’s sleek modernity) There are fairy-tale castles turned hotels still run by real-life nobles and bucolic farm-to-table restaurants with tasting menus to rival their urban peers there are plenty of pretty little beach towns where in-the-know Copenhageners go to escape city life four of the best places to add to your agenda FunenMake the hour-and-a-half drive (or train ride) from the capital city to the island of Funen and you’ll immediately feel as if you’ve stepped back in time The island’s big claim to fame is it was the childhood home of Hans Christian Andersen and inspired many of his most famous stories When you wander the cobbled streets of towns like Odense or Faaborg The little villages are almost surreal in their fairy-tale charm the only Relais & Châteaux hotel in Scandinavia the hotel is home to a standout restaurant a destination in and of itself for many Danes (don’t miss the cheese course) Another fairy-tale stop in Funen is the picturesque Holckenhavn Castle a private residence that's now a hotel and event space the property plays host to weddings (if you’re in the market for a venue you’d be hard-pressed to find a lovelier one) you’ll enjoy incredible meals (the castle owns much of the surrounding farmland and the chef cooks with only the best local and seasonal ingredients) and the run of the castle ÆrøThere are over 400 little islands dotting the water around Denmark (though only a fraction of those are inhabited) and while many of them are quite enchanting The best way to see the island is by bike. You’ll likely arrive by ferry to the quaint town of Ærøskøbing. Stop into Den Gamle Købmandsgaard (DGK Shop for short) a café and market selling locally sourced goods from soap to schnapps (the Ærø drink of choice) rent a bike from one of the many vendors in town you’ll find a handful of locals lounging on the sand at Eriks Hale Beach but a quick dip is something of a Danish rite of passage Take a sip or two of schnapps to fortify yourself and dash into the water Then wander along the beach and snap some photos of the colorful little beach huts (passed down from generation to generation by Ærø’s families) When you’re ready to move on, warm up with a visit to Rise Bryggeri an outstanding brewery that has been in operation for 90 years The wonderful owners will be more than happy to show you around and provide a tasting of their many brews work up an appetite (and work off those beers) with a bike ride back to Ærøskøbing The perfect day in Ærø ends with a visit to Cafe Aroma known for its excellent ice cream and tasty licorice Skagen At the very northern tip of Denmark jutting into the sea is the town of Skagen artists flocked here in the late 19th century drawn by the peaceful environs and otherworldly light with its long stretches of white sand beaches Skagen has become a favorite seaside getaway for Copenhageners looking to escape the perceived bustle of their city Hotels, likewise, are simple yet comfortable. Book a room at Ruths Hotel sunny rooms and a full-service spa and wellness center The hotel’s restaurant is one of the top-rated in the country (and that’s saying a lot considering Copenhagen’s serious dining scene) is often referred to as the Danish Riviera or the “Hamptons of Denmark.” Known for its untouched nature and pristine beaches the area was once the preferred getaway for Danish royals Head up the coastal road from Copenhagen and stop off at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art which houses an incredible collection of contemporary art and sculpture Then continue on toward the little town of Hornbaek where you’ll find powdery white sand beaches and rows of wild roses blooming across the dunes Check out (and maybe check in to) these stylish recently opened hotels and apartments from Latvia to Las Palmas Looking for a holiday with a difference? Browse Guardian Holidays to see a range of fantastic trips View upcoming auction estimates and receive personalized email alerts for the artists you follow Fifteen years is a landmark occasion for a contemporary art fair in this day and age. The Sunday Times The wine was white and cold and sitting just over there on the terrace was an actual supermodel Helena Christensen and family were having a nice time Most Britons would just as soon book a Saharan ski trip or a Swiss diving holiday as a Danish beach break and there’s a lot to go round — 4,545 miles of it Dismiss thoughts of a Scandinavian deep-freeze: Copenhagen’s July highs are similar to London’s with two extra hours of sunshine a day — but even in high season Here’s where I’d head on a Danish seaside road trip Sailors and Germans know all about the pleasures of the Jutland coast you’d feel like you were at the end of the earth (or at least most of the way to Sweden) if it weren’t for all the people with rolled-up trousers taking selfies an epic sand spit where you can stand with one foot in the Baltic and the other in the North Sea Fishing boats on the wild west Jutland coast (Gýnter Grýfenhain) To the west you’ll get that end-of-the-world tingle again at Bulbjerg where the National Trust would plonk a cafe here you get a few bins and a loo in a converted German concrete bunker Rubjerg Knude’s lighthouse of 1900 is slowly falling into the sea thanks to the huge shifting sand dune they built it on The kamikaze race back down is whoop-inducing but the one they’d like to keep secret is Stranden 2 (Turn left at the “Stranden 2km” sign.) It’s just some dunes stop for an ice cream in Hou — your kids might like to know that the Danes are big into sprinkles Its dinky harbour reminded me of Walberswick and its twin beaches offer super-shallow waters with that lovely ridged sand that massages the soles of your feet The island of Funen — birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen — is the gateway to some lovely littler islands If you’ve neglected to bring your own boat (happens) a thin finger of land that manages to squeeze in just the 28 beaches Park among the pines and head for the dunes A cutesy beach house (Trish Punch/Getty) Driving back through Svendborg, queue up at Bendixens Fiskehandel, a hut on the harbour where a dish of squid rings, potato salad and the ubiquitous Danish garlic mayo will set you back less than £7 (bendixens-fiskehandel.dk) The designer Ilse Jacobsen had her first shop here The retro Hansens ice cream stall does one-scoop cones for £2 Then, eventually, you’ll come to Tisvildeleje and the Helenekilde Badehotel, a former retirement home now booked up by evacuees from the bar prices in Copenhagen (doubles from £155, B&B, three courses £41, helenekilde.com) Its beach is no great shakes — steep steps lead down to rock pools and a graffitied seawall — but the decor’s a serene mix of candy stripes and the staff knock about in Nike trainers with the odd local supermodel thrown in — but that’s the Danish seaside for you Martin Hemming was a guest of Visit Denmark. Fly to Aalborg, in Jutland, on Thursdays and Sundays with Norwegian; or to Copenhagen with British Airways, easyJet, Norwegian, Ryanair or SAS. You can find more hotels or book a self-catering cottage through visitdenmark.co.uk fishing villages and art galleries of the Danish Riviera11 November 2009iStockAll products are independently selected by our editors It is ideal for a romantic weekend away or a summer holiday with children Slotsgade 6, Fredensborg (00 45 48 40 01 11; www.storekro.dk) An imposing hotel on the beautiful Esrum Lake (00 45 49 75 86 00; www.havreholm.dk) Helsingor (00 45 49 21 40 00; www.marienlyst.dk) A huge hotel with a casino and a seaside restaurant One of the best restaurants on the riviera; serves good fish platters European cuisine and lots of Shakespeare pictures on the walls Danish and French cuisine; located near the Karen Blixen museum Not far from the fishing town of Gilleleje in a stretch of countryside unaccountably known as Rusland (Russia) is the jaw-droppingly peculiar Rudolph Tegners Museum Tegner himself had no doubt that he was an undiluted genius and the museum is his egomaniacal monument to himself But his technical skill does not compensate for his complete lack of taste It is no surprise to learn that Tegner was inspired by the supremacist thinking of Nietzsche because many of his works bear an uncomfortable resemblance to the frowning Chippendales of Nazi art many nude studies aim to be sensual in a Rodinesque way Tegner is buried in the dead centre of the building surrounded by the plaster products of his priapic imagination His museum is also his mausoleum - the crowning lapse of taste Tegner's museum seeps out into the surrounding countryside Bronzes of many of the casts you have seen indoors are mounted on plinths and dotted about like sentries This is lovely country - pine trees and purple heather and you can enjoy a half-hour playing hunt-the-dubious-artwork in the sun-lit woods and sheep-filled fields ZEALAND Zealand is a compact little island and endless convoluted miles of beautiful woodland to walk in The terrain everywhere is flat and negotiable If you get tired you can always put your bike on a train: there are cycles helpfully painted on the doors of the carriages that accommodate them AIRPORT The nearest international airport is Copenhagen located 8km (5 miles) southeast of the city and brushing teeth should be boiled vigorously for two minutes beforehand The cause of the contamination is so far undetermined While Helsingør municipality foresees a quick resolution authorities in Herlev are unable to provide a timeline Coli bacteria and coliform bacteria in the water of track 1 at Hellebæk water works,” local water board Forsyning Helsingør stated adding boiling was therefore necessary before using the water for drinking The recommendation applies in the entire Helsingør municipality ”apart from Espergærde Snekkersten southeast of the Kystbane [railway line] Helsingør southeast of the Kystbane and central Helsingør,” the water board said The affected area in Herlev Municipality can be seen on a map published on the website of energy and water company Hofor Residents who have already consumed the water need not be unduly concerned “There is only a small risk you will become sick if you have drunk the water only small amounts of bacteria have been found But boil the water before you drink it from now on,” it said Boiling should be done until new testing confirms the contamination is no longer present An update will be issued on the Forsyning Helsingør website Please log in to leave a comment Last Updated on 20th February 2024 by Sophie Nadeau Denmark is a Nordic country famed for its and for its design and architecture the country is popular among tourists for its amazing foodie scene And for those looking to get off the beaten tourist trail here are some of the best hidden gems and secret spots in Denmark that you’ll want to discover for yourself… The capital of Denmark is Copenhagen, a beautiful European city which is famed for being home to the Little Mermaid Statue and is often touted to be one of the happiest cities in the world. For more inspiration, be sure to check out our guide for spending one day in Copenhagen and the best day trips from Copenhagen A far cry from the bustling capital of Copenhagen, Tisvildeleje gives the opportunity for visitors to authentically experience local life in Denmark while getting a daily dose of vitamin sea This charming seaside town is undoubtedly a hidden gem that can’t be missed Tisvildeleje is known for its incredible dunes and white sand beach that stretches for quite a ways Originally Tisvildeleje was a fishing village so the fisherman’s cottages have been renovated and are now available for summer accommodation Though the clean sand dunes are a stunning addition to the beach previously the sand caused quite the headache The Tisvildeleje beach sand kept being swept inland which ruined farming and civilization attempts a forest was planted nearby that is now Denmark’s oldest plantation Visiting is well worthwhile for nature lovers since there are rare plants and bird species to discover Helene Spring is a historical point of interest This famous Danish spring is believed to have healing properties a normal-looking church that was built on what’s to be believed a prehistoric site known for human sacrifices there are other activities to participate in ‘Musik i Lejet’ is an outdoor summer music festival to attend There is also a weekly flea market that’s perfect for perusing or even finding some unusual gifts to take home One of the most important things to do at Tisvildeleje beach is to watch the gorgeous sunsets over Hesselø Bugt By Marjut Jogisoo of The Smooth Escape The town was founded in the 12th century by fishermen and quickly became an important fishing port due to its excellent location by the Baltic Sea Dragør is known for its charming old town full of well-preserved historical buildings The best way to experience the beauty of Dragør is to simply wander around the town’s historic center The narrow cobblestone alleyways and quaint 18th-century cottages with thatched roofs will make you feel like you’ve stepped into another era It’s a fairytale-like place where every corner looks photo-worthy. bakeries and some fantastic ice cream shops Dragør also has a lovely harbor area where you can enjoy views of the Øresund Strait or grab lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants serving fresh seafood. Those interested in museums can visit the Pilot Museum of Denmark and the Amager museum where you can learn about the town’s history The best time to visit Dragør is in the summer since that’s when the town comes to life with bustling outdoor markets and a variety of festivals dedicated to music There are many great places in Denmark for a windy beach day but the northernmost point of Denmark truly beats them all in terms of aesthetics and fresh air Skagen is a town on a sandy peninsula where the North Sea and the Baltic Sea meet You can watch the rare phenomenon where two bodies of water with different salinities clash The area around Skagen is best explored by bicycle The area is quite compact and the cycling network is of good quality Make sure to at least visit the sandy spit called Grenen to step into two seas at once so make sure to bring some snacks and supplies to make it a memorable visit The villages in the area are picturesque and feature several museums from Scandinavian art to a WWII-era German bunker and migrating birds Wander around Skagen and Højen to admire the old houses and the sleepy vibe they must have had before the arrival of cars Though most of the buildings are from the last two centuries the Skagen peninsula has been settled for at least 600 years The town’s sunbathing day tripper population swells in summer so it’s best to visit in the Danish shoulder season outside of the holidays Spring and autumn are also the times of the bird migration of which Skagen is an important rest stop for these feathery friends Make sure to book accommodation in advance—even the campsites can be surprisingly booked Skagen is quite the detour from the more popular cities and towns the town is closer to where the ferries from Sweden and Iceland anchor – Frederikshavn and Hirtshals – than Copenhagen and Aarhus Skagen is connected to the rest of the Danish rail network and there are frequent trains By Disha of Disha Discovers Denmark is a picturesque country with a rich history and culture boasting beautiful architecture and a thriving community Ribe is the oldest town in Denmark and Scandinavia It’s located in southwestern Jutland on the banks of the Wadden Sea this hidden Danish gem served as a major trading hub during the Viking Age Visitors come to see its charming architecture and enjoy its lively and historic atmosphere Ribe is also home to a number of museums that tell the town’s fascinating story Their exhibitions will make visitors feel like they’ve stepped back in time showcases the work of contemporary Danish artists is Ribe’s most prominent landmark and a must-see The exterior of the cathedral has Romanesque and Gothic features while the inside is a combination of several influences Visitors can also climb to the top of the cathedral tower and soak in beautiful views of the countryside Other attractions in Ribe include Ribe Viking Center Visitors also can’t leave Ribe without visiting Vester Vedsted Vingård The atmosphere here is relaxed and welcoming and visitors can enjoy a gourmet meal while sampling the delicious wine The most important tip to keep in mind when visiting Ribe is to take a tour a guided tour will help tourists make the most of their experience while many people visit Ribe as a day trip It’s an adorable small town where visitors feel like they’re a part of the community and they’ll want to get lost roaming the quaint streets while stumbling upon hidden treasures there are plenty of cozy hotels and inns that are postcard-worthy By Josephine of Josephine Remo Approximately one hour away from Copenhagen Hornbæk is all about beach life and is a popular attraction for both Danes and foreigners The beautiful harbour of Hornbæk was introduced in 1875 but the area was popular long before Especially around the 1860s Hornbæk expanded rapidly offering cottage grounds whereafter the town quickly became a well-attended bathing spot The main attraction of Hornbæk is the beach and the harbor The entire northern stretch of coast is a wide and clean sand beach which is way above the beach standards of many other parts of Denmark Hornbæk is great for trying traditional food and eating danish ice cream from one of the small shops around called “Det Fedtede Hjørne” where great events bring people together from all over the country Hornbæk offers “Hornbæk Plantage” which is a big natural area that is home to many species and holds an interesting history from World War II the northern coastal stretch is home to many cute towns that are particularly buzzing during the summer months and Rågeleje for a very small town and danish experience Visit the harbour of Rågeleje and try some traditional danish fish or take a walk in “Tidsvilde Hegn” which is one of the most beautiful natural areas of the country Don’t be afraid to drive a bit inland to visit some lovely cafes Though Copenhagen is obviously not a hidden gem- it is the capital city of the country- that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of beautiful gems to discover One of the most interesting things to know before visiting Copenhagen in the spring is that there are plenty of beautiful cherry blossoms which in turn is one of the best secret spots in Denmark The cherry blossoms in Copenhagen tend to bloom from the end of March through to the middle of April The exact date depends on what the weather has been earlier in the spring as well as the variety of cherry blossoms you wish to see If you want to see at least some blossom and have to book in advance then your safest bet is to book to visit Copenhagen in the first week of April some of the best spots in the city to see the spring blooms include Langelinie Park and Amaliehaven Enjoyed reading about the best secret spots in Denmark Sophie Nadeau is a full time travel writer and photographer focused on cultural experiences in Europe and beyond When she's not chasing after the sunset (or cute dogs she sees on her travels) she can be found reading and website in 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