
June 20, 2025
Niki Hrovatin, assistant researcher at InnoRenew CoE; main areas of research: wireless sensor networks, distributed systems, privacy
I grew up and still live today in Križ, a medium-size village facing the sea at the border of the Municipality of Trieste.
As a child, I was always fascinated by toys, I was breaking them down into small parts to understand how they work, and since most of the modern toys include electronic components, I started my high school studies in electronics. But then I learned a programming language, and I decided to direct my attention to software rather than hardware. I concluded my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science, and I am now pursuing a Ph.D.
Let’s just say that I am currently working on the ultimate monitoring system, the wireless sensor network (WSN). It is a very large network of autonomous small wireless devices sensing multiple environmental features. The WSN can even be deployed by throwing these devices out of a plane.
On my typical working day, I am programming a simulation, writing a paper or discussing new ideas at a coffee.
I love to learn new information on computer systems, and I am enthusiastic that it is always possible to improve these systems.
The biggest challenge is to schedule the time effectively, to complete all the work in time.
I am fascinated by the researchers/professors contributing to the YouTube channel Computerphile since they have a broad understanding of how computer systems work and how they evolved over time.
My favorite music genre is electronic music. I listen to the whole spectrum from the oldest releases, like from The Prodigy, Daft Punk, to the Techno of the Slovenian Dj Umek.
Yesterday, I watched the IT movie based on Stephen King’s novel of 1986.
Piran.
We just approached a new year, 2022.
The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.
I am fascinated by the fact that wood items were once a tree, a living organism shaped by the past and by the surrounding environment. Therefore, each wood item is somehow unique.