Digital Care: roles, risks, realities and rewards
Exploring how digital technology, care and caring relationships intersect and interact.
Technology has long been a part of caring arrangements and networks, facilitating the organisation of support, connections between people and services, and helping with some key tasks. Technology is changing fast, as devices and systems advance at a rapid rate, and previously dominant ‘telecare’ and ‘technology enabled care services’ models (often using analogue telephone lines) are being redesigned in response to the ‘digital switchover’.
New developments include growing deployment of artificial intelligence, robotics and ‘internet of things’ devices in care. These changes have implications for how care and support are experienced and provided.
Our research asks:
- What digital technologies are being used in care. How and why is this happening?
- Do these developments bring new opportunities, barriers, benefits and risks?
- Do digital technologies support wellbeing outcomes in care – and if so, for whom, and in what circumstances?
- What are the social justice and equality implications of these developments? Who benefits? Who is exposed to risk?
- How does digital technology affect care relationships, the paid work of care and employment dynamics?
- How do users of digital devices configure or ‘tinker’ with these technologies to produce outcomes that matter to them?
Commentary and updates on Digital Care
Pieces relating to Digital Care: roles, risks, realities and rewards
Event recording now available.
Read More about Navigating Transnational Aged Care: The Role of WhatsApp in Zimbabwean Migrant Families
This presentation by Dr Obert Tawodzera sheds light on the pivotal role of WhatsApp family groups in facilitating transnational aged care.We are delighted to release the recording of our live podcast event, held at the University of Sheffield as part of the Economic and Social Research Council’s Festival of Social Sciences.
Read More about CARE MATTERS Podcast live episode: AI, Sensors & Robots: what is next for Social Care in the UK?Seminar recording now available. We welcomed Dr Tanja Ahlin from the University of Amsterdam to present an online seminar on Tuesday 27th February 2024.
Read More about Seminar: Transnational Care Collectives: Digital technologies for elder care in Indian nurse familiesDr Grace Whitfield reflects on concerns around the collection of health and social care data, exploring how public trust is impacted by how data is used.
Read More about Who cares about data? Tensions between public trust and private interests in health and social care
Recent Publications
A selection of recent publications from the Digital Care: roles, risks, realities and rewards team.
Members
The Digital Care: roles, risks, realities and rewards team is led by Dr Kate Hamblin at the University of Sheffield.