Digital Health & Work
At SMIT, we study the integration of digital innovations in the daily practice of healthcare and work. By doing so we provide insights in how technology is used in healthcare and work practice today and a careful assessment of the potential value of new applications, services and business models for the future of health and work and its stakeholders. In our research, we focus on the following three areas: (1) Persuasive technology & self-management, (2) Human-robot interaction & (in)dependency, and (3) people-centered algorithms & decision support.
Healthcare and wellbeing under pressure
An aging population, an increase of stress related disorders,… These are just a few of the challenges that the healthcare sector is facing today. At the same time it has to deal with a limited number of resources. To address this, a host of digital tools have been made available to health professionals, caregivers and individuals in need of care. For instance, people can use mobile apps that help to change ‘bad’ health habits. Robots can assist surgeons while operating. Context aware systems can monitor patient’s health and call for the right person to assist.
Meaningful, inclusive and sustainable solutions
While some health tools have proven to be successful, others have failed to be adopted or have been abandoned after initial use due to technical, practical, social or economic barriers. At SMIT, we study the integration of digital innovations in the daily practice of healthcare, but also more generally in everyday work practice. We start by investigating current practice to establish the state of the art. We then use future-oriented methodologies (e.g. co-creation, lab experiments and health pilots) to inspire and inform the design and development of future applications that are meaningful, inclusive and sustainable. By doing so we provide insights in how technology is used today and a careful assessment of the potential value of new applications, services and business models for the future of healthcare and work, and its stakeholders.
Research areas:
- Prevention, self-management, personal informatics, persuasive technology
- Human robot interaction & (in)dependency / quality of life (work)
- Decision support & creation of trustworthy people centred algorithms
