DigiSoc: Towards a Positive Digital Society

In this episode, Anastasia Siapka discusses her research on AI and the future of work through the lens of neo-Aristotelian ethics. She challenges the prevalent negative outlook on AI's impact on employment by proposing a vision of “human flourishing” facilitated by AI, and advocating for a reconfiguration of work and leisure that prioritises well-being. Anastasia also explores the role of law and policy in shaping AI's development to serve human interests and the potential for broader societal benefits. This episode was recorded on 7 May 2024

In this episode, Yennef Vereycken talks about his research on employee participation in technological innovation processes. Yennef explains how his work investigates the quality of working life, the power dynamics between employers and employees, and the impact of new technologies, like automation and data collection, on workplace relations. He highlights the importance of involving employees in decision-making to ensure positive outcomes from technological advancements and also briefly touches upon the differences in employee participation across Belgium, the Netherlands, and the USA. This episode was recorded on 7 May 2024

In Sub-Saharan Africa there is a lack of access to healthcare technologies, which is aggravated by a digital divide. As mobile phones are widely available however, this offers an opportunity to integrate them into the healthcare system. In this episode, Genet Tadese Aboye talks about how she is designing and developing a mobile digital health platform for self-management of diabetes for people living with diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa. She employs a human-centered design approach that involves patients with diabetes and other stakeholders in the development of the platform, with the aim of improving the health outcomes of society as a whole. This episode was recorded on 30 April 2024

The line between videogames and gambling is blurring in the past decade, especially with the advent of monetisation of videogames. Children are particularly vulnerable, as they are progressively exposed to gambling in their games, potentially leading to problematic behaviour. In this episode, Maarten Denoo brings some nuance in this debate, without resulting to moral panic. He discusses how this technological phenomenon can be addressed from different perspectives, e.g. legal, ethical, or design. As an example, lootboxes that offer random awards are legally banned in Belgium, but players can easily circumvent this ban, so other approaches are needed. This episode was recorded on 18 April 2024

AI is developing rapidly, but teachers not always use the opportunities inside and outside the classroom in an optimal way. In this episode, Kristina Krushinskaia explains what the impact of artificial intelligence is on the transformation of the teacher’s role, and how they can benefit from it. The most obvious benefit is how it can support the development of personalised learning or providing them with data for informed decision making, e.g. which students need help or support. AI can also save time for teachers, for example with grading or administrative tasks. However, Kristina argues that the goal is not to replace teachers, but to free time for them to spend more on interaction with students. This episode was recorded on 9 April 2024

Brain computer interfaces (BCI) aim to reconstruct what human beings perceive or imagine from their brain activities. In this episode, DigiSoc researcher Jingyuan Sun explains how brain activities can be decoded to reconstruct linguistic and visual perception, as well as how language and visual inputs are represented in human brain. He further talks about his experiments with neuro-imaging data recorded by fMRI, EEG and MEG in order to help people, e.g. with brain injuries, to communicate more efficiently with others. In the far future, we might even be able to communicate with each other without talking, just by thinking. This episode was recorded on 14 March 2024

In this episode, Sofie Vranken and Robyn Vanherle talk about their research on the impact of social media on young people's health risk behaviours, focusing on alcohol use, smoking, and vaping. Robyn discusses how social media content influences adolescents' alcohol consumption, while Sofie investigates the effects of new media platforms and influencers on their alcohol use, smoking and vaping. They share insights on media literacy and interventions aimed at promoting a healthier digital society. This episode was recorded on 21 March 2024

Wearable technology, such as smart bracelets or watches, is already all around us in sports and for recreative purposes, but can also be of added value in healthcare. In this episode, Bert Bonroy explains how wearable technology and virtual reality applications can be used in healthcare settings, for example for monitoring or managing stress. In particular, he discusses how it can help nursing staff, but also patients during hospitalisation or students, and which interventions can help to relieve their stress e.g. through VR-supported relaxation or mindfulness.  This episode was recorded on 22 March 2024

Policy makers try to integrate digital health technologies such as electronic health records, mobile health apps, or digital pills into their existing healthcare infrastructure through standards, policies, regulations or government frameworks. In doing so, they negotiate different ways of looking at health, lifestyles or medical devices. Elisa Lievevrouw discusses the challenges of doing research about a subject that is constantly changing over time, how she resolved the tension between being techno-optimist or techno-critic by looking at policy making and how it is done in practice, and why it is important for policy makers, developers and industry to understand that innovations are embedded in society from the start. In the course of our conversation, you’ll also learn new terms such as techno-tango, cinderella technologies, and stickiness. This episode was recorded on 6 July 2023

Top athletes in various sports endure a lot of mental and physical stress during both training and competitions. Wearable technologies allows them and their coaches to better monitor these stress levels and adapt their training schedule accordingly. Jasper Gielen explains how he researches how wearable technology can be of added value in golf, snowboarding and kayaking, in collaboration with several Flemish sports federations. This will not only better inform coaches and athletes in making decisions, but also improve their performance levels and manage their mental health. This episode was recorded on 22 June 2023