Wednesday, November 21 2018, 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm
Mackintosh Corry Hall D411
Abstract:
Apps in wearable technology such as fitbits and smart watches, and phones, are used to collect small pieces of health data such as pulse, heart rate and regularity as well as information including health related appointments and health related products purchased. Like credit data these detailed health markers could be used in algorithms, grouping users by behavioural and risk assessment parameters. All of this data could then be gathered into a ‘wellness report.’ The wellness report would be susceptible to errors that could take days or months to correct and may require experts and medical tests to disprove errors. Older adults are disproportionately vulnerable to this health reporting due to different norms concerning surveillance of older people.
About the Speaker:
Dr Carver has a PhD in Sociology and MA in Psychology. Using a social justice and equity perspective, her research is focused on gender, aging and social determinants of health. At a personal level, and in her primary research, she believes that we need to take a stand when we see the need for change. As a result, her research follows her interests and concerns, exploring dynamics of power, politics, inequalities and social justice. Specific areas of research include surveillance and privacy, successful aging from a non-biomedical perspective, the human-animal bond and well-being.
Everyone welcome!
The Surveillance Studies Centre
c/o David Murakami Wood
Department of Criminology
University of Ottawa
Canada