Bringing empathy to the world of technology
Properly analysing data can reveal meaningful insights and patterns that aren’t immediately obvious (1). These insights can make a huge difference in many lives, especially if we embrace a diverse range of people working in IT, focusing on care.
Minna Isomursu, a Professor in Digital Health at the University of Oulu, shares her experience in the male-dominated world of IT, where warmth isn’t usually part of the daily routine. In her TEDx talk, “Who is designing our digital future?” Minna encourages us to think about the untapped potential of women with diverse personalities who, like her, aim to improve people’s quality of life through digital technologies and data.
She highlights the importance of incorporating empathy and care into the design of our digital future, advocating for a more unbiased approach that leverages diverse perspectives to create technology that truly enhances wellbeing.
The STAGE project is designing technology-focused interventions to support healthy ageing. Several female researchers and women working in technology-led businesses are involved in the project’s intervention design and implementation. This is vital to ensure the interventions are inclusive, gender-balanced and fit for purpose.
Realising the full potential of technology starts with each of us. We must actively work toward a more genuine and empathetic digital future, where diverse voices—particularly those of women—are heard. The need is clear: to create technology that truly enhances wellbeing, we must welcome and empower people from diverse backgrounds to bring their unique perspectives and commitment to care into the field.
References:
- Marchionini, G. (2023). Information and data sciences: Context, units of analysis, meaning, and human impact. Data and Information Management, 7(1), 100031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dim.2023.100031