new technology in the human services

Dewsbury G (2001) The social and psychological aspects of smart home technology within the care sector
New Technology in the Human Services 14 (1 & 2), pp. 9-17


Abstract: Everything has become an operation, everything has to have a function and a use. (Fromm 1995, 24) Technological innovations within the home are nothing new. The introduction of the radio, through to the current rise of computer technology have affected the way in which people interact with their environment and between each other. The advent of ‘smart’ technology for the home has been welcomed by the minority and shunned by the majority, being perceived as unreliable and too ‘sci-fi’. Orwelian conceptions of the home as a locus of extended social control, no doubt, also affect the acceptance of technology into the fabric of the house. Alienation from this form of technology might have also arisen as a by-product of the way it has been introduced and marketed (Edge, et al, 2000). Many people with disabilities and older persons might feel that they are not included in discussions on technology, as it is perceived as irrelevant to their needs. There is little doubt in the mind of the author that this pessimistic view will decrease and acceptance will occur when the technology no longer holds the associations and values associated with the sci-fi label and is used within the care field appropriately. This paper considers how the technology can be used in the provision of extending care for people with disabilities or older people. It considers the efficacy of approach and its potential consequences. The observations within this paper stem from undertaking a number of workshops and consultations on the use of smart home technology within the social care field. Within these consultations, certain common themes evolved from the discussions that the author attempts to address here. Most frequently, the issues centred on the relationship between technology and the person with disabilities.

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