Organisation profile

The Research group for Welfare Technology is dedicated to explore phenomena where notions of welfare and digital technology are interwoven. We explore welfare technology as both socio-material objects and discursive figures emergent in policies and in practices such as design processes, care practices and every day life. Welfare technology has sometimes been celebrated as solution to crises in public welfare provision, and other times been criticised as ‘cold’ alternative to otherwise ‘warm’ care and welfare. This research group seeks to go beyond such narratives and develop detailed accounts of how articulations of welfare technologies in policy material, and concrete practices involving welfare technologies and their users transform our imaginaries, expectations, norms, values and views on welfare. With this approach the group engages with themes such as digital marginalisation, ageing, care and loneliness.