Exploring the impact of smart data on our lives
I’m a digital sociologist and my research explores the role of digital technologies in our lives. Particularly, the ‘Internet of Things’ – everyday stuff like Amazon’s Alexa, the Ring doorbell and Google Home made ‘smart’ by internet connectivity and algorithms - and their impact on how we relate to each other.
There is no aspect of life on Earth untouched by digital technologies and the reality of a world of pervasive data collection is already with us. Social scientists have a vital contribution in understanding how we adopt those technologies, and the consequences, and ensuring that novel developments work for the benefit of all.
Why ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½?
Winning a three-year ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Research Fellowship was a huge thing for me, both for allowing me to take control of my own research trajectory, and for giving me a route into teaching.
My experience as a research fellow with the university’s Horizon Digital Economy Institute and the School of Computer Science, studying emerging digital technologies from a sociological perspective, taught me how to successfully collaborate across different fields, and – crucially – exposed me to cutting edge developments in computer science.
It led to my ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Research Fellowship with the School of Sociology and allowing me to access expertise in areas such as family life and science and technology, and integrate that with the interdisciplinary networks I developed during my time at Horizon.
Feeling inspired?