Surveillance Technology in Dementia Care: Implicit Assumptions and Unresolved Tensions

This paper examines the concept of “Surveillance Technology [ST]” as it is used in ageing and dementia research but which suffers from poor definition. We attempt to clarify this imprecision by contextualizing a brief history of the development of ST and provide a summary of the research in this area. We contrast this with the responses provided by a public and patient involvement group of people living with a dementia diagnosis, or experience of supporting people with dementia. ST operates in multiple interacting ways, all of which need to be taken into account in research, public and policy debate. As a technology it is often seen as a way of assisting individuals and therefore classified as an Assistive Technology [AT]. However, the meaning of ST used in dementia care has pragmatic implications beyond the meeting of the needs for “safety and independence”; ideas which is often used to justify its use. We argue that there is need to interrogate the terms “Surveillance” and “Technology” more carefully if ST is to be considered as empowering for people with dementia. This tension is brought out in the accounts present in a group discussion on ST and its use. This paper argues that there needs to be an acknowledgement that the purposes of such technologies need to be regularly reviewed in order for society to keep up with the rapidly changing pace of technology and the changing needs of users

M-health and health promotion: the digital cyborg and surveillance society

The new mobile wireless computer technologies and social media applications using Web 2.0 platforms have recently received attention from those working in health promotion as a promising new way of achieving their goals of preventing ill-health and promoting healthy behaviours at the population level. There is very little critical examination in this literature of how the use of these digital technologies may affect the targeted groups, in terms of the implications for how individuals experience embodiment, selfhood and social relationships. This article addresses these issues, employing a range of social and cultural theories to do so. It is argued that m-health technologies produce a digital cyborg body. They are able to act not only as prostheses but also as interpreters of the body. The subject produced through the use of m-health technologies is constructed as both an object of surveillance and persuasion and as a responsible citizen who is willing and able to act on the health imperatives issuing forth from the technologies and to present their body/self as open to continual measurement and assessment. The implications of this new way of surveilling the body’s health are discussed

Unmaking public housing towers: the role of lifts and stairs in the demolition of a Puerto Rican project

Through the case of a Puerto Rican public housing project, Las Gladiolas, this article argues that demolitions should be understood as long-term physical and emotional processes of home un making. It focuses on the diverse appearances of lifts and stairs in public housing representations, residents' everyday life, memories, and legal arguments to tell a nuanced story about their meaning and materiality in the un making of home. Drawing together strands from critical geographies of architecture, geographies of home, and emotional geographies, these internal building technologies are approached as active mediators in the way personal and communal life was negotiated and remembered, as well as in the anti-displacement struggle unfolding in the final throes of the buildings' existence. The loss of home through long-term deterioration and displacement is situated in its historical and cultural context, since the island's public housing trajectory has been continually framed by dominant national aspirations of homeownership

Beyond risk: reducing the gap between diaspora youth digital citizenship needs and school curricula

Young people’s digital citizenship education has often been approached from a risk perspective with less attention given to how young people use digital technologies to positively engage with social issues and citizenship practices. Diaspora youth are further stigmatised, being defined as ‘at-risk’ of greater harm from digital environments, which frames them as victims or non-agentic. This article draws on qualitative research with diaspora youth, as well as policymakers and educators, about their digital citizenship education needs, practices and views. We explore their perceptions of digital citizenship: as a concept and practice, and also its place and framing within Australian school education. The findings reflect a disconnect between diaspora youth and key stakeholders regarding the purpose and benefits of digital citizenship education. This illustrates a need for a more nuanced approach that takes diaspora youths’ own experiences, needs and aspirations seriously in the design of school curricula

Toward global digital citizenship: "Everyday" practices of young australians in a connected world

Toward global digital citizenship: "Everyday" practices of young australians in a connected worl

Sadness at the Rainbow: Unraveling the Unheard Sentiments of Non-Binary Students

The number of individuals identifying as non-binary or genderqueer has significantly increased over time. This group experiences their gender identity as neither entirely male nor exclusively female; instead, they perceive it as a combination or a complete absence of binary gender identification that may evolve or remain consistent over time. Nevertheless, there is a limited amount of research focusing on the experiences of non-binary students, leading to common misunderstandings within their community. Consequently, this study sought to delve into the physical, mental, interpersonal, emotional, and spiritual experiences of non-binary students. To analyze the collected data, a qualitative approach, specifically a narrative research design, was employed. Three students from the Philippine Science High School - Ilocos Region Campus were chosen through snowball sampling to share their personal experiences as non-binary students. Based on the gathered information, it can be concluded that non-binary students in the PSHS-IRC community undergo a range of experiences that significantly affect their physical, mental, interpersonal, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It was observed that they struggle to form a positive self-image due to their dissatisfaction with their physical appearance. Additionally, their body dysmorphia, stemming from a dislike for their bodies perceived as too masculine or feminine, negatively impacts their mental health. Moreover, homophobia continues to disrupt their interpersonal relationships, as they often endure physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual abuse. Nonetheless, they still have support networks that provide ongoing assistance. Lastly, the results also indicate that their faith in Christianity has waned due to relentless verbal attacks from conservative individuals