Yes, we care? A sociomaterial perspective on care work and technology

Abstract

With aging societies and care crises on the one hand and new robotic technology and artificial intelligence on the other, there are certain hopes that the technology of the future can provide solutions to social problems. My dissertation aims to paint a realistic picture of the situation and to point out not only potential but desirable developments. My focus is on care for people of older age, and I am particularly interested in the entanglement of work, organization, and technology following a sociomaterial approach. Specifically, I want to explore how and under what conditions new (robotic) technology can be aligned with the values and professional identities of those working in care. Furthermore, I would like to investigate these aspects on the level of processes and structures of the organization. Methodologically, I am following a qualitative social research approach, with data being collected in the context of the project ‘Caring Robots // Robotic Care’. Finally, with my dissertation, I aim at contributing to the knowledge of how technology development in the field of care can take into account ethical aspects and the interests of the various affected groups.