UBC IDEA Lab at the Socio-Gerontechnology Network 2024 Annual Meeting

Between September 19 and 20, 2024, Dr. Lillian Hung and Lily Ren co-presented alongside our international partners. They actively engaged in insightful sessions at the Socio-Gerontechnology Network Annual Conference in Vienna, Austria. The conference, themed “Shifting Relations: Ageing in a Datafied World,” explored innovative ways technology is reshaping the lives of older adults globally.

In the morning of September 19, Dr. Hung and Lily joined Dr. Vera Suchomelova from the University of South Bohemia to present “Ethical Considerations in Implementing Virtual Reality Programs in Long-Term Care Settings: Case Studies from Canada and the Czech Republic.” Their presentation sparked lively discussions, focusing on the six ethical principles guiding the introduction of VR technologies in elder care.

Later that afternoon, Dr. Vera Gallistl from Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences joined Dr. Hung and Lily for a co-presentation titled “Emotional Responses to Social Robots in Long-Term Care Facilities in Canada and Austria: A Comparative Study.” The team shared their research and exchanged ideas with the audience on the complex dynamics of integrating robots into care homes to support residents’ emotional well-being.

Our team was thrilled to collaborate with experts worldwide, contributing to exploring how technology can improve the lives of older adults in a meaningful, ethical, and inclusive manner.

For conference information, please visit: https://www.socio-gerontechnology.net/events/annualmeeting2024/