Presented by the Social Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne

We all experienced the challenges of social connection during the pandemic. But many ageing adults living alone were particularly isolated. How can emergent technologies help?

In this discussion, US-based Fulbright Scholar Valerie Jones will share her research exploring how voice-powered virtual assistants such as Google’s Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa might provide new opportunities for new ways of feeling connected, focusing on ageing adults. 

Speaker

Seaton Distinguished Professor Valerie Jones
University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications 

Valerie is curious about what’s next. That curiosity fuelled a career at media agencies from Chicago to San Francisco, the creation of her own digital media consultancy, and a move to academia. She is now a Seaton Distinguished Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications and Director of the Public Insight Lab.

Valerie’s research explores how emergent technologies, specifically voice assistants, activate social connection and influence loneliness among ageing adults. She received a Fulbright Future Scholar Award to work with the Social Innovation Research Institute at the Swinburne University of Technology and build on their shared research interests around activating social connection.