Geography in the digital age: the opportunities and challenges of smart technology

Hosted by Mark Whitehead

This talk will explore the emerging impacts of smart tech on society. It is claimed that one day smart technologies such as social media platforms, mobile devices, and refrigerators will collectively know us better than we know ourselves. Drawing on case studies from around the world, this presentation considers why we share personal data with smart tech companies and the benefits this brings. It also considers the harmful impacts of such technologies on human life and wellbeing. Through case studies which include smart cities, Facebook, Uber and Pokemon Go, this presentation reveals how and why the rise of smart tech has particular implications for geographers.

Mark Whitehead is a Professor of Human Geography at Aberystwyth University and a Fellow of the Independent Social Research Foundation. His research explores various aspects of human behaviour and how it is shaped by digital technology.

This lecture has already taken place. You can view a recording of the session here:

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