Digital Technologies as Solutions for Health Challenges in the Global South
Date and time: 21 November 2024, 13:00-14:00 CET
Speaker: Lucca Geurts, KU Leuven (Belgium)
Title: Digital Technologies as Solutions for Health Challenges in the Global South
Where: Digital Futures hub, Osquars Backe 5, floor 2 at KTH main campus – ONSITE only
Directions: https://www.digitalfutures.kth.se/contact/how-to-get-here/
Host: Madeline Balaam, balaam@kth.se
Abstract: Digital technologies are increasingly recognized as part of the solution to health challenges in the Global South, where diseases are often underdiagnosed, and treatment options remain limited due to a shortage of healthcare professionals and the high cost of medical equipment. To address these issues, we recently established the Leuven Centre for Affordable Health Technologies.
In collaboration with researchers and healthcare professionals from the Global South, we aim to design, develop, and test affordable digital solutions aimed at supporting local healthcare systems.
This seminar will present two studies conducted in collaboration with institutes in Ethiopia. The first focuses on the Glaucoma Easy Screener, a low-cost screening tool combining a VR headset and smartphone to facilitate glaucoma screening in rural areas. The second case discusses interactive technology designed to assist in managing HIV among adolescents.
Bio: Lucca Geurts is an Associate Professor at KU Leuven (Belgium), at the Department of Computer Science, division of Human-Computer Interaction. Lucca is also the Program Director of the Advanced Master in Innovative Health Technology and Director of the Leuven Centre for Affordable Health Technology.
Lucca’s research focuses on designing, implementing and evaluating interactive sensor-actuator systems with tangible components and playful elements. The application domains are Health, Learning, Arts and Entertainment, so collaborations are made with healthcare professionals and artists. We often work with vulnerable target groups such as children with developmental disabilities, people with chronic conditions, or patients in remote areas in developing countries.
At the moment, Lucca is one of Digital Futures’ Scholars in Residence, in the Media Technology and Interaction Design Department of the Human Centered Technology Department of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.