“Technology is best when it brings people together.

—Matt Mullenweg

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Overview
This week explores the Technology lens of the D4L Unclock Framework, examining how tools, digital infrastructures, and artificial intelligence increasingly shape human experiences, behaviors, decision-making, and access to resources throughout the lifespan. Rather than viewing technology as an end,  we’ll consider how technology can meaningfully support human well-being, autonomy, and healthy longevity.

When does technology enhance human agency and when does it replace it? Consider the difference between AI that recommends options while leaving the final decision to the user and AI that automatically makes decisions for the user; between health technologies that empower individuals to manage their own well-being and systems that prescribe care pathways with little room for personal choice. As emerging technologies become increasingly embedded in everyday life, where should we draw the boundary between human judgment and technological automation?

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Reading Material

• Briscoe, G. (2022). Technology futures roadmap for the longevity economy. 11th Inclusive Design (INCLUDE) Conference, London, UK. https://researchonline.rca.ac.uk/id/eprint/5162

• Hodara, S. E. (2024). LongevityTech: bridging immersive media and design for longevity. DIID, 1(82). https://doi.org/10.30682/diid8224f

• Borghi, C., Ferrarini, B., Leonardi, V., & Xiong, X. (2026). City of Longevity: a framework to integrate emerging technologies and participatory design into urban environments. Proceedings of DRS. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.847

• Sedini, C., & Bonato, C. (2026). Proximity, Technology, and Care: Towards Longevity-Friendly Urban Ecosystems. Proceedings of DRS. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1855

• Sedini, C., & Colleoni, M. (2024). The Right to the City: Mobility of Proximity and Social Inclusion of Elderly People. In Designing Proximity: Reflections on Future Cities (pp. 13-23). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-60145-3_2

• Pei, X., Sedini, C., & Zurlo, F. (2021). Co-designing a walkable city for the elderly through system thinking approach. In Relating Systems Thinking and Design (RSD8) 2019 Symposium. https://rsdsymposium.org/co-designing-a-walkable-city-for-the-elderly/

• Sedini, C. (2020). Collectively Designing Social Worlds. History and Potential of Social Innovation. Milano: FrancoAngeli, ISBN: 9788835112761
   

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