Madeline Balaam

As digital technologies have become embedded in our lives they have become increasingly intimate – we use technology in intimate places, for mediating intimate relationships and for collecting, storing and reflecting on intimate data. Madeline and her team have focused on how to understand, design with and study this quality of technology.

One element of intimate technology that can be leveraged for the good of society, is its use within intimate health. People are often much less embarrassed to google intimate questions than they might be to speak to a parent, friend or doctor. Madeline and her team have designed mobile applications that guide knowledge of the intimate anatomy through to finger-worn sensors that invite mediated touch as a source of knowledge.

As technologies actively touch people they will become more intimate. Think about robots in a care home, carrying, washing and caring for people. Society needs knowledge on how this kind of touch can be well designed so that it is safe and dignified. Madeline and her team are developing a chair which is able to move in order to touch the hips, the inner thighs and the pelvic floor. Their explorations will provide necessary knowledge on how to touch sensitive and intimate parts of the body well.