Designing digital health futures: Doing undoings in society and anthropology

Traditionally, anthropological studies have primarily focused on cultural heritage, customs, and traditions, often neglecting the reciprocal influence between current actions and future aspirations. In scrutinizing the implementation of digital health initiatives in Portugal, I shift focus from unraveling healthcare practices to critiquing anthropology's methodologies. While healthcare agents must discard previous help-seeking notions, anthropologists, in contrast, substitute their conventional subject matter with a commitment to envisioning sustainable futures. This intricate process explores how the idealized "ought to be" molds the "being" within social practices, where anthropology holds significance and legitimacy. The analysis sheds light on speculative methods, facilitating hypothetical actions that challenge established norms in the present-making process. Both observed and observers undergo transformation through this journey.

Drawing from my direct involvement in social innovation projects related to digital health, I scrutinize entrenched anthropological practices and challenge the prevailing notion that innovation alone guarantees comprehensive sustainability. Exploring themes such as evolving practices, envisioning futures, and examining the convergence of the present and future, I advocate for narratives that transcend mere technological solutions to address societal challenges.

Ultimately, this presentation aims to fuel discussions on traditional paradigms in anthropology, encouraging a profound exploration of how anthropological analysis shapes the development of sustainable futures.