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About

Louis Neven is a leading scholar in socio-gerontechnology, critically examining the intersection of ageing, technology, and design. His research focuses on how older people are represented and engaged in the development of emerging technologies, from ambient intelligence to social robots. Neven’s most influential work, “But Obviously Not for Me”: Robots, Laboratories and the Defiant Identity of Elder Test Users (2010, 268 citations), reveals how elder test users actively resist stereotypical portrayals of frailty and dependency, asserting their own identities during robot trials. This study highlights the gap between designers’ assumptions and older adults’ lived experiences, reshaping how we understand user involvement in gerontechnology. His thesis (2011, 41 citations) further unpacks how ageist representations in ambient intelligence design can marginalize older users. As co-editor of the landmark volume *Socio-gerontechnology: Interdisciplinary Critical Studies of Ageing and Technology* (2021, 40 citations), Neven has helped establish a critical, interdisciplinary field that bridges Age Studies and Science and Technology Studies. His work challenges technological determinism, advocating for more inclusive, user-centered innovation. With a career dedicated to amplifying older people’s voices in tech design, Neven’s contributions are essential for students and researchers seeking to create ethically sound, age-friendly technologies.