The University of Bath's Centre for Death & Society (CDAS) will hold
its 2012 conference on the topic of digital technologies and how they affect the
interactions, experiences and social life of those near the end of life, particularly the frail elderly and the terminally ill. Considerable research has been done on technologies to sustain people’s physical wellbeing toward the end of life, but very little on technologies to sustain their social lives.

Twenty-minute papers may cover, but are not limited to, blogs, social networking, health & social care technologies, narrative analysis, or the modelling, development or use of technologies that promote social inclusion. Our aim is to bring together the fragmented research and knowledge in this area.

Papers are invited from social scientists, especially gerontologists and death studies researchers; scholars of culture, media and literature; health and care professionals; computer scientists, system engineers, formal modellers, HCI specialists; software developers & entrepreneurs; and those themselves nearing the end of their life. Abstracts (up to 250 words) to be emailed to cdas@bath.ac.uk by 12 March 2012.

The conference will be held in the centre of the world heritage city of Bath, in the amenable surroundings of the Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institute (car park nearby, Bath Spa station 10 minutes walk, Bristol Airport 1 hour).

The cost, £45 for a single day, £80 for the weekend, includes lunch and refreshments. There will be opportunities to socialise over a drink on Friday evening or meal on
Saturday evening (neither included in price). There is plentiful accommodation nearby, which delegates need to arrange for themselves.

Conference updates, a booking form and accommodation links at:
http://www.bath.ac.uk/cdas/news/conferences/index.html#cdas2012

Tony Walter
CDAS, University of Bath
jaw34@bath.ac.uk