Policymakers in the U.S. and abroad are increasingly turning to self-tracking technologies, like fitness monitoring devices and health management apps, as solutions to systemic failures in healthcare coverage and cost. In this talk, I will examine three cases where self-tracking has been proposed or deployed to address such failures: fitness wearables targeting social determinants of health, food tracking apps used to address to coverage gaps around GLP-1 medications, and AI support tools meant to extend the reach of public health monitoring. Across these cases, I will argue that existing technologies not only fall short of addressing these systemic issues, but that relying on them actively exacerbates their inherent design limitations, shifting responsibility onto individuals while leaving structural problems intact. I will conclude with a set of design directions that reframe how self-tracking might be developed and deployed to more meaningfully contribute to healthcare equity.
| 11:45am - 12:15pm: | Food and community socializing. |
| 12:15pm - 1:15pm: | Presentation with Q&A. Available hybrid via Zoom. |
| 1:30pm - 2:15pm: | Student meeting with speaker, held in the same location. |
Daniel Epstein is an Associate Professor in the Department of Informatics at UC Irvine, with a courtesy appointment in Computer Science. His research explores how personal tracking technologies can better reflect the realities of everyday life. With over 45 publications in top HCI venues like CHI, CSCW, and Ubicomp, his work has been featured in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, LA Times, and Consumer Reports. Recognized with multiple Best Paper Awards at CHI, a 10-Year Impact Award Honorable Mention from Ubicomp, and an NSF CAREER award, he earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science & Engineering from the University of Washington and a B.S. from the University of Virginia.