Public Health 2040: A Future Shaped by Data and Decisions
A video co-created using the design fiction method, depicting a future scenario of smart public communications in public health, designed to facilitate research and public discussions.
In this video, we explore a future where smart public communication systems shape how we understand and respond to public health challenges. Set within a fictional scenario, the story shows how data driven messages could guide everyday decisions about health, prevention, and care.
The video raises important questions about how information is created, shared, and trusted. It invites you to consider who controls public health messaging and how it might influence behaviour at both individual and community level. While these systems could support better awareness and early action, they also bring challenges around privacy, fairness, and access.
Developed using a design fiction approach, this video forms part of a wider series designed to spark discussion. It offers a starting point for thinking about how technology could shape public health communication in the future, and what that might mean for society.
About the series
Specifically on the theme of public health, this video is the second of a suite of four video resources.
These four videos are a series of fictional scenarios depicting possible futures where smart technologies are used for public communications. They are created as a set of resources to facilitate reflections and discussions in participatory research (including for focus groups, interviews, citizen juries, etc.) as well as engagement activities in smart communications.
The videos are the result of a co-creation process involving relevant stakeholders, including legal and technical experts, policymakers, regulators and civil society organisations, using the design fiction methodology and covering a range of themes explored in a research workshop.
Credits
- Script: Dr Sheli Smith (Research Associate at the University of Sheffield)
- Script: Dr Jiahong Chen (Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Sheffield)
- Animation: Matt Exton (25 Frames Design)
- Special thanks: Mariano delli Santi (Open Rights Group), Dr Maria Tzanou (University of Sheffield), DI Dan Giannasi (North West Cyber Resilience Centre), Dr Cigdem Sengul (Brunel University of London), Dr Sana Belguith (University of Bristol) and Dr Arthi Manohar (Brunel University of London).
- All videos have been published with a CC BY licence as part of the research project “The Internet of Tactical Engagement (IoTE): Acceptability of Data-driven Public Communications in Smart Homes”, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council [ES/Y000020X/1].