TechConnect

Assessing and strengthening human-tech skill complementary

TechConnect is a project Funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe framework, aimed at enhancing our understanding of how advanced digital technologies affect human skills.

By studying how skills are applied in real-world use of technology (actual affordance) compared to the way the technology is intended to be used (intended affordance), we will generate new insights into how human skills and technology complement each other, both in practice and in theory.

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Our mission is to deepen our understanding of the dynamic interplays between new digital technologies and human skills, generating novel and practical knowledge on the emerging topic of Human-Tech Skill complementarity.

Our objectives

A novel and holistic concept

Develop a novel and holistic concept of human-tech skills complementarity that addresses the complexity and interactions between human skills and technology.

A validated human tech skill complementarity index

Develop a validated human-tech skills complementarity index that assesses how human and technological skills interact and complement each other to promote productivity and quality of work and jobs.

Establishing a predictive model

Strengthen human-tech skills complementarity via developing and establishing a predictive model to identify the critical factors for driving human-tech skills complementarity.

Driving changes across technology design

Drive changes across how technologies are designed, developed and integrated across industries and organisations to deliver on greater productivity, better work and resilient industries.

Scaling the outcome of TechConnect

Scale the outcome of TechConnect for continued development of the human-tech skills complementarities to become the foundation for future methods of upskilling, training and research that will result in significant reassessment of our approaches to technologies and human skills.

Roadmap

TechConnect is a project funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe framework, aimed at enhancing our understanding of how advanced digital technologies affect human skills.

By studying how skills are applied in real-world use of technology (actual affordance) compared to the way the technology is intended to be used (intended affordance), we will generate new insights into how human skills and technology complement each other, both in practice and in theory.

The use cases

TechConnect initiative looks at the influence of the use of a technological solution. Each use case involves the engagement of multiple stakeholders, including technology providers, government entities, hospital management teams, staff, employee associations and patient association. 

Robotic process

Computing vision

Integrated diagnosis

Gen AI application

Keep an eye on our progress – Exciting use cases coming soon!

The index

The significance of this research lies in unveiling the innovative perspective of Human-Tech Skill Complementarity, a dimension often overlooked in existing studies.

While previous research highlights the displacement of human skills by automation and argumentation through new technologies, there is a notable gap in understanding how these skills can mutually enhance each other, in a systematic way. 

We build on previous research which conceptualises technology and human skills as two separate components that do not necessarily come together naturally or simultaneously. 

We propose a conceptual fraework to desribe Human-Tech Skill Complementarity.

The challenges

In a time of skill shortage and workplace transformation, technology is thus seen as key. But current research has also shown that implementing technology to achieve the corresponding skills improvement comes with several challenges ranging from technical issues to human factors and systemic dimensions. Some of these challenges include:

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Resistance to new technology

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Concerns about job displacement

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Poorly designed user interfaces

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Inadequate training and education programmes

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Poor integration of technology

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Lack of standardisation and interoperability

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Challenges related to bias, accountability and responsibility

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Limited empirical evidence

Expected outcomes

Outcome 1

Deepened our understanding on the potential and impact of new technologies such as AI technologies and robotics to substitute or complement human skills and in performing job task

Stakeholders

- Researchers
- Policy
- Organisational Management

Outcome 2

Development and deployment of technologies that complement and enhance human skills, and development of the corresponding skills in the workforce.

Stakeholders

- Researchers
- Policy
- Organisational Management

TechConnect is a project funded by the xxx, aimed at enhancing our understanding of how advanced digital technologies affect human skills.

By studying how skills are applied in real-world use of technology (actual affordance) compared to the way the technology is intended to be used (intended affordance), we will generate new insights into how human skills and technology complement each other, both in practice and in theory.

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