DPhil student Linda Hong Cheng co-founds start-up combatting digital ageism
DPhil student Linda Hong Cheng co-founds start-up combatting digital ageism
DPhil student Linda Hong Cheng has co-founded Mung!, an innovative AI-driven AgeTech start-up.
The programme recently hosted Oxford’s first-ever student-led “Combatting Digital Ageism” event, marking a significant milestone in addressing the digital exclusion of older people.
The start-up, also co-founded by fellow Oxford DPhil students Tongshan Liu and Marek Rychetsky, is dedicated to making digital technology accessible and inclusive of all age groups.
Being able to use technology has become necessary for surviving and thriving in society, as recognised by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Yet the tech industry remains exclusionary and overwhelmingly serves younger people – perpetuating the digital exclusion of older people.
Linda adds:
Older people also make up an increasingly large world demographic and powerful consumer market. As technology continues to innovate at a pace faster than humans can learn it, it’s imperative that everyone – especially the most marginalised communities – are included.
Simply put, it’s both bad ethics and bad business to exclude older people from the digital world. Mung! is here to make technology accessible and inclusive for all ages.
Mung!’s initial event – sponsored by the Saïd Business School and supported by AgeUK-Oxfordshire, Oxford Hub, and Oxfordshire County Council – featured two main components: a digital skills workshop tailored specifically for individuals aged 55+, and a thought-provoking panel discussion with leading experts on combatting digital ageism.
The digital skills workshop drew a diverse group of older community members from across Oxfordshire. Volunteers provided hands-on assistance, teaching participants everything from basic device functions to solving complex technological issues that had previously hindered their daily lives.
Meanwhile, the panel brought together esteemed speakers including Professor Max Van Kleek from Oxford’s Human-Centred Computing department, Michelle Yeung from the Translational Sciences department, and Carrie Brooks from AgeUK-Oxfordshire.
The discussion covered critical topics such as the barriers older adults and marginalised communities face in accessing digital resources, the transformative impact of digital inclusion for ageing populations, decolonising product design processes, and the innovative work Mung! is doing to make technology inclusive of all ages.
Linda notes:
The success of this event is just the beginning for Mung!, as the start-up continues its mission to revolutionise AgeTech and ensure that technology serves people of all ages.
Mung! is committed to breaking down the digital barriers that older adults face and creating a more inclusive digital world for all.
Find out more here and on all social media platforms @mungtech.
