Anthropology Meets Technology: A Glimpse into the Future of Cultural Understanding

Anthropology, the study of human societies and cultures, has always been a dynamic field that is associated with a wide range of interconnected areas and disciplines. And as anthropologists increasingly collaborate with experts in other fields, many have been wondering about the future of anthropology, and about how it will adapt to the fast-paced world of technology and business.

At first glance, anthropology and technology are two seemingly different fields, but they intersect in several ways. Overall, anthropology and technology overlap in a multidisciplinary manner, contributing valuable insights into the complex interactions between people and technology. Anthropological research can help shape more culturally aware and responsible technological development, and it provides a deeper understanding of the ways in which technology impacts our lives and societies.

As far back as the early 2000s, Intel, an American multinational corporation and technology giant hired Professor Genevieve Bell, who today is well known as an anthropologist, technologist, and futurist, to help Intel understand how people use technology, and how to better their relationship with technology. Professor Genevieve Bell went on to become an integral part of the organisation, helping guide Intel’s product development by developing the company’s social science and design research capabilities.

More recently, anthropologists have been leveraging technology as a valuable toolset to enhance their research capabilities, extend the reach of their work, and adapt to the evolving research landscape. They use digital tools, such as smartphones, tablets, and data collection apps to collect Ethnographic data, conduct surveys, record interviews, and document observations in the field. Technology has also paved the way for more collaboration and communication by enabling anthropologists to collaborate with other researchers and experts across borders, sharing findings, and engaging in interdisciplinary work through video conferencing and online platforms.

Technology has already been transforming anthropology, and it will continue to do so in various ways, further expanding the field’s research methods, reach, and impact. There is thus no real question about what the future of anthropology looks like because it is dynamic and adaptive, reflecting the ever-changing world and the evolving interests and priorities of researchers and practitioners. Anthropologists will continue to critically examine and revise traditional concepts and theories, but as Ethnographic research extends beyond traditional settings to include a wide range of diverse contexts such as urban environments, digital spaces, and transnational communities, the real challenge will be how anthropologists stay abreast of new tools, methods, and ethical considerations to make the most of the transformative potential of technology in their field.

Written by Chiedza Gwanzura, Business Anthropology Manager at Demographica and co-founder of the Labyrinth Behaviour Collective.