In my daily work, I research new models to support disabled people. I am passionate about the move towards choice and control for people with disabilities.

I consider myself a bit of a magpie; a bit of a scavenger when it comes to research: I’m opportunistic, interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial.  My current design research projects are varied; one explores how digital technologies can help people engage with the arts, another is about using design to help the government procure better services, which I recently presented in Helsinki, and another is about the role design plays in innovation. A broad range of projects. All design research. So what’s the relevance of these kinds of projects to social services?

My thoughts so far:

I've always had a passion for the arts - whether it's music, visual art, or performance art. I’ve spent most of my career working in adult social care training and development. I've always said that being a trainer is a bit like being a writer and a performer and that the more you can entertain people when you are teaching the more they are likely to learn.

One aspect of my job is writing the code behind websites. It can be a hugely satisfying job but at the same time a very solitary one, struggling to solve a bug can sometimes take many hours and when solved there’s almost always no one who knows that you’ve been struggling.

One thing that helps me concentrate is listening to music. It’s not that I find the office too noisy or even that I’m easily distracted (which I am really). I just like good tunes.

“Poetry and hums aren’t things which you get. They’re things which get you. And all you can do is to go where they can find you”. (Milne, 1928)

Everyone deserves music is the title of a conference I’ll be chairing end of April (Community music conference, Gateshead, 29 April). It’s also a good slogan. Music is the way we express our identity and how we relate to the world, especially where the written or spoken word is inadequate or unavailable. As human beings we need music just as we need food, shelter and warmth.

Key Community Supports provides support for people with disabilities thoughout Scotland. During 2013 IRISS worked with Key to explore how mobile technologies might provide context-based information and training for care workers.

What might social services look like in 2025?

In 2013 Iriss ran a series of workshops to help us understand the technical, medical and cultural forces that will shape the future. These workshops informed three 'think pieces' or reports - on citizenship, the workforce and technology.

'It is essential that everyone has access to the right technology and are capable and confident in its use at home and at work'

So says the Scottish Government in its aspirations for Scotland's digital future.