Trans Technologies | Talk by Oliver Haimson

Oliver Haimson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Information, author of Trans Technologies (MIT Press 2025), and a recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER award. He conducts social computing research focused on envisioning and designing trans technologies, social media content moderation, marginalized populations, and changing identities online during life transitions.

"In this talk, drawing from my new book Trans Technologies (MIT Press, 2025), I discuss how technology creates new possibilities for transgender people, and how trans experiences, in turn, create new possibilities for technology. Mainstream technologies often exclude or marginalize transgender users, but when trans creators take technology design into their own hands, transformative possibilities emerge. Through in-depth interviews with over 100 creators of trans technology—including apps, games, health resources, extended reality systems, and supplies designed to address challenges trans people face—I uncover what trans technology means and explore its possibilities, limitations, and future prospects. I examine the design processes that brought these technologies to life, the role of community in their creation, and how they empower trans individuals to create their own tools to navigate a world that often fails to meet trans needs. This work highlights the successes and limitations of current trans technologies, identifies gaps still to be addressed, and investigates how privilege, race, and access to resources shape which trans technologies are created, who benefits, and who may be left out. Finally, I chart new directions for design and innovation to drive meaningful social change, inviting us to rethink the relationship between technology and marginalized communities."

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