ICONIC – research updates

Updates on our research activity
laptop showing video call with a number of partipants
This page provides an overview of research and academic outreach activity linked to the Intergenerational Codesign of Novel technologies In Coastal communities (ICONIC) project as it develops.
We are keen to connect and share knowledge with academic groups working in;
  • Intergenerational research recruitment and co-design
  • Co-design of digital technology
  • Digital exclusion and policy research
For further information on these sessions, or to arrange a meeting with your group, please contact Dr Rory Baxter or Professor Ray Jones MBE .
 

Academic links

Online sessions with researchers, policy makers and academic groups

 

Previous sessions

Woman holding mobile phone to her ear
March 2025: ICONIC at European Conversational AI Summit
Dr Oksana Hagen presented ICONIC's VoiceAI work for social prescribing at the European Conversational AI Summit. Her talk stood out for its exploratory nature and socially driven approach, drawing strong interest from attendees.
Man and woman looking at robotic arm
February 2025: ICONIC and Bournemouth University exchange insight on co-design
ICONIC project researchers presented their co-design process and preliminary evaluation results to Bournemouth University’s Ageing and Dementia Research Group, highlighting its impact on participant confidence and intergenerational collaboration.
An older man wearing a VR headset
December 2024: ICONIC and Cardiff University explore the social impact of technology
Researchers from the ICONIC project and Cardiff University discussed how mixed reality and emerging AI technology have the transformative potential to create social impacts and improve lives through innovation.
Using a tablet with a stylus
November 2024: ICONIC and Swansea University Collaborative Knowledge Sharing
Researchers from the ICONIC project and Swansea University came together to share research expertise and insights into innovative technologies that could benefit the future development of the project.
Woman using a tablet in front of an audience
November 2024: ICONIC and Stirling University Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Ageing
Professor Ray Jones MBE (ICONIC PI) was invited by Stirling University to present our work as part of the postgraduate module Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Ageing, addressing an international audience.
Elderly man using a tablet with help from two young people
October 2024: ICONIC and Strathclyde's Ageing Network, University of Strathclyde
Researchers from the ICONIC project and Strathclyde's Ageing Network considered the role that co-design can play in designing digital technologies that are accessible to those with sensory impairments.
Spentys medical software on a tablet
September 2024: ICONIC and Østfold University College, Norway
Researchers from the ICONIC project and Østfold University College shared research and insights into cultural and digital projects involving interdisciplinary students, healthcare workers and the public.
Lego toy on road
September 2024: ICONIC and furthering research into creative robotics and artificial intelligence
Researchers from the ICONIC project joined Professor Angelo Cangelosi (University of Manchester) and Dr Hooman Samani (University of Arts London), to discuss research within machine learning, cognitive robotics and connected disciplines.
An anonymous Caucasian female reading some health articles on her mobile phone while using oximeter to check her blood condition. Credit: FreshSplash, courtesy of Getty
August 2024: ICONIC and the Smart Medical Application Laboratory, Southern Taiwan University of Science & Technology
Researchers from the ICONIC project and the Southern Taiwan University shared news on current developments within the fields of health technology, medical machinery, and smart pharmaceutical processes.
Photo Of Gynecologist Sitting Near Medical Equipment. Credit: Mart Productions via Pexels
July 2024: ICONIC and FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences (Graz, Austria)
Researchers from the ICONIC project and FH Joanneum discussed current and future opportunities within e-Health, digital community projects and international health care systems.
Person Using Black and Silver Laptop Computer. Credit: Peter Olexa via Pexels
July 2024: ICONIC and Department of Learning Technologies, Design and School Library Media, Towson University (Maryland, USA)
Researchers from the ICONIC project and Towson University shared insights into current developments within AI digital learning and game development.
Video call with multiple attendees on a laptop
May 2024: ICONIC and NHS Maternity practitioners and stakeholders
Researchers from the ICONIC project and colleagues working with maternity health considered the role that digital technologies can play in tackling maternal and child health inequalities, and support anxiety, pain, and stress management.
Full size GOALD  logo
February 2024: ICONIC and GOALD Partners (The Social Behavioural & Design Research Programme, University of Stirling)
Researchers from the ICONIC project and its sister project GOALD discussed issues surrounding intergenerational research recruitment, factors affecting digital exclusion and participation and conducting research under pandemic restrictions.
Reimagine Ageing logo
November 2023: ICONIC and Reimagine Aging Interdisciplinary Research Network (Horizons Institute Leeds)
Led by Professor Arunangsu Chatterjee, ICONIC Project Advisor, this interactive discussion on ‘Ageing Well in a Digital World’ examined how digital health technology and research can support an ageing population.
 

Conferences

ICONIC Researchers have presented research updates at the following conferences:
  • The 4th IEEE International Conference on ICT Solutions for eHealth
  • The 10th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health (ICT4AWE 20204)
  • The CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
  • The 18th International Conference on Digital Society
 

Publications

2025

Baxter, R., Hagen, O., Aly, A., Jones, R. B., Willis, K. Coastal and Rural Digital Exclusion-The Case for Voice AI. 18th International Conference on Health Informatics (HEALTHINF), Feb 2025, Porto, Portugal.
Bradwell, H., Edwards, K. J., Cooper, L., Baxter, R., Chatterjee, A., Jones, R. B., Hennessy, C. H. (2025). Beyond the Walls: Comparison of three extended reality technologies giving care home residents access to tourism and cultural content for health and wellbeing. AIVR conference proceedings IARIA (In Press)
Brownson-Smith, R., Ananthakrishnan, A., Hagen, O., Aly, A., Jones, R. B., Meinert, E., Cong, C. (2025). Conversational AI for Social Care in Older Adults: A Scoping Review Protocol. JMIR Research Protocols
Hagen, O., Varga, M. N., Baxter, B., Bradwell, H., Jones, R.B., Aly, A., Bazazian, D., Gaudl, S., Veliz Reyes, A. (2025). Intergenerational Technology Co-Design Process: Reflections from Underwater Telepresence and XR Workshops. M. Mulvenna, M. D. Lozano Perez, & M. Ziefle (Eds.). ICT4AWE 2024 – Revised Selected Papers (A Springer Nature Computer Science book series (CCIS, LNAI, LNBI, LNBIP or LNCS), Springer Nature Switzerland AG, In press.
Varga, M. N., Hagen, O., Baxter, R., Veliz Reyes, A., Jones, R. B., Aly, A., Bazazian, D., Gaudl, S. (2025). Intergenerational Codesign of Immersive Technology for a Heritage Site and Underwater VR Experience. AIVR conference proceedings IARIA (In Press)
Hagen, O., Baxter, R., Aly, A., Jones, R. B., en nombre del proyecto ICONIC. Uso de la voz-IA por teléfono para la promoción de la salud. XXVIII Congreso Nacional de Informática de la Salud 2025. Sociedad Española de Informática de la Salud, 1-3 April 2025, Madrid. Poster Abstract C-CO-406 |
Varga, M., Cooper, L., Bradwell, H., Gaudl, S., Veliz Reyes, A., Jones, R. B., en nombre de los proyectos GOALD y ICONIC. Recomendaciones para el diseño de Realidad Virtual para mantener saludables a las personas mayores. XXVIII Congreso Nacional de Informática de la Salud 2025. Sociedad Española de Informática de la Salud, 1-3 April 2025, Madrid. Poster Abstract C-CO-407 |

2024

Bradwell, H., Cooper, L., Baxter, R., Tomaz, S., Edwards, K., Whittaker, A., Jones, R. B. (2024). Implementation of Virtual Reality Motivated Physical Activity via Omnidirectional Treadmill in a Supported Living Facility for Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation.: Virtual reality to motivate physical activity for older adults. Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 1-13.
Hagen, O., Aly, A., Jones, R. B., Varga, M. N., Bazazian, D. (2024). Beyond the surface: a scoping review of vision-based underwater experience technologies and user studies. Intelligent Marine Technology and Systems, Intelligent Marine Technology and Systems 2 (1), 19
Jones, R.B., Baxter, R., Varga, M. N., Hagen, O., Aly, A., Bazazian, D., Veliz Reyes, A., Gaudl, S. (2024). Addressing Digital Exclusion via the Inter-Generational Codesign of Extended Reality, Underwater Telepresence, Social Games, and Voice AI Technologies. International Journal on Advances in Intelligent Systems, 17 (3&4), pp. 122-131
Varga, M. N., Bazazian, D. (2024). Interactive Heritage Site Mobile Application on Artworks. Advances in Representation - New AI- and XR-Driven Transdisciplinarity. (pp. 125-139).
Hagen, O., Varga, M., Baxter, R., Jones, R. B., Aly, A., Bazazian, D., Gaudl, S., Veliz Reyes, A., 'Insights from C-Design of Underwater Telepresence and Extended Reality Technologies with Digitally Excluded Older Adults.' Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health- Volume 1: ICT4AWE.
Jones, R. B., Baxter, R., Varga, M. N., Hagen, O., Aly, A., Bazazian, D., Veliz Reyes, A., Gaudl, S., 'Intergenerational Technology Codesign in Deprived Coastal Regions.' Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Digital Society.
Veliz Reyes, A., Varga, M., Bradwell, H., Baxter, R., Jones, R. B., Maudlin, D., 'Codesign principles for effective extended reality (XR) systems for health and care in rural and coastal communities.'

2023

Veliz Reyes, A., Varga, M., Bradwell, H., Baxter, R., 'Unlocking social innovation in XR for Healthcare in coastal communities.' 2nd Workshop on XR for Healthcare and Wellbeing - (XR Health) 2023 (IEEE 2023). 25-29 March, Shanghai, China. DOI: 10.1109/VRW58643.2023.00032.