Why it Matters?
One of the greatest challenges for modern families is that older people and their young relatives – especially when separated by geography – cannot experience closeness in tangible, playful ways that naturally build deep bonds. Although technology today enables quick and easy communication, it often lacks the warmth, flexibility, and spontaneity needed for authentic intergenerational connection.
Therefore, this project explores how technologies such as Mixed Reality and Tangible interactions can be harnessed to foster closer, more natural interactions between distant generations. By developing innovative design approaches that seamlessly integrate into everyday life, the project aims to enhance genuine intergenerational engagement, reduce isolation, and ultimately strengthen family relationships across Australia.
Project Overview
The project addresses the growing challenge of isolation among geographically separated families, particularly older adults, by developing Mixed Reality and Tangible interactions. While modern technologies such as video calls offer quick communication, they lack the tangible, playful interaction necessary to build strong intergenerational bonds. This type of disconnection has been linked to increased loneliness and health risks among seniors, as well as diminished opportunities for children to form deep relationships with their grandparents or older relatives. By co-designing and prototyping different types of systems – e.g. based on tangible interactions only or including both tangible objects and screens – this project aims to create authentic, embodied experiences that facilitate meaningful engagement across distances. Through longitudinal evaluations, we will identify the most impactful features of these systems, develop a theoretical framework for future research, and produce practical tools and guidelines for families, practitioners, and developers. The goal is to enhance intergenerational closeness, reduce isolation, and provide a scalable model for families worldwide.
Funding/Grants
This project has been funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project 240102717.
Project Team
- Professor Thea Blackler (Chief Investigator, Lead)
- Associate Professor Linda Knight (Chief Investigator)
- Associate Professor Bernd Ploderer (Chief Investigator)
- Dr Jane Turner (Chief Investigator)
- Dr Nicole Vickery (Chief Investigator)
- Dr Shital Desai (Partner Investigator)
- Dr Hayley Wang (Postdoctoral Research Fellow)
Project Partners
- RMIT
- York University, Toronto
Funding / Grants
- This project has been funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project 240102717.
