To Participate
Thank you for your interest in our research! Below is an overview of each phase and what will be involved. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact us at hayley.wang@qut.edu.au.
We are currently recruiting for Phase 1 of our study. If your family includes a child aged 4–7 and an older relative (65+) living in a different city, state, or country, we’d love to hear from you. Parents and older relatives are both welcome to participate. To register your interest in participating in Phase 1, please register your interest via this form: registration form.
Participate in Phase 1
In Phase 1, we are conducting online interviews with parents and/or older adults to understand how families maintain emotional closeness across distance. We want to learn about your daily routines, values, and interests, and how you use tangible objects or technologies to stay connected.
We’re especially interested in how toys or everyday items help support communication between generations, and how current technologies contribute to or interfere with that connection.
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Who we’re looking for: Parents of children aged 4–7 and/or their older relatives (aged 65+) who live in a different city, state, or country
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Interviews: Approximately 60 minutes (conducted online)
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Why it matters: Your stories and insights will shape the next stages of the project
Please note: The information below is provided to give you an overview of what to expect in Phases 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the project. As we are still in the early stages, recruitment for these phases is not yet open. This page will be updated as soon as recruitment becomes available.
Participate in Phase 2
In Phase 2, you will take part in co-design workshops where you’ll collaborate with researchers and other families to generate playful, tangible ideas for staying connected across distance.
These sessions will build on insights from Phase 1 and will take place either at the QUT Kelvin Grove campus or in hybrid formats.
We’ll invite you to bring along personal or meaningful items from home, such as toys, photos, or any other objects that reflect your intergenerational relationships. These objects will help spark conversations and inspire creative ideas during the session.
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Workshops: Located at QUT Kelvin Grove and/or via hybrid formats
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Duration: Each session runs for about 1.5–2 hours
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Activities: Share stories, reflect on relationships, and collaborate on playful ideas
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What you need: No design or tech experience—we’ll guide you through the entire process
Participate in Phase 3
In Phase 3, families will help test and refine prototype technologies developed from earlier phases. These may include playful tangible objects or mixed-reality systems that support fun and meaningful intergenerational interactions.
You can try out the prototypes either at home or in short in-person testing sessions. Our team will support you throughout the process and guide you through each activity.
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What’s involved: Use prototypes at home or attend brief testing sessions
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Your role: Share your feedback to help improve the designs
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Flexibility: We’ll adapt to your schedule and provide ongoing support
Your input will directly influence how we improve the technologies to better support intergenerational connection.
Participate in Phase 4
In Phase 4, families will join a three-month home trial of selected prototypes. You’ll use the technology in your everyday routines, while we check in periodically to learn about your experiences and suggestions.
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What’s involved: Use a prototype at home over three months
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Your role: Reflect on how the technology fits into your daily life and how it affects connection
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Our support: We’ll keep the process simple, with flexible check-ins and minimal disruption
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Appreciation: We’ll offer a small thank-you gift to acknowledge your time and involvement
This is a unique opportunity to help shape future ways families stay emotionally connected across distance.