Transgenerational Technology and Interactions for the 21st Century: Perspectives and Narratives

Transgenerational Technology and Interactions for the 21st Century explores how we as humans navigate the 21st Century, interacting with technologies, including those that are intended to support and enhance our experiences across the lifespan. This manifesto, composed with humanity at the front and centre, pinpoints succinctly the critical considerations of people, technology and inequalities intersecting across our 21st century ecosystems.

With a special focus on bridging interdisciplinary research, creative and co-production approaches, the authors explore and present cutting edge discourse, building on previous research to form contemporary and inform future awareness and strategies to societal experiences. The authors argue that it is time to re-evaluate how we move forward in a multi-faceted society, with the ever growing reliance of technology but yet many voices are not heard, left behind or not even considered.

This creative and collaborative response is suited to researchers, academics, designers, industry and stakeholder professionals who have an interest the fields of technology, design, sociology and innovation.

Hannah R. Marston conducts interdisciplinary research and holds a PhD from Teesside University, UK in virtual reality and gerontology. Since 2010 Hannah has worked in Canada and Germany as a researcher, prior to moving back to the UK in 2015, and she has published over 40 peer reviewed journal papers, and most recently she was part of the ‘The Smart Homes and Independent Living Commission’. Her research areas include gerontechnology, UX (User eXperience) of transgenerational technologies and videogames, gender, age-friendly cities, and communities and in 2020 Hannah led an international, multi-site COVID-19 research project focusing on technology.

Linda Shore is a UX Designer/Researcher and currently works as part of the DHI (Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre) at Glasgow School of Art, Scotland. Her research areas include User-Centred Design approaches that explore perceptions and adoption of emerging wearable technologies by older adults and the impact of amputation/age related conditions on Quality of Life. Additional areas of research interest include service blueprint development for healthcare and transgenerational technology that adapts to users’ needs. Linda is excited about the possibilities of technologies for the future and how these can enhance the worlds, lives, and experiences as we age.

Laura Stoops is the Impact and Evaluation Manager at Age NI, a charity that supports older people in Northern Ireland to love later life. Laura’s professional interests are using technology-based solutions to support older people or those with a disability and assessing the impact and evaluation. She has a keen interest in using research skills to support the voluntary sector and to share this knowledge widely. Laura holds a PhD (2011) in Computer-Based Assessment and Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease from the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland. As part of her PhD work, Laura has written and published 5 journal papers including a paper entitled ‘Assessment of Bradykinesia, Akinesia and Rigidity Using a Home-Based Assessment Tool’ which was published in the International Journal of Assistive Robotics and Systems (2009).

Robbie S. Turner is a co-founder and Senior Consultant at Spektrum Group, a company that supports potential suppliers in penetrating government, defence, and humanitarian markets by lending them over 20 years of experience in this field. Robbie is regarded and foremost an expert in this specialist market, and thoroughly enjoys the process of knowledge exchange and translation, knowledge that directly impacts and enhances a company’s ability to participate and succeed in a perceivably exclusive environment.