Designing Inclusive Immersive Experiences: Intergenerational Codesign of Heritage and Underwater Extended Reality for Older Adults

ORCID

Abstract

Despite rapid advances in immersive Extended Reality technologies, creating inclusive and accessible experiencesfor older adults remains challenging. Many Extended Realityapplications fail to account for the physical, cognitive, andergonomic needs of older users, resulting in low engagement anddigital exclusion. Cultural heritage and underwater environmentsoffer rich contexts for meaningful interaction and wellbeing.This study explored how intergenerational codesign can informthe development of immersive Extended Reality applicationsfor older adults. Two case studies were undertaken within theICONIC project: a Heritage Extended Reality experience recreating Cotehele, a National Trust heritage site, and an UnderwaterTelepresence experience simulating marine environments. Theobjective was to identify design principles supporting accessibility, comfort, and engagement. Sixteen codesign workshopswere conducted with 24 older and 12 younger adults across fiveiterative stages: framing, ideation, prototyping, digital design,and testing. Mixed-methods analysis combined thematic coding ofqualitative feedback with non-parametric statistical tests to assessdesign priorities. Participants prioritised immersion, interactivity,and accessibility. Simplified locomotion and one-button controlschemes enhanced usability, while ergonomic modifications toheadsets and controllers improved comfort. For UnderwaterTelepresence, dual “relaxation” and “learning” modes broadenedappeal. Social features were consistently ranked lower thanimmersive and educational elements. Intergenerational codesignoffers an effective approach to inclusive Extended Reality development and these insights inform future applications addressingdigital exclusion and promoting equitable access to culturaland environmental experiences. In this paper, we showed thatsimplified controls, ergonomic design, and affordable hardwareimprove engagement and confidence among older users forimmersive heritage and underwater telepresence experiences.

Publication Date

2026-01-01

Publication Title

International Journal On Advances in Intelligent Systems

Volume

18

Issue

3 and 4

ISSN

1942-2679

Acceptance Date

2025-11-27

Deposit Date

2025-11-27

Keywords

extended reality, intergenerational codesign, heritage, underwater, digital exclusion, immersive, telepresence

First Page

1

Last Page

12

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