Codesigning tech for inclusion: The ICONIC project

The ICONIC project, which stands for ‘Intergenerational Codesign of Novel Technologies in Coastal Communities’, aimed to combat digital exclusion by developing novel new technology applications with disadvantaged communities, rather than for them.

An example of purposeful research in action, ICONIC began in 2022 and has just concluded with the creation of four unique prototype technologies developed hand-in-hand with the communities intended to use them.

In this episode of the Tech For Good podcast, host Romily Broad is joined by three research fellows from the Centre for Health Technology (CHT) at the University of Plymouth: Dr Rory Baxter, Oksana Hagen, and Dr Marius Varga. They describe an initiative built on years of research into the intersection of technology and public health. Their focus was on the community in its own area, rural southwest England – a perfect testbed as a region with high digital exclusion due to its rural geography and generally older, less affluent population.

The project engaged local users in developing four technologies: a VR experience of local heritage site Cotehele Hall, underwater telepresence for marine education, a conservation-focused social game, and an AI voice assistant for accessing local services. Researchers facilitated codesign workshops over the course of months, where participants shaped the development process, overcoming ther own technological hesitations while producing innovations with a much broader potential impact.

ICONIC’s results demonstrate that both its process and its outcomes offer rich benefits. Engaging excluded communities in technology development fosters digital literacy amongst participants, and simultaneously produces meaningful solutions tailored to local needs.

Now, the team is seeking new partners and funding to further develop the prototypes and expand their impact.

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