Can wearable augmented reality (AR) help older adults feel more socially connected? A new collaborative study by the Media Psychology and Media Design Group, Virtual Worlds and Digital Games Group, and Audiovisual Technology Group at TU Ilmenau explores how avatars can enhance communication experiences in later life. In a lab-based user study, 16 older adults from Germany engaged in virtual conversations with an avatar representing a remote partner via a wearable AR system. Conducted as part of the CO-HUMANICS project, which supports social needs in aging through innovative technologies, the study highlights the potential of AR to foster social engagement and presence.
Veronika Mikhailova from the Media Psychology and Media Design Group will present the findings of the study at the 27th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI International 2025), taking place 22–27 June 2025 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Mikhailova, V., Kunert, C., Hartbrich, J., Schwandt, T., Gerhardt, C., Raake, A., Broll, W., & Döring, N. (2025). Addressing the avatar in the room: A user study on older adults’ experiences with a wearable augmented reality communication system. In Q. Gao & J. Zhou (Eds.), Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population. HCII 2025. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (Vol. 15809). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-92707-2_21