Codesign principles for the effective development of digital heritage extended reality systems for health interventions in rural communities

Figures & data

Figure 1. (Left): interior view of the stair all, Powderham Castle. figure 1b (right): interior view of the medieval longhouse in higher uppacott.

Figure 2. Recorded interactions with H-XR-H technology for both projects reported in this paper including young people (YP), older adults (OA) and care home staff members (staff). For ICONIC, this includes an initial session to familiarise participants with XR technologies. GOALD, this includes non-technology codesign and evaluation sessions.

Figure 3. Schedule of codesign activities throughout the GOALD and ICONIC projects, highlighting activities specifically related to H-XR-H.

Figure 4. H-XR-H codesign session in Plymouth, UK.

Figure 5. (Left): handheld 3D scanning of plaster ornaments in Powderham Castle. figure 5b (right): digital model of plaster ornaments built from 3D scanned data.

Figure 6. Imposition of the digital model of Powderham Castle and surveying photography, showing geometric disparities.

Figure 7. Event for general audiences, showcasing the Powderham Castle inside a spherical 15 m-diameter immersive dome.

Table 1. Summary of results.

Methodological considerations	To adopt an ‘information ecologies’ approach to facilitate multidisciplinary dialogue, including the recognition of heritage interpretation and storytelling in H-XR-H development. To frame H-XR-H development as an ‘ill-defined’ creative problem, allowing the envisioning of future and speculative design scenarios. To plan for a ‘research in residence’ approach, supporting the development of a novel researcher profile able to negotiate technological development and codesign facilitation.
Place-based considerations	To contextualise H-XR-H development within defined societal groups and geographies, identifying and responding to sites of local cultural significance. To deliver a research plan that acknowledges and resources the challenges of working with marginalised communities, including planning for lack of technical or transport infrastructures.
Experience design and technological considerations	To acknowledge the multimodal nature of H-XR-H systems, including the codesign of technologies that address end-user concerns around realism, presence, and immersion. To document sites in ways which allow for appropriate geometry capture, as well as additional media required for engaging storytelling and audience engagement. To leverage experience design techniques which allow for compelling H-XR-H environments, including lighting, textural and material site qualities. To address end-user mobility and locomotion restrictions, ensuring an alignment between user ergonomic requirements, H-XR-H navigational capabilities, and locomotion in-place. To anticipate deployability challenges in consideration to on-site technical constraints and staff training requirements.