Digital Innovation in Aged Care – iLA Pilot Projects
When developing new technologies, it is essential to involve the people who will eventually use them. Gathering feedback early in the design process saves time and resources, and helps ensure that innovations are practical, usable, and fit for purpose.
In 2025 iLA commissioned the Living Lab, in partnership with two academics from the University of Newcastle, to carry out user testing on early prototypes of:
An AI-enabled care planning application
VR and AR tools for assistive product decision making
How we worked
Together we designed a program of one-on-one user testing with older adults, carers, allied health professionals, and aged care staff from the Central Coast community.
The Living Lab drew on its local networks to rapidly recruit a diverse group of participants and support them to provide structured feedback on the prototypes. Academic partners brought specialist expertise in AI and VR/AR, guiding the testing design and analysis.
Why it matters
Early user testing helps developers identify barriers and opportunities before products reach the market. It strengthens innovation by:
Showing how technology feels in everyday use
Highlighting where improvements are needed
Building solutions that respond to real-world needs
This collaboration demonstrated the value of combining industry, research expertise, and community engagement to shape technologies that are meaningful and practical.
Partnerships
This collaboration brought together:
iLA commissioning and facilitating early prototype testing in aged care
University of Newcastle academics contributing expertise in AI and VR/AR research
Central Coast Health & Wellbeing Living Lab bringing diverse community voices into the testing process
Discover our core Challenge Themes
We’re tackling big questions to help people age well on the Central Coast—focusing on community connection, lifelong health, and support at home.