Special Thematic Session: From Assistance to AI: Inclusion and Co-design in Later Life

Özge Subasi; Jean D. Hallewell Haslwanter; Paul Panek

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-31285-3_25

Special Thematic Session: From Assistance to AI: Inclusion and Co-design in Later Life

Özge Subasi
, Jean D. Hallewell Haslwanter
, Paul Panek

Research Center Wels

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedings › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

This special session focuses on the evolving role of the AI-enabled technologies, continuing discussions at the intersection of ageing, inclusion, and technologies for assistance. The papers in this session collectively explore how emerging systems can support the full spectrum of later life. A central theme across the contributions is the importance of inclusion through participatory approaches. Several papers examine how older adults can be meaningfully involved in the design process, underlining the need for positioning the older people as active stakeholders. The session includes examples of challenges, e.g., digital literacy barriers, biases in technology development, and the difficulty of translating complex, real-world needs into widely adopted solutions. Overall, the papers emphasise that the future of AI and Assistive Technologies for ageing populations depends not only on technical innovation, but also on inclusive, situated, and participatory practices that recognise the diversity and lived experiences of older adults

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Computers Helping People with Special Needs - 20th International Conference, ICCHP 2026, Proceedings
Editors	Klaus Miesenberger, Helen Petrie, Petr Penáz
Place of Publication	Cham
Publisher	Springer
Chapter	25
Pages	209-216
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-032-31285-3
ISBN (Print)	978-3-032-31284-6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-31285-3_25
Publication status	Published - 16 Jul 2026
Event	ICCHP 26: International Conference on Helping People with Special Needs: Digital Inclusion, Assistive Technology (AT), Accessible ICT (eAccessibility) - Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Duration: 13 Jul 2026 → 17 Jul 2026 Conference number: 20th https://icchp.org/

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume	16866 LNCS
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	ICCHP 26: International Conference on Helping People with Special Needs
Abbreviated title	ICCHP 26
Country/Territory	Czech Republic
City	Brno
Period	13.07.2026 → 17.07.2026
Internet address	https://icchp.org/

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Keywords

Older people
Co-design
Inclusion
Assistive Technology (AT)
Active and Assisted Living (AAL)
Assistive Technologies

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-31285-3_25

Cite this

Subasi, Ö., Hallewell Haslwanter, J. D., & Panek, P. (2026). Special Thematic Session: From Assistance to AI: Inclusion and Co-design in Later Life. In K. Miesenberger, H. Petrie, & P. Penáz (Eds.), Computers Helping People with Special Needs - 20th International Conference, ICCHP 2026, Proceedings (pp. 209-216). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 16866 LNCS). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-31285-3_25

Subasi, Özge ; Hallewell Haslwanter, Jean D. ; Panek, Paul. / Special Thematic Session: From Assistance to AI: Inclusion and Co-design in Later Life. Computers Helping People with Special Needs - 20th International Conference, ICCHP 2026, Proceedings. editor / Klaus Miesenberger ; Helen Petrie ; Petr Penáz. Cham : Springer, 2026. pp. 209-216 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

@inproceedings{56dc4af53f9446c7880b1cd4236cba0d,

title = "Special Thematic Session: From Assistance to AI: Inclusion and Co-design in Later Life",

abstract = "This special session focuses on the evolving role of the AI-enabled technologies, continuing discussions at the intersection of ageing, inclusion, and technologies for assistance. The papers in this session collectively explore how emerging systems can support the full spectrum of later life. A central theme across the contributions is the importance of inclusion through participatory approaches. Several papers examine how older adults can be meaningfully involved in the design process, underlining the need for positioning the older people as active stakeholders. The session includes examples of challenges, e.g., digital literacy barriers, biases in technology development, and the difficulty of translating complex, real-world needs into widely adopted solutions. Overall, the papers emphasise that the future of AI and Assistive Technologies for ageing populations depends not only on technical innovation, but also on inclusive, situated, and participatory practices that recognise the diversity and lived experiences of older adults",

keywords = "Older people, Co-design, Inclusion, Assistive Technology (AT), Active and Assisted Living (AAL), Assistive Technologies",

author = "{\"O}zge Subasi and \{Hallewell Haslwanter\}, \{Jean D.\} and Paul Panek",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2027.; ICCHP 26: International Conference on Helping People with Special Needs : Digital Inclusion, Assistive Technology (AT), Accessible ICT (eAccessibility), ICCHP 26 ; Conference date: 13-07-2026 Through 17-07-2026",

year = "2026",

month = jul,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-032-31285-3\_25",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-3-032-31284-6",

series = "Lecture Notes in Computer Science",

publisher = "Springer",

pages = "209--216",

editor = "Klaus Miesenberger and Helen Petrie and Petr Pen{\'a}z",

booktitle = "Computers Helping People with Special Needs - 20th International Conference, ICCHP 2026, Proceedings",

address = "Germany",

url = "https://icchp.org/",

}

Subasi, Ö, Hallewell Haslwanter, JD & Panek, P 2026, Special Thematic Session: From Assistance to AI: Inclusion and Co-design in Later Life. in K Miesenberger, H Petrie & P Penáz (eds), Computers Helping People with Special Needs - 20th International Conference, ICCHP 2026, Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 16866 LNCS, Springer, Cham, pp. 209-216, ICCHP 26: International Conference on Helping People with Special Needs, Brno, Czech Republic, 13.07.2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-31285-3_25

Special Thematic Session: From Assistance to AI: Inclusion and Co-design in Later Life. / Subasi, Özge; Hallewell Haslwanter, Jean D.; Panek, Paul.
Computers Helping People with Special Needs - 20th International Conference, ICCHP 2026, Proceedings. ed. / Klaus Miesenberger; Helen Petrie; Petr Penáz. Cham: Springer, 2026. p. 209-216 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 16866 LNCS).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedings › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Special Thematic Session: From Assistance to AI: Inclusion and Co-design in Later Life

AU - Subasi, Özge

AU - Hallewell Haslwanter, Jean D.

AU - Panek, Paul

N1 - Conference code: 20th

PY - 2026/7/16

Y1 - 2026/7/16

N2 - This special session focuses on the evolving role of the AI-enabled technologies, continuing discussions at the intersection of ageing, inclusion, and technologies for assistance. The papers in this session collectively explore how emerging systems can support the full spectrum of later life. A central theme across the contributions is the importance of inclusion through participatory approaches. Several papers examine how older adults can be meaningfully involved in the design process, underlining the need for positioning the older people as active stakeholders. The session includes examples of challenges, e.g., digital literacy barriers, biases in technology development, and the difficulty of translating complex, real-world needs into widely adopted solutions. Overall, the papers emphasise that the future of AI and Assistive Technologies for ageing populations depends not only on technical innovation, but also on inclusive, situated, and participatory practices that recognise the diversity and lived experiences of older adults

AB - This special session focuses on the evolving role of the AI-enabled technologies, continuing discussions at the intersection of ageing, inclusion, and technologies for assistance. The papers in this session collectively explore how emerging systems can support the full spectrum of later life. A central theme across the contributions is the importance of inclusion through participatory approaches. Several papers examine how older adults can be meaningfully involved in the design process, underlining the need for positioning the older people as active stakeholders. The session includes examples of challenges, e.g., digital literacy barriers, biases in technology development, and the difficulty of translating complex, real-world needs into widely adopted solutions. Overall, the papers emphasise that the future of AI and Assistive Technologies for ageing populations depends not only on technical innovation, but also on inclusive, situated, and participatory practices that recognise the diversity and lived experiences of older adults

KW - Older people

KW - Co-design

KW - Inclusion

KW - Assistive Technology (AT)

KW - Active and Assisted Living (AAL)

KW - Assistive Technologies

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105046276375

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-032-31285-3_25

DO - 10.1007/978-3-032-31285-3_25

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 978-3-032-31284-6

T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science

SP - 209

EP - 216

BT - Computers Helping People with Special Needs - 20th International Conference, ICCHP 2026, Proceedings

A2 - Miesenberger, Klaus

A2 - Petrie, Helen

A2 - Penáz, Petr

PB - Springer

CY - Cham

T2 - ICCHP 26: International Conference on Helping People with Special Needs

Y2 - 13 July 2026 through 17 July 2026

ER -

Subasi Ö, Hallewell Haslwanter JD, Panek P. Special Thematic Session: From Assistance to AI: Inclusion and Co-design in Later Life. In Miesenberger K, Petrie H, Penáz P, editors, Computers Helping People with Special Needs - 20th International Conference, ICCHP 2026, Proceedings. Cham: Springer. 2026. p. 209-216. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-31285-3_25

Special Thematic Session: From Assistance to AI: Inclusion and Co-design in Later Life

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

ICCHP 26: International Conference on Helping People with Special Needs

Cite this

Special Thematic Session: From Assistance to AI: Inclusion and Co-design in Later Life

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Activities

ICCHP 26: International Conference on Helping People with Special Needs

Cite this