A panel discussion on co-producing Community Technology Hubs – sharing the Technology Empowered Dementia Independence (TEDI) experience
Parallel 3
17 November, 2026 5:00 – 6:10 pmA panel discussion on co-producing Community Technology Hubs
Arlene Astell
Director TEDI Network Plus
Northumbria University
Henry Collingham
Senior Research Fellow in Design
Northumbria University
Summary
Getting the right technology at the right time is very important for people living with dementia. However, information and guidance on accessible technologies can be hard to find. The TEDI Network Plus is co-producing community technology hubs as a way to address this problem. Working with two of our community partners – Search Newcastle and Age UK North Tyneside – we are trialling different ways to introduce technologies to people living with dementia. These include bring technology to existing group sessions, drop-in sessions and pop ups in existing community services. Each session is based around a different technology, such as tablets and digital games which people living with dementia can try and then feedback. This feedback includes what they like and don’t like, and how they want things to be introduced. We are also evaluating a process for identifying and matching technologies to individual’s needs. Over the course of the study we are developing and testing training for community staff to facilitate the sessions. As the process evolves we are putting together a framework to share with other organizations who would like to offer community technology hubs.