An innovative platform to connect generations.
Buddy4All is a research project building a bridge between generations to strengthen the social inclusion of seniors and younger adults — through cross-generational interaction, virtual activities with location-based mixed-reality games and cognitive training, and access to professional support for sensitive issues.
A digital platform bringing older and younger generations together.
As society ages, the number of older people living alone is steadily increasing — often accompanied by declining mental health and physical fitness, withdrawal and social exclusion. Younger people, too, face mounting pressures on mental health. Buddy4All connects both generations so each can benefit from the other's experience.
Promote mental & physical health
Cross-generational interaction, virtual personal support for everyday activities and professional support for sensitive issues — from social workers, nurses and other professionals.
The buddy system
Users always have a companion: Real Buddies (younger and older adults), Virtual Buddies (computer-assisted help) and Professional Buddies (caregivers and social workers) — co-designed with users in workshops.
Games & memory training
Location-based mixed-reality games let young people play together with a senior in a different place, while combined cognitive and physical training adds activity and fun to brain and memory training.
Loneliness is a two-generation problem.
Older people often feel overwhelmed by today's technology and may have no one to help with recurring problems. The Covid-19 crisis increased loneliness and isolation among seniors — and had a negative effect on the mental health of young people through home schooling, restricted contact with friends and a loss of everyday structure.
Using a mobile app and a new type of mixed-reality glasses, Buddy4All provides personalised support and enables interaction where older and younger adults benefit from each other's experiences — improving wellbeing and active lifestyles on both sides.
Mixed-reality, together
Young buddies see virtual elements superimposed on the real world and move from place to place to find them. Senior buddies follow what the young buddies see on a tablet — and they solve puzzles together.
The Buddy4All project is carried out under the AAL Programme, co-funded by the European Union and national funding authorities in Portugal (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia — FCT), Austria (BMK, Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology) and Switzerland (Swiss Innovation Agency — Innosuisse).