The ambient XR framework: Integrating ambient and immersive technologies for ageing populations

Rawan Al-Rashid Agha

1,*

Abraham Campbell

2,*

*Correspondence to: Rawan Al-Rashid Agha, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewlêr, Erbil 44001, Erbil Governorate, Iraq. E-mail: rawan.alrashid@ucdconnect.ie
Abraham Campbell, School of Computer Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland. E-mail: abey.campbell@ucd.ie

Empath Comput. 2026;2:202615. 10.70401/ec.2026.0024

Received: April 14, 2026Accepted: August 19, 2026Published: August 19, 2026

This article belongs to the Special lssue Adaptive Empathic Interactive Media for Therapy

This manuscript is made available in its unedited form to allow early access to the reported findings. Further editing will be completed before final publication. As such, the content may include errors, and standard legal disclaimers are applicable.

Abstract

Population ageing is increasing the demand for technologies that support independent living while addressing the growing complexity of cognitive decline, caregiving, and longterm home-based care. Despite the fact that Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) and Extended Reality (XR) technologies have been proven to have significant potential, both approaches remain fragmented in their technological paradigm: AAL offers constant environmental support but is lacking in terms of cognitive and social stimulation, and XR provides immersive therapeutic experiences that are not integrated into everyday routine. This paper introduces the Ambient XR Framework, a conceptual architecture for the relational orchestration that integrates ambient intelligence and immersive technologies centred on the resident-caregiver dyad. The concept does not intend to replace current assistive technologies but rather introduces immersive interaction as a context-aware feature of the ambient care environment. It describes an operational workflow, three design principles, a multidimensional design space, and an evaluation roadmap and incorporates governance, consent, and ethical considerations in the architectural framework. Three exemplar research directions, such as ambient memory support, memory co-creation, and skill rehearsal for older adults with mild cognitive impairment showcase how the framework can support continuity of daily life and immersive experiences. The Ambient XR Framework can serve as a design ground for creating next-generation, human-centered Ambient XR ecosystems for the ageing population.

Keywords

Ambient assisted living, extended reality, ageing, dementia, caregiving, human-computer interaction, mixed reality, smart home

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Agha R, Campbell A. The ambient XR framework: Integrating ambient and immersive technologies for ageing populations. Empath Comput. 2026;2:202615. https://doi.org/10.70401/ec.2026.0024