11 Outcomes from the digital legacy, design and technology network

<h3>Background</h3> Digital legacy is the virtual remnant of individual after death. There is a lack of awareness of how society should prepare, and manage, digital assets before and after death. We have developed the ‘Digital Legacy, Design and Technology Network’ (a multidisciplinary partnership of design, digital and palliative care stakeholders); using research and policy work, we aim to improve society’s knowledge of hot manage digital legacy. <h3>Aims</h3> We developed a multidisciplinary network to improve the capacity to conduct digital legacy research the following: How technologies can be used to create curate and archive memories. How to practically manage an individual’s digital estate. How to open the conversation about digital legacy across generations. <h3>Methods</h3> This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Project work included two face-to-face conferences. Stakeholders worked collaboratively across the following work-packages: (1) role of new technologies in digital legacy, (2) role of design in digital legacy, and (3) inequalities and inequity in digital legacy. <h3>Results</h3> The inaugural Digital Legacy, Design and Technology networking (September 2023) involved presentations and workshops on the topic of digital legacy. Workshop data were collected from attendees to inform views, needs assessments and solutions. In the second event (March 2024), we focused on practical aspects of digital legacy, to consider (1) how technologies can be used to create curate and archive memories, (2) how to practically manage an individual’s digital estate, and (3) how to open the conversation about digital across the generations. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The Digital Legacy Design and Technology network has successfully connected a diverse group of individuals and organisations. The Network is committed to working together, to undertake innovative research work, to identify how technologies can be best used to support the management of digital legacies of individuals and wider society.