Dr Stephen Potter

School of Medicine and Population Health

Translational Research Associate

Stephen.Potter@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 9183

Regent Court (ScHARR)

Full contact details

Dr Stephen Potter
School of Medicine and Population Health
Regent Court (ScHARR)
30 Regent Street
Sheffield
S1 4DA

Profile: I am a researcher with an interest in the development and evaluation of (primarily digital) assistive technologies. I have a background in artificial intelligence, and more specifically in the applications of AI to everyday problems. Following a BSc degree in computer science at the University of Durham, I studied for an MSc in applied AI at the Universities of Aberdeen and Paris (V), and went on to complete a doctorate at the University of Bath, investigating the role of AI in engineering design.

I worked for over a decade in the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh, combining academic research with technology transfer consultancy. After a spell working as a business technology project manager at Lancaster University, I joined the University of Sheffield in 2015 as a translational research associate. In this position, I've worked on a variety of different projects, investigating technologies ranging from walking sticks to healthcare robots, and in different capacities, working with patients and public to collect primary data, develop concepts, evaluate prototypes and manage outcomes.

Research interests: My research interests lie in the co-development and co-evaluation of health and wellbeing services with potential users. Recently, much of this work has taken place in the context of TELLAB, a living lab that I helped to establish with independent-living older people.

Publications

Journal articles

Potter S, Hawley M, Higgins A, Amirabdollahian F, Dragone M, Di Nuovo A & Caleb-Solly P (2026) Assistive Robotics for Healthy Aging: A Foundational Phenomenological Co-Design Exercise. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28, e77179-e77179.
Kipnis E, McLeay F, Grimes A, de Saille S & Potter S (2022) Service robots in long-term care: a consumer-centric view. Journal of Service Research, 25(4), 667-685. View this article in WRRO
de Saille S, Kipnis E, Potter S, Cameron D, Webb CJR, Winter P, O’Neill P, Gold R, Halliwell K, Alboul L , Bell AJ et al (2022) Improving inclusivity in robotics design : an exploration of methods for upstream co-creation. Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 9. View this article in WRRO
Astell AJ, Panou M, Touliou K, Karavidopoulou Y, Cabrera-Umpiérrez MF, Aldaz E, Bizjak J, Black B, Buchholz M, Mata JC , Cossu-Ergecer F et al (2022) Developing a pragmatic evaluation of ICTs for older adults with cognitive impairment at scale : the IN LIFE experience. Universal Access in the Information Society, 21(1), 1-19.
Joddrell P, Potter S, de Witte LP & Hawley MS (2021) Continuous in-home walking speed monitoring in older people with a low-cost ambient sensor: Results of a feasibility study. Technology and Disability, 33(2), 77-85. View this article in WRRO
Bentley CL, Powell L, Potter S, Parker J, Mountain GA, Bartlett YK, Farwer J, O'Connor C, Burns J, Cresswell RL , Dunn HD et al (2020) The use of a smartphone app and an activity tracker to promote physical activity in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease : randomized controlled feasibility study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(6). View this article in WRRO
Easton K, Potter S, Bec R, Bennion M, Christensen H, Grindell C, Mirheidari B, Weich S, de Witte L, Wolstenholme D & Hawley M (2019) A virtual agent to support individuals living with physical and mental comorbidities : co-design and acceptability testing. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(5). View this article in WRRO
Astell AJ, Smith SK, Potter S & Preston-Jones E (2018) Computer Interactive Reminiscence and Conversation Aid groups-Delivering cognitive stimulation with technology. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, 4, 481-487. View this article in WRRO
Tate A, Chen-Burger Y-H, Dalton J, Potter S, Richardson D, Stader J, Wickler G, Bankier I, Walton C & Williams P (2010) I-Room: a Virtual Space for Intelligent Interaction. IEEE Intelligent Systems.
Page K, Michaelides D, Buckingham Shum S, Chen-Burger Y-H, Dalton J, De Roure D, Eisenstadt M, Potter S, Shadbolt N, Tate A , Bachler M et al (2005) COLLABORATION IN THE SEMANTIC GRID: A BASIS FOR e-LEARNING. Applied Artificial Intelligence, 19(9-10), 881-904.

Conference proceedings

Higgins A, Potter S, Dragone M, Hawley M, Amirabdollahian F, Di Nuovo A & Caleb-Solly P (2026) Facilitating the Emergence of Assistive Robots to Support Frailty: Psychosocial and Environmental Realities. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 16131 LNAI (pp 490-498). Naples, Italy, 10 September 2025 - 10 September 2025.
Astell AJ, Gradisek A, Bizjak J, Gjoreski H, Gams M, Goljuf K, Cabrera-Umpierrez MF, Montalva JB, Karavidopoulou Y, Panou M , Touliou K et al (2018) INLIFE - independent living support functions for the elderly : technology and pilot overview. Intelligent Environments 2018, Vol. 23 (pp 526-535). Rome, Italy, 25 June 2018 - 28 June 2018.
King P, Ludi K, Mortimer D & Potter S (2017) The Hollybank Challenges: AT for People with Profound Disabilities. Stud Health Technol Inform, Vol. 242 (pp 351-354). Netherlands View this article in WRRO
Potter S, Kalfoglou Y, Alani H, Bachler M, Shum SB, Carvalho R, Chakravarthy A, Chalmers S, Chapman S, Hu B , Preece A et al (2007) The application of advanced knowledge technologies for emergency response. Intelligent Human Computer Systems for Crisis Response and Management Iscram 2007 Academic Proceedings Papers (pp 361-368)

Other

Services C () Oral Abstract Presentations at the 9th Canadian Conference on Dementia (CCD) Toronto, November 2017. Canadian Geriatrics Journal, 21(1), 134-137.

Preprints

Easton K, Potter S, Bec R, Bennion M, Christensen H, Grindell C, Mirheidari B, Weich S, de Witte L, Wolstenholme D & Hawley MS () A Virtual Agent to Support Individuals Living With Physical and Mental Comorbidities: Co-Design and Acceptability Testing (Preprint), JMIR Publications Inc..