Designing Electronic Memory Aids and Other Cognitive Prostheses: A Research Framework Ron Baecker Department of Computer Science and Knowledge Media Design Institute University of Toronto CHI’2006 Workshop on Designing for Cognitive Impairments Montreal, P.Q., Canada 22 April 2006

Research Framework (1) “Memory” … what kind? A. Reminding … what? when? B. Reminiscing … who? what? where? when? C. Recognizing … who? C. Finding … where? E. Memorizing Towards what end? Compensatory? Rehabilitative/restorative? Preventative? For whom? … i.e., for which “impairment”? Individual with impairments, e.g., amnesia, AD, MCI An elderly individual without a memory disorder A typical human being 12/31/2018

Research Framework (2) Who is actually the “user”? The person with the memory impairment The caregiver The collaborating memory support team With what technology? Desktop PCs PDAs, cell phones DVDs Ubiquitous computing sensors and smart devices What design approach is to be used? User-centred design Participatory design 12/31/2018

Participatory Design of a PDA-based Orientation Aid for Amnesics M.Sc. Thesis of Mike Wu (Dr. Brian Richards, Baycrest, research partner) In terms of the framework Reminding Compensatory Amnesics The impaired individuals Palm Pilots Participatory design Outcome: Greater independence, self-confidence 12/31/2018

DVD-based Interactive Multimedia Biographies of Individuals with AD M.Sc. Thesis of Tira Cohene (Prof. Elsa Marziali, Baycrest, research collaborator) In terms of the framework Reminiscing Compensatory, restorative Mild- to mid-stage AD Individual with AD and the family Multimedia on DVDs Participatory design of the history Conjectured outcomes Better sense of self for individual with AD Calming, reduction of disruptive behaviours Family acceptance, legacy 12/31/2018

Cel Phone-based Context-aware Aid for Recognizing Faces, Recalling Names M.Sc. Thesis of Mike Massimi (Drs. David Ryan and Sandra Black, Clinical Collaborators) In terms of the framework Recognizing and recalling names Compensatory (for now) “Normally aging” senior citizens, individuals with MCI The individual and their social circle Cell phone with digital camera and location-sensing Participatory design What conjectured outcomes? Enhanced ability to recall names More confidence in social situations 12/31/2018

Measures of Success Does the framework help describe and situate existing projects? Does it suggest new project directions? Mike Wu’s work with amnesics What kind of memory?: From reminding to reminiscing For whom?: From memory aids as individual prostheses to memory aids as collaboration technology Multimedia biographies For whom?: From tools for individual “contract producers” to tools for distributed families For what impairment?: From AD to other dementias, MCI Does the framework suggest new projects? 12/31/2018

Questions and Discussion Email: rmb@kmdi.utoronto.ca URL: http://kmdi.utoronto.ca/rmb/ Thanks for financial support to the Alzheimer’s Association & Intel Corp. via the ETAC Program, and NSERC via the NECTAR Research Network Thanks for your attention!! Questions? Comments? 12/31/2018