1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Questions and Discussion
URL:
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