TIME & PLACE
Oct - Dec 2015
KTH, Sweden
MY CONTRIBUTIONS
Ideation
Personas & Scenarios
Interaction Design
Usability Evaluation
LEARNED & PRACTICES
User Research
Design Process
Methodologies of Design
TEAM
Siyu Du
Sakshyam Panda
Tianchang Cheng
TheMoment
An assistive technology designed for people with dementia
Personas
To construct personas, we first collected data through observations, interviews and other inputs. Next, we sorted the data to find patterns. In total, we had 6 resource data of dementia, by using this data we clarified the behavioral variables and cluster the subjects by identifying significant behavior patterns. Finally, we synthesized characteristics and constructed one primary persona and one secondary persona.
Data Sorting
Primary Persona
Secondary Persona
Scenario
The goal of our design is rebuilding the connection of dementia patient and their beloved one through their shared moments, and also help the dementia patients relieve themselves through a comfortable and secure way. Considering our user group’s condition, the design is supported by a physical recorder which should be easy for users to carry and use. Based on the persona we built, the followings scenario illustrates how they use our design to achieve their goals.
Prototype
Since we design for two types of users in our systems — 'Betty' and 'Henry', the products thus are designed differently as well.
Product Designed for 'Betty'
A physical IoT device combined with sound recording systems and a mini printer
Main Functions
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Sound record
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Print the postcard with QR-code
Design Motivation
Considered the average age of early stage dementia patients is over 50, the physical device has more advantages for them to interactive with. With the affordance as normal sound recorder, it is easier for novices to learn and use comparing to mobile App, therefore reduce the cognitive load. This is also a significant consideration in our design for dementia patients.
Physical Prototype
Product Designed for 'Henry' A mobile App
Main Functions
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Receive the voice recordings from ‘Betty’
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Designed the printed postcard: select voice from ‘Betty’ to create a QR-code, select background photos and write the words on the postcard.
Design Motivation
Consider 'Henry' couldn't always accompany 'Betty', but still want to listen to her and care about her, through records from 'Betty', 'Henry' could have a clue about her situations and conditions. To rebuild the connection, 'Henry' could send his love and care through customized postcard. He has the options to create a QR-code with voice records, choose the background photos and send his greetings from written words. To generate the background of the postcard, we encourage Henry to upload photos of great family time with Betty; He can also select from provided photo library, which includes photos designed especially for dementia patients by art therapists and psychiatrists to influencing their emotions and state of mind. The design value of printed postcard is to motive 'Betty' to express herself more to relieve as well to build a bridge of emotional connection with their loved ones.
Wireframes of MobilePrototype
Introduction
Dementia is one of the major issues for elderly people. With increasing life expectancy, the possibility of Dementia has also increased.The Moment is an interactive product for dementia patients at the early stage to assist them in recording life moments and rebuilding connections with their family members.
User Research
In this project, the user research process followed by 3 steps:
Step 1: Self background study from published papers, video interviews of dementia and voice records from “Dementia Diaries” website.
Step 2: Semi-structured interview with 1 dementia patient, 2 family members and 2 therapists.
Step 3: Analysed research data and conclude the studying results.
Based on our research, we had a basic knowledge of dementia, including different stages of dementia (Mild, Moderate and Severe), symptoms of each stage, as well as problems and difficulties they encounter in their daily life. After assessments and discussions, we decided to focus on the group of early stage dementia patients, with their cognitive and social problems.
Exploration
We organized two sessions of brainstorming to generate design ideas, with methodologies of Method 635 and Six Thinking Hats respectively. The ideas were sorted based on the method of Affinity Diagram. After our exploration, we draw a general vision of the design.
