News
Technology can help older people
who forget
4 July 2008
Do you forget to take your medication? Don't remember to water the
plants or put the cat out? Getting forgetful with age does not need to
affect independence. New research has looked at how technology
can be used to provide reminders to assist older people in decision
making. These assistive technologies have significant potential to help
older people and their carers in everyday life.
The research investigated the reminder systems currently used by a
small group of older people, their attitudes to technology, and, through
some simple experiments, their reaction to certain reminders presented
using a variety of simple technologies and formats.
The project developed a prototype 'living room' system featuring a
wireless network connecting typical home devices, including a telephone
(conventional and cordless), a remote control device, analogue radio,
TV and computer. The devices were adapted so they could be interrupted
by a hidden researcher to present synchronised persuasive messages to
the user.
The research found that older people currently use different personal
reminder strategies. These often include relying on family members who
may give phone call reminders, keeping diaries, calendars and notes, and
memory joggers.
The participants were asked how persuasive and intrusive the
reminders were. It found that to be effective, messages and messaging systems need to
be tailored to the particular behaviours and routines of individuals.
The participants disliked
impersonal services, such as those provided by call-centres, and
preferred the interaction that accompanies a telephone conversation. The
format and delivery of automated reminders needs to be straightforward
and able to capture the attention of the individual without becoming
bewildering to manage or irritating. The reminder system has to be
simple and capable of being operated in an intuitive fashion.
The participants had little experience in using modern technology
such as computers and had little confidence in using it.
Dr Shaun Lawson from the University of Lincoln said, "Various
technology-based reminder systems were trialled in our study with some
success, although the effectiveness of a particular system was to some
extent dependent on the particular activity taking place at the time.
For example, spoken reminders worked well when someone was undertaking a
quiet task such as reading, but less so when watching TV, for which,
repeated on-screen messages worked best. Overall, it appears that to be
effective, messages and messaging systems have to be tailored to the
particular behaviours and routines of the individual."
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