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New technology to help the elderly to remember things

December 2, 2008

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IBM and a few European Union IT partners are developing new technology that will make life easier for the elderly by helping them to remember certain things, independently whether they have Alzheimer's desease or not.

Based on intelligent audio and visual processing, the HCCAA (Hermes Cognitive Care for Active Aging) project will develop new technology to help older people combat the natural reduction in cognitive capabilities.

The three-year project will include both home-based and mobile technology and will focus especially on developing an interface acceptable even for technology-averse users.

Professor Manfred Tscheligi, director of CURE (Center for Usability Research & Engineering) says "the HCCAA program and Hermes is helping realize the vision of lengthening the stage of independent living and helping aging populations remain active. Developing innovative yet non-intimidating technology to address the real needs of this valuable population is a challenge that this community of researchers is eager to embrace."

The Hermes project will bring together experts ranging from gerontology and speech processing, to hardware integration and user-centered design to build a home of the future prototype.

Technology will let users record conversations and experiences, thereby augmenting fading physical memory, and it will link the data.

For example, if Maria notices that the jar of coffee is almost empty, she can tell the system to add a reminder to buy coffee. The system will connect the words "coffee," "buy" and the name of the local store where Maria usually shops.

When Maria passes the store and her mobile device notices the store location, the system will remind her to buy coffee, using a text-to-speech synthesis in a human voice.

Industry observers say the new technology is encouraging and is a step in the right direction aimed at helping our rapidly aging population, not just in the U.S. but also abroad.

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Source: IBM.