TY - JOUR
T1 - Designing technology to improve quality of life for people with dementia: user-led approaches
AU - Orpwood, Roger
AU - Chadd, James
AU - Howcroft, D.
AU - Sixsmith, A.
AU - Torrington, J.
AU - Gibson, G.
AU - Chalfont, G.
PY - 2010/8
Y1 - 2010/8
N2 - This paper addresses the design of assistive technology that specifically aims to support an improvement in the quality of life of people with dementia. Starting from interviews with users, a grounded theory approach was used to compile a wish list of issues important for maintaining quality of life. A large list of potential technologies that could address these issues was generated, and four were selected for initial development: a music player, a device to reduce social isolation, a conversation prompter, and a device to support sequences of tasks. The music player and social isolation device are described in this paper in detail. A user-led approach to their design was followed, including approaches to finding control interfaces that were intuitive for people with dementia. The paper concludes with a list of recommendations for designers looking to develop equipment of this kind.
AB - This paper addresses the design of assistive technology that specifically aims to support an improvement in the quality of life of people with dementia. Starting from interviews with users, a grounded theory approach was used to compile a wish list of issues important for maintaining quality of life. A large list of potential technologies that could address these issues was generated, and four were selected for initial development: a music player, a device to reduce social isolation, a conversation prompter, and a device to support sequences of tasks. The music player and social isolation device are described in this paper in detail. A user-led approach to their design was followed, including approaches to finding control interfaces that were intuitive for people with dementia. The paper concludes with a list of recommendations for designers looking to develop equipment of this kind.
KW - user-led design
KW - dementia
KW - quality of life
KW - music playing
KW - intuitive control interfaces
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955229600&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10209-009-0172-1
U2 - 10.1007/s10209-009-0172-1
DO - 10.1007/s10209-009-0172-1
M3 - Article
VL - 9
SP - 249
EP - 259
JO - Universal Access in the Information Society
JF - Universal Access in the Information Society
SN - 1615-5289
IS - 3
ER -