MEMO A
EXPLAIN VIDEO
Memo A is an augmented reality app designed for people with Alzheimer's disease. The idea of this app is to create a possibility for them to make notes also outside of the home in order to cope with the forgetfulness and disorientation.​
BACKGROUNDS
Situation
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common form of dementia. In 2020, more than 50 million people worldwide will be living with dementia. On average, a person with Alzheimer's disease lives four to eight years after diagnosis, but can live for up to 20 years. This means that a person with Alzheimer's can participate in daily activities for years without intensive care.
Problems
The typical symptoms Alzheimer's disease, such as memory loss and disorientation, will also have a major impact on the lives of those affected by Alzheimer's in many ways. Many activities that are normal for healthy people, such as shopping or cooking, become not only difficult but also dangerous. There are many helpful functions of smart devices against these problems. However, there are very few apps that are suitable for people with Alzheimer's disease.
Insights
Solution
Most early-stage Alzheimer's sufferers are aware of their forgetfulness and use various methods to remember important things. One of the most common methods is to make sticky notes.
The idea is an app that users can use to create sticky notes and stick them on a surface in an AR scene. The app offers the option of creating notes outside and placing the notes anywhere. If you walk past a piece of paper, he / she will get a message. In this way, the notes help with memory loss and disorientation, because they contain location-related information.
Workflow & Wireframes
PROCESS
AR EXPERIENCE
Skeuomorphic
In most AR apps, you can tap to place an object in the AR scene. A different method is used in Memo A: After scanning, a user can move the mobile phone to the area where he/she would like to stick the note. As soon as the distance is less than 60 cm, the note is pinned to the surface. As a result, the movement brings familiarity because it is similar to the movement with which we stick notes in reality.
Context menu
According to the literature research, it is helpful for people with Alzheimer's Disease if fewer steps are required to operate the app. This is why the “context menu” function is used when you want to look at an existing sticky note. A context menu is a control element that offers the user various actions to choose from in a specific context. In this case, the context is the sticky note. When the camera recognizes the note, information about this note and the button to delete it appear.
USER INTERFACE
Icons
Icons are designed with more detail to avoid the icons being too abstract for people with Alzheimer's disease.
Logo
Font
Details
Skeuomorphic design is also an important principle that is taken into account in the design process. The interactive elements with the round corners imitate a file folder. The corners of the text boxes are also round. In many AR-APPs, the text boxes are placed semi-transparent in the middle of the scene, so that more space remains free for the scene on the screen. Taking into account the cognitive impairment, the text is placed on white surfaces so that the information is more easily recognizable.
