Coping strategies as inspiration for the design of assistive technologies for cognition: An exploratory study

Abstract

Purpose: Designing assistive technologies for cognition (ATC) is challenging. As part of the European project, MyGuardian (Ambient Assisted Living programme 2012-2015), we are investigating an experience-centered design approach 1. Our objective is to understand how people with mild cognitive impairments (MCI) and their caregivers experience and cope with impairments in their daily lives (e.g., in outdoor activities), and to investigate the role ATCs could play in these situations. Method: Three people with MCI (CDR=0.5, mean age=73) and 3 informal caregivers (2 spouses, 1 son, mean age=63) were interviewed in order to A) explore the participants' outdoor life space, activities, difficulties and related coping strategies (Figure1a), and B) illustrate the situations where the technology - Smartphone with dedicated services - could take part (Figure1b)2,3. We got feedback about the ATC perceived usefulness and intention to use 4. Usability was not addressed at this stage. Results & Discussion: Our investigation of coping strategies for dealing with mild cognitive impairment demonstrates that people with MCI believe new devices can aid them in everyday life. Three coexisting main roles were identified: (i) Provide support for the application of problemfocused strategies (e.g. writing information to remember it). But intention to use is low: "I have used pieces of paper for years, why should I use a Smartphone?" (ii) Improve the strategy, like automatically transferring calls when caregivers are not available. This proposition was perceived as useful and more participants were keen to use it. (iii) Allow those with MCI to participate in tasks without the caregiver, thereby improving their self-confidence. For emotionfocused strategies, identification of roles is less obvious and highlights the limits of the technological assistance and the challenges of ATC acceptance. Future work will go into this topic in depth for the identification of acceptable ATC design patterns.