Smartphone application design and knowledge management for people with dementia

Abstract

As the number of old and older people living worldwide increases, the number of age-related impairments and prevalence of chronic diseases is also rising. One of the most challenging chronic diseases is Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a chronic progressive brain disease, which is a result of the death of brain cells. This in turn impacts on a person's memory, thought and judgment. With the number of AD cases globally predicted to double in the next 20 years, there will be a significant increased burden placed on health and social care provision. The aim of this work has been to identify and alleviate a set of problems associated with AD using smartphone technology, while in addition focusing on the various levels of user support provided in managing the technology. In order to help support persons withAD (PwAD), the current work has considered the design and evaluation of both smartphone-based applications for PwAD and computer-based applications for the PwAD's caregiver. These smartphone-based applications, based on the top unmet needs of PwAD include an activity of daily living reminder, a photo album application for reminiscence, a picture dialing telephone and short messaging service (SMS) and a geo-fencing with 1-hour reminder application. In addition to this, the chapter will also investigate the knowledge management issues within the technical infrastructure required to support all stakeholders in the care provision of the PwAD. This chapter provides details of two pre-study evaluations conducted on a cohort of healthy adult users. Results from both studies are included alongside details of how each of the smartphone application user interfaces have been re-developed.