A trip down memory lane
Individualized storytelling in reminiscence therapy
Thanks to its eye tracking technology, our experimental tool Journey allows for guided nonlinear storytelling in reminiscence therapy. Journey is geared towards caregivers for people with depression or dementia and aims to revive positive memories through stimulating material: Audio-visual stories can be personalized to meet the interests of the patients even if they are unable to communicate them because of their disease.
INTERACTIVE MEMORY MAINTENANCE
Positive, autobiographical memories are especially important for people with dementia or depression. In order to revive such memories, reminiscence therapy makes use of visual and acoustic stimulants. The better the stimulating material matches the patients’ interests and experiences, the more efficient the therapy is. However, some of the patients are no longer able to clearly communicate their interests. This is why, up to now, memory maintenance and biographical work have been rather passive approaches with little interaction between the patient and the caregivers or therapists, who do not receive any feedback on whether the stimulants used are interesting for the patients or on what visual elements are of particular interest to them. With Journey, therapists and caregivers now have an inexpensive, easy-to-use tool at hand to improve this process.
TELL ME MY STORY
Eye tracking technology allows the software to identify picture elements that the patients pay particular attention to. On a second screen, e. g. an iPad, the carers see corresponding heat maps, which give them indications of the interests to focus on in the ongoing storytelling process.
TRACTOR, DOG OR CHILD
The patient may, for example, look at a picture showing a farm with a tractor, a barking dog and a playing child. If the person reacts positively to the dog, the accompanying sound intensifies. In addition, more dog pictures, possibly even pictures from the patient’s own life, can be displayed. Using the second-screen app, therapists can navigate through contents related to dogs.
