Family Window

Family Window – 3rd year Bachelor 2018

Aim: Design a way how technology can be used to help people with dementia to longer maintain their social network.
Theme: Dementia, social contact, human-computer interaction
Client: Pleyade

Family Window is an interactive tool that helps people with dementia to longer maintain their social network.

The goal of this project was to design a way how technology can be used to help people with dementia to longer maintain their social network. As an individual final bachelor student in cooperation with the association Pleyade I developed ‘Family Window’. It is a video messaging tool to where the loved ones of a person with dementia can send personal video messages! The tool will guide the user with dementia by an easy and intuitive interface to watch, and if they like, reply to the video messages.
The final design is based upon three previous iterations and their use in context by dementia patients.  There has been chosen for a soft and familiar material for the surrounding case of the device that is inviting to touch.  The color and rounded shape are based upon an organic and warm mood board favored by people with dementia and their families. The shape of the case offers stability as well as possibility for movement of the device, so it pleasantly can be used on both the table and on the lab.
The interface of the device makes use of easy to press buttons with  color schemes that have high contrast ratios to promote ease of readability. Text and options per screen are minimized to avoid over stimulation and confusion. Every screen includes a written explanation about what action to undertake as well as an automatically playing spoken message explaining the same information as is readable on the screen.
Does this mean my goal is met? I have no proof this device can make an impact in longer maintaining a user’s social network as a longitudinal study would be needed, as well as a larger test pool, to proof this.  I however do have proof that there is interest in the device and that my target users recognize it’s potential. Involved family members of a person with dementia were exited to start using the device and to start sharing more moments of their daily lives with their parents.

“Video’s opnemen is voor ons helemaal geen probleem, juist een leuke kans iets te delen met mam. Mijn zus zou het al helemaal geweldig vinden, die zou elk uur iets sturen.” – Son of an older adult with dementia living in a Zuyderland care house.

Involved people with dementia did not only show ability to operate the device, they also showed excitement to start using the device as well.

“Oh joh, ja ik vind het fantastisch! Ja heel graag [wil ik vaker filmpjes zien] dat maakt me wel blij hoor! En van de kinderen! Dat vind ik echt geweldig!” – Older adult with dementia living in a Zuyderland care house.

“Als het makkelijk kan, zou ik het heel leuk vinden om filmpjes te zien van de kinderen! Voor als het bellen weer niet lukt! Ja een antwoord terug sturen lijkt me ook heel leuk!” – Older adult with dementia living in Pleyade care house.

This leads to me believing this device shows a lot of potential in helping these users to maintain their social network. Both participants are currently no longer in (frequent) contact with their friends and grandchildren, but if the device could be implemented in their lives today, this would be possible again. So yes, my goal is met. However there is always room for enhancement, you can read more about this in the discussion.
The devolvement of ‘Family Window’ is of significance as there is a lack of products on the market helping people with dementia to stay in touch with their loved ones. Isolation is something that happens to people with dementia all over the world, which makes this case a global issue. The concept holds a lot of potential and could possibly end up helping many people.