Cognitive prostheses and assisted communication
Proceedings of the 11th international conference on Intelligent user interfaces
Interface design and engagement with older people
Behaviour & Information Technology - Designing Computer Systems for and with Older Users
Making software accessible to people with severe memory deficits
Accessible Design'05 Proceedings of the 2005 international conference on Accessible Design in the Digital World
UAHCI '09 Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction. Addressing Diversity. Part I: Held as Part of HCI International 2009
ICEC'10 Proceedings of the 9th international conference on Entertainment computing
Cognitive prostheses: findings from attempts to model some aspects of cognition
HCD'11 Proceedings of the 2nd international conference on Human centered design
Portraits of individuals with dementia: views of care managers
BCS-HCI '11 Proceedings of the 25th BCS Conference on Human-Computer Interaction
HCSE'12 Proceedings of the 4th international conference on Human-Centered Software Engineering
Touch screen ensemble music: collaborative interaction for older people with dementia
Proceedings of the 25th Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference: Augmentation, Application, Innovation, Collaboration
Robot services for elderly with cognitive impairment: Testing usability of graphical user interfaces
Technology and Health Care
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Dementia is a growing problem that affects the lives of those diagnosed and caregivers, with symptoms having an effect on memory, communication, the ability to learn new skills and problems with behaviour, such as aggression, agitation and depression. Participation in activities can improve quality of life for people with dementia, reducing behavioural problems and aiding relaxation. Research has established that people with dementia can be both artistically and musically creative, and have an appreciation of music even in the latter stages of the disease. The symptoms of the disease, however, mean that supporting music making activities with this group of people is challenging. This paper describes a prototype system designed to enable people with dementia to create music, using a touch screen interface to control a system which utilises chords to create pleasant-sounding music regardless of any prior musical knowledge. Results of usability studies suggest the system is easy to use, and that pleasant-sounding music can be created with it. Participants, including people with dementia, appeared actively engaged during use of the system, many reporting they enjoyed the experience. Future testing will establish the degree to which people with dementia could be musically creative using such a system.