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Overview

MY ROLE

UI + UX

Logo

User Research

Persona

Usability study

Wireframing

Prototyping

YOU aims at enhancing human interaction and helping Alzeihmer’s patients navigate through their days better. The interface is specifically designed to cater to their needs and include range of helpful features, to manage their condition and go through their days more efficiently. The app has interactive tools that help stimulate the brain and improve cognitive function, as well as a personalized schedule that reminds patients of important tasks and appointments.

TOOLS

Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe photoshop

TIMELINE

August 2021 to September 2021

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells to die. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia— a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that affects a person's ability to function independently.

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The early signs of the disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. As the disease progresses, a person with Alzheimer's disease will develop severe memory impairment and lose the ability to carry out everyday tasks.

 

Medications may temporarily improve or slow progression of symptoms. These treatments can sometimes help people with Alzheimer's disease maximize function and maintain independence for a time.

 

There is no treatment that cures Alzheimer's disease or alters the disease process in the brain. In advanced stages of the disease, complications from severe loss of brain function — such as dehydration, malnutrition or infection — result in death.

The challenge

The 
Challenge

Technological advancements have the potential to re-define successful aging at home for individuals with dementia, bestowing sustained autonomy and independence, and also providing relief for families and caregivers. However, creating an app for Alzheimer's patients poses several challenges, including:

  1. Memory Impairment: Alzheimer's patients often have difficulty remembering new information or retaining old information, which means that any app designed for them must be easy to use and intuitive.

  2. Motor Skills: Some Alzheimer's patients may have difficulty using touch screens or other input devices due to motor impairment or arthritis. The app must be designed with accessibility in mind.

  3. Language and Comprehension: Alzheimer's patients may struggle with language and comprehension, so any instructions or information presented in the app must be clear and easy to understand.

  4. Privacy and Security: Alzheimer's patients are often vulnerable and may not be able to protect their personal information. The app must be designed to protect their privacy and data.

  5. Sensory Overload: People with Alzheimer's may be easily overwhelmed by sensory input, so the app should be designed with minimal distractions and clear visual cues.

  6. Ethical Considerations: App developers need to consider the ethical implications of creating an app for Alzheimer's patients, such as ensuring that the app respects patients' autonomy and avoids potential harm.

  7. User Testing: Testing an app with Alzheimer's patients can be challenging due to their cognitive impairments, and developers may need to work with caregivers or healthcare professionals to test the app and get feedback

The Goal

At its core, YOU app is about improving the quality of life for Alzheimer’s patients and their families. The app helps these paitents to be more independent and gain more confidence but at the same time be their companion, provide a safety net they can always rely on even when they don't recognise themselves. The app will help them ask for help and combat social isolation and loneliness, which are common issues for Alzheimer’s patients.

 

The user experience of the app is to be kept very simple with no scrolling across all its screens for easy navigation. Text plays a very important part in this project. The labelling of the app should mimic how a real person would talk to Alzheimer’s patients who is having a difficult time figuring things out. The app also has built-in functions with help of which it can contact the patient's guardian in case of emergency.

Design Process

EMPATHIZE

DEFINE

IDEATE

DESIGN

TEST

REFLECT

User Research

Each and every case of dementia is unique to the person facing it, but here are a few things seniors with these conditions can experience:

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  • General loss of memory and cognitive thinking

  • Changes (sometimes sudden) in mood and/or behavior

  • Disorientation and general confusion

  • Loss of ability to speak or hold conversations

  • Difficulty walking or swallowing

  • Inability to recognize people, places, and/or time

  • Inability to participate in activities, including personal care and the requirements of daily life

  • The worsening of all symptoms over time

Effect of COVID-19:

 

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a serious threat to older people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias. Recent data suggest that apart from old age and medical comorbidities (eg, hypertension, diabetes), people with dementia are associated with an increased risk of having severe COVID-19 and mortality associated with it.1-5 In addition, the related public health interventions (eg, physical distancing or lockdown) have major adverse impacts upon the well-being and the care of older people with dementia, and for those caring for them.

COMMON CHALLENGES FACED BY PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE:

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  • Wandering or Becoming Lost

  • Loosing conact with loved ones

  • Taking timely medication

  • Agitation and Anxiety

  • Poor Nutrition

  • Isolation- Declining mental health

  • Poor descision making

  • Safety hazards

  • Sanitization

  • Risk of getting infections/infecting

  • Physical activities

Existing Solutions

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Pain Points

Navigation

  • The apps have a very clutted with a lot of features and tiny details that can be confusing

  • The user flow isn't clear

Use

  • Most of them don't provide aid for daily activities

  • The apps are generally game centric

  • The solutions don't help them remember basic facts or let express they need help

Experience

  • They don't act as a companion and emotionally connect to these users

  • The colours are either too bright or too dull

  •  There isn't a balance

Persona

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Empathy Map

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Brainstorming

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Possible Solutions

  • GPS tracker that alerts caregivers if any movement is out of the ordinary

  • Automatic video device to schedule calls with family

  • Using lists/ organizers for daily chores

  • Automatic medicine dispensor with alarms

  • Soothing visuals, music, alerting caregivers for help

  • Having a balanced diet food delivery service, served at table

  • Sensory device that monitors their behaviour / heart rate

  • Having instructions available for every kind of daily activity

  • Not having sharp objects around, protection against fire/shock

  • Developing a habit of journalling to retain things better

  • Holographic video projector

  • Online servies that provide basic necessities at their door step

Information Architecture

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Wireframes

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Design Guide

Typeface

Colour

Final screens

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Responsive Design

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Accessibility Considerations

  • The app icon is specially designed to customize for users at the start so that it can easily grab their attention and tap on it. The UI is kept fairly simple with texts following symbols and no scrolling.

  • Interactive on-boarding screen to walk the user through the app every time and remind them what's happening.

  • Automatic calling feature- One of the main USPs of the app, it helps the user to call their loved ones with just a tap and not having to remember how to.

  • Automatic video call receiver removes the hassle for the patients trying to figure out how to respond.

  • The tasks for today section has a quick pop up to the "To-do" list, to help them navigate through their daily chores.

  • To-do list has a feature to easily locate the next destination if they feel lost.

  • Memories tab, shows some of the pictures from camera roll that helps them reminisce the good times and remember faces.

  • Something on your mind tab is the app's unique chat bot that talks to the user and alerts their caregiver no matter how they respond. It's always better to check on them.

  •  Calendar and Journal helps them jot down everyday details and help better remember their plans.

  • The important contacts can also scheduled calls talk to them everyday and develop a routine for the patient.

  • Lastly, the WHY ARE YOU HERE? tab is for those emergencies when they 're the most vurnerable and are forgetting even their names. It talks to them reassuring their identity and encourages to reach out for help.

  • The app is always running in the background and shares location with the caregivers the moment they step outside or walk through unusual paths. This is to help them feeling confused and wandering.

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My Takeaway

When I tackle challenges like this in the future, I'll talk to more people who have memory loss diseases and interview more people to have a better understanding of their issues. My understanding of the difficulties faced by those who have Alzheimer's disease has increased as a result of working on this project, which has also taught me not to take for granted our normal abilities. I was inspired to create this app as a way to show my support and to improve the lives of this community. It has been a fulfilling experience that has made me more aware of the particular requirements and hardships these people face.

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