People with mild dementia might live more independently if assistive technology could evolve in parallel with their progressing conditions, according to new research from Alisha Pradhan, assistant professor of informatics at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Pradhan and Clemson University assistant professor Emma Dixon are principal investigators on a three-year National Science Foundation grant, Future Proofing for Age-Related Changing Cognitive Abilities using Smart Objects as Assistive Technologies, with each school receiving $300,000.
“When we think about dementia, we just think about cognitive abilities. But at times their physical abilities might also change. In the morning they may be able to read something in a 12-point font, but by the evening, they might want to have a really large font, or things like that. With dementia, individuals not only experience changes in cognitive abilities, but also other sensory changes with time. But the interesting thing is, people have an idea about how they want to future-proof, how they can prepare and how they can organize or manage their current life, in a way that would help them in the future as well,” Pradhan explained. To read the full story.