The use of artificial intelligence in the design of an intelligent cognitive orthosis for people with dementia

Dementia often reduces a person's ability to perform activities of daily living because he or she becomes confused and cannot remember the sequence of steps to perform. The current solution is to have a caregiver continually supervise and assist the person using verbal reminders or cues. This loss of privacy and increased dependency may cause the affected person to become embarrassed and agitated. We propose that this situation might be improved by using a computerized device that monitors progress and provides the reminders needed. The COACH is a first prototype of such a device. It uses artificial intelligence to observe a user, learn from his or her actions, and issue prerecorded cues of varying detail. The device was developed using a personal computer and a video camera that unobtrusively tracked the user. Preliminary testing with subjects who simulated confused behavior as they washed their hands showed that the device was performing its functions with an efficacy of approximately 95%. More extensive clinical testing and evaluation has begun, and the results will be reported in future publications.