Caregiver software to guide mentally impaired patients

Dr Alex Gillespie and Dr Catherine Best of Stirling University’s Department of Psychology and Dr Brian O’Neil from the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust have received funding from the Chief Scientist Office of Scotland to develop the technology, called ‘Guide’, for patients with brain injuries, dementia or mental-health conditions.

The software mimics the way caregivers talk patients through routine activities. Guide monitors user’s progress by verbally prompting and asking questions, then receiving verbal answers.

In its current prototype form the Guide software runs on Windows XP-enabled PCs. If the technology were to be set up in a user’s home, it would require fitting speakers and microphones in strategic areas where a routine task might take place.

When ready to make a cup of tea, for example, a user will hear from a speaker in the kitchen: ‘Is there water in the kettle?’ and then: ‘Is the red light on the kettle illuminated?’ and so on. For each question, users can respond verbally, saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’. A microphone will pick up the answer.