Attune fosters mindful documentation of memories throughout life, enabling joyful experiences and enhanced person-centred care for people living with dementia.
Attune reimagines the traditional camera roll on your phone by transforming how we capture and preserve memories. It utilises AI technology and voice recognition to incorporate sensory details such as songs, sounds, and scents, and optimises existing data on your phone. These sensory triggers spark reminiscence with friends, family and carers. Attune was co-produced with people living with dementia, and a partner organisation, Music Mirrors.
Attune partnered with Music Mirrors https://www.musicmirrors.co.uk/ a small charity established by Heather Edwards. Music Mirrors is a digital resource made together with people at an early stage of memory loss linking their life stories to recorded music and sound. Used at homes, hospitals, care homes and within third-sector organizations, Music Mirrors enhances person-centred care, stimulating conversation and engagement.
Our project ran ideation and co-creation exercises with two dementia groups in London, supported by For Brian and Age UK. We also engaged more than 20 different organisations, from charities, NHS, design labs, volunteers, and dementia networks.
We also had the opportunity to volunteer with Age Exchange, where we learnt a huge amount about person-centred care and reminiscence activities. Lastly, designers at Spotify supported and mentored the design process.
Dementia is the umbrella term for loss of memory, but also loss of language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities. Cases are rising globally due to ageing populations, and many other factors like poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and chronic stress. During our project, two new drugs that can significantly slow cognitive decline were announced, signalling a promising breakthrough. However, there is currently no cure for dementia.
Currently, dementia costs the UK economy 35 billion per year. This is more than cancer and heart disease combined and 45% of this is social care costs.
Our vision is that individuals living with dementia are able to express themselves and their personal history, resulting in person-centred care and improved quality of life.
Our mission is to design a service which elevates joyful experiences and enables self-expression through the creation and curation of memories.
Our project led secondary and primary research. We interviewed more than 20 different organisations who are all innovating for improved dementia services and 10 people living with- or affected by dementia. Our project ran ideation and co-creation exercises with two dementia groups in London, supported by For Brian and Age UK. From this research, we landed at three insights:
Adding multimedia and sensory stimulation to photos adds richness and vibrancy to memory recollection and taps into feelings part of the brain, that remains in tact for people living with dementia
Our memories shape our identity and help us establish meaningful connections throughout our life. We should promote creation of memory, autonomy and self-expression for as long as possible, not just reminiscence.
People and indeed companies aren't thinking about how our digital footprints can support us in the future for our health & wellbeing. Younger generations now rely on their phones for reminiscence more than physical artefacts.
Attune transforms the way we capture and preserve the story behind each photograph, by reimagining the traditional camera roll on your phone.
Through gentle cues and prompts, Attune enables you to infuse every memory with sensory details, such as songs, sounds, and scents. Utilising the power of artificial intelligence, Attune optimises the existing data on your phone, including platforms like Spotify, news stories, or your calendar. It incorporates voice recognition technology to detect cues that can remind you at the most opportune moments. By mindfully documenting your memories, Attune allows you to remain fully present in the moment while later providing the joy of reminiscing when reconnecting with loved ones who may have shared those memories with you.
Attune scaffolds our memory as we go through life, so that if and when you might need it, an Attune profile can be accessed by your care and support network as you transition through life.
This profile offers the people around you a better understanding of who you are, the places you have lived, the trips you have taken, your background, things that make you happy and what you might have in common. Attune sparks conversations, connection and bridges understanding and trust between the carer and the cared for.
Our special thanks to Dione, John, Kathleen, Elizabeth-Anne, Margaret, and Judy who all supported the project and live with dementia. Thanks also to Heather and Julian, our partners at Music Mirrors. And lastly, Marco, Magnus from Spotify and Jane - our tutor.
If you would like to support our project, or Music Mirrors - get in touch.
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