Pager messages as self-reminders: A case study of their use in memory impairment

Each year many people suffer an accident or illness which leaves them with a permanent memory impairment. As a result they will fail to remember to do things, making it difficult for them to maintain employment or independent leisure activities. Conventional memory aids offer little assistance because their use depends on relatively normal memory functioning. A system designed specifically for memory-impaired people has been developed recently in the USA, however. NeuroPage uses a combination of computing and telecommunications to store and transmit reminders to a pager worn by the user. The system is designed to place minimal demands on memory. This paper presents a case study evaluation of NeuroPage in use by a young man with a severe memory impairment. The pager messages led to a marked increase in the probability that he would carry out his intended tasks. Issues of usability and acceptability of the system to the user and his family are also reported. A number of possible developments to the system are considered, including the incorporation of artificial intelligence and context-sensitivity. Broader issues in the design of memory aids for people with and without memory impairments are also considered, as well as the potential role of memory-impaired people in the design of technology for their own use