A product focused on effectively evoking memories in those living with dementia, allowing for the user to reminisce about their past.

1. MEMORY
LINK
ADAM KHAN
A REMINISCENCE PRODUCT TO AID THOSE WITH
MEMORY LOSS TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR LIFE

2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ACADEMIC STAFF
• CHRIS LIM
SOCIAL DIGITAL LECTURER
UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE
• EWAN STEEL
SOCIAL DIGITAL LECTURER
UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE
• GRAHAM PULLIN
SOCIAL DIGITAL LECTURER
UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE
MEMORY LINK PARTICIPANTS
• SOUTH GRANGE CARE HOME
MONIFIETH
• DEMENTIA SERVICES
DEVELOPMENT SCOTLAND
STIRLING
• SURVEY, INTERVIEW &
VIDEO CONTRIBUTORS
• NORMAN ALM - GURU
UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE
INTRODUCTION
2

3. CONTENTS
DEVELOP
DELIVER
1 INTRODUCTION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, EXPLANATION OF THE PROJECT, A LITTLE
ABOUT ME, (PEOPLE, DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY) AND GURU’S DAY
2 DISCOVER
PHASE 1 OF THE PROJECT FOCUSING ON RESEARCH
3 DEFINE
PHASE 2 OF THE PROJECT FOCUSING ON SETTING THE INITIAL
DIRECTION TO FORM THE BASIS OF THE PROJECT
4
5
PHASE 3 OF THE PROJECT FOCUSING ON PROTOTYPING, CONCEPT
DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY & MOVING TO A PHYSICAL PRODUCT
THE LAST PHASE OF THE PROJECT SHOWING THE END RESULTS AND
SOLUTIONS
33

4. 3W’s
Memory Link is designed for those who experience memory loss,
which is a major symptom of dementia. The focus is on early to
mid range onset of dementia.
WHO
The product’s ideal environment is in the home and within the
care home’s also.
WHERE
Dementia affects 850,000 people in the UK alone. One symptom of
this is memory loss which causes major struggles for the persons
affected.
Memory Link is a reminiscence therapy device which uses humans
senses to evoke memories which may have been forgotten due to
dementia.
WHAT
4

5. ABOUT ME
CONTACT
EMAIL:
adamkhan7867@gmail.com
WEBSITE:
www.akhano.online
I am a Product design student at
University of Dundee, currently in
my honours year. I am passionate
about design and business, two
things I believe complement
each other. I choose to challenge
myself and find that this is my best
method of working towards a goal.
My design ethos is ‘creatively
designed solutions’ where I strive
to find solutions that address
problems. To add to this I prefer
to highlight these solutions with
as much creative connections
as possible and by doing so the
resulting aim is a solution which
derives from my design process.
55

6. PEOPLE DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
PEOPLE DESIGN
At the heart of Memory
Link is the user. It is about
creating a product which
primarily helps the user.
The goal was to understand
the difficult times
people with dementia
are challenged by which
powered my motivations
to design a product to
aid in their memory loss.
Memory Link’s design is more
focused on the function for
the user. A portion of time
was spent evolving the form
to f it around the technology
but still please the eye.
The simplicity of its design is a
deliberate action of its necessity
to be a warming and welcoming
product and therefore
must not deter the user.
6

7. TECHNOLOGY
The technology I have used to
create this product is arduino
and processing code. Additionally
there are other components
to create working prototypes
and the result is Memory Link.
Other softwares I used was
Solidworks a cad tool which
meant creating accurate
prototypes was more available.
A heavy focus was applied on
technology as it is the main
basis for the experience created,
77

8. DISCOVER
MEMORY LINK
8

9. WHAT TO EXPECT
PROJECT DIRECTION
UNDERSTANDING DEMENTIA
ISSUES OF INTEREST
DEMENTIA SERVICES
DEVELOPMENT SCOTLAND
SURVEY RESEARCH
SOUTH GRANGE
CARE HOME
DESK RESEARCH
KEY INSIGHTS
GURU’S DAY
99

10. PROJECT DIRECTION
FOCUS
Coming into this project I
had already thought about
what type of project I would
like to involve my self in.
I began by looking at what issues
there are for people who live
with dementia and from there
I was able to discover an area
in which there was problems
that could be addressed.
10

11. UNDERSTANDING
DEMENTIA
Initially I began gathering research
in this phase and so the f irst step I
took was to conduct primary research.
I felt there was more value in doing primary
research first, as I would be able to get
myself into the mindset of understanding
the real word issues within dementia.
The motive thereafter was to clear up any
doubt I had as well as any misinformation
that I had already gathered by myself.
1111

12. From the initial take off in
investigating dementia I
came across a number of
areas within dementia that I
could possibly indulge in.
From the beginning the research
gave me the realisation of how
different daily life can be with
dementia, from cooking, eating,
walking through to washing
yourself. There was three area
which took my interest the most .
I knew this was a step in the right
direction as I was beginning
to find areas where I could
potentially design a product
to aid those with dementia.
ISSUES OF INTEREST M
E
M
O
R
Y
L
I
N
K
12

13. ADDRESSABLE
ISSUES FOUND
M
E
M
O
R
Y
L
I
N
K
Personalisation for assistive technologies are key
to designing effectively for dementia patients.
(This is something that existing technologies lack)
Sensory stimulation to induce familiarity within the
patient is highly sought after to aid with memory
loss in all the stages. (However I plan to focus
in on the early stages of cognitive disfunction)
Wandering is often to sometimes a safety
concern for the dementia patients and so sensory
stimulation as mentioned before – Combining
this with safety measures is important in order
to influence patients to wander less – will allow
carers to create a higher level of trust in their
safety and make their work more manageable.
1313

14. SOUTH GRANGE CARE HOME
I soon needed more research and I was able to
interview a carer at a nearby care home. The
interview lasted around 25 minutes and whilst
there I was given the opportunity to have a small
walk through allowing for minor observations.
The interview consisted of 6 mains questions
with a few sub questions that would allow
the opportunity to dig deeper for a better
understanding of information at hand.
Following up to this I also probed as much
as possible to work on f inding insights
that would be valuable to my project.
The carer was given participation
and consent forms so that she knew
her rights within this interview.
INTERVIEW
14

15. INTERVIEW OUTCOME
Through interview and discussion I was
able to derive valuable research which
would aid me in progressing this project.
From asking questions and guiding
through discussion I could then highlight
a number of concerns that the carers
felt which helped in design decisions.
The four main concerns were:
WANDERING
SENSORY
STIMULATION
ASSISTIVESITUATIONAL
1515

16. DSDC RESEARCHDEMENTIA SERVICES
DEVELOPMENT SCOTLAND
The f irst part to my investigation was
to go to DSDC with an appointment
which I managed to get quickly.
Once there I was allowed to discuss
my project with a team member
there who was kind enough to donate
four books of research towards my
project in order that I could use the
information to direct my project.
The combination of the books and
conversation allowed for three topics
to arise that were recommended
for further research - wandering ,
memory loss and stimulating the
senses of those with dementia.
DSDC RESEARCH
GUIDE BOOKS
16

17. A part of my research at DSDC was
mobile tour around their dementia
environment facility. This was
invaluable as I was able to see
first person what the ideal living
environment and standards were
. The tour was auditory taking
me room to room and explained
why things were as they were.
I took the opportunity to take
visual and written notes here for
my research and a major aspect
that stood out to me was there
was a lot to do with the medical
side however very little to do with
technology, so this led me to the
opportunity for a technology aid
MOBILE TOUR
1717

18. I conducted surveys as another tool
to gather more research and get the
perspective of others about dementia
and specific topics within it.
To my surprise some answers were
common and a lot of information
gathered was valuable to the direction
I was going with the Memory Link.
The four main topics which came
across are:
Memory loss, lack of independence
and loss of control.
Inability to communicate,
reassurance and avoiding conflict.
Positive reinforcement, building
mental and social interaction.
De-escalating situations, lack
of consent, sensitivity of mood,
movement and lack of routine/
familiarity.
SURVEYS STURGGLESOME AREAS
DISCONNECT
REGULAR NECESSITIES
DIFFICULTIES AND
UNDERESTIMATED ISSUES
18

19. DESK RESEARCH
Desk research has been helpful in
gathering information for this project
as there is a number or sources with
information that aids the primary research.
I began this by thinking simple f irst. Searching
for any and all information about dementia
then following that with converging to
themes and topics which lay along the
lines of my project direction at that point.
This includes websites, articles, books.
Some to mention are: NHS, Alzheimer’s
UK, Dementia Care and DSDC.
1919

20. INDIVIDUAL CARERS
I conducted an onliine
interview / discussion via
message with a carer who was
kind enough to answer my questions
to give me insight to her experience
of people who are mentally
impaired living with dementia.
The information I learned was insightful
and gave me a good understanding of
how the living conditions really are based
on the carer’s experience of working
with those who live with dementia.
There was a major emphasis on the
cognitive functions of dementia patients.
20

21. KEY INSIGHTS
Music therapy, singing
and talking are vital
in order to engage
dementia patients
(distraction technique)
It focuses the mind.
Making connections
by communicating
and prompting is key
to creating familiarity
to engaging patients.
Following discussions
will encourage this.
Ensuring patients are
physically active is
essential for energy and
chemical stimulation in
aiding memory loss -
musical & movement
therapies are ideal.
Creating familiarity
is required to enable
patients to steer them
away from fear of
losing control. This
will promote their
independence which
is key to improving
their wellbeing.
Access or stimulation
of past activity is
vital for patients for
building their mental
which in turn improves
their memory. It can
trigger memories
through emotions
of waves of moods.
Social interaction
can be essential for
minimising depression
and anxiety which then
provokes a healthier
mind thus. Activating
the senses - taste,
smell, vision, hearing
and touch is the goal.
2121

22. GURU’S DAY
Guru’sdaywasagreatsuccess–aday
filled with discussing our projects with
our guests, from various fields of work.
Admittedly I wasn’t entirely sure of
what to expect, however the day
turned out joyous. Each student
was given Gurus who would most
suit our project areas, which I felt
was effective in gaining feedback
that provided advice for future
and present parts of the project.
On the day I had my boards set
up, a few very early models and
concept ideas to firstly present
to the guru’s and secondly it
was a useful method of thinking
through how to present and ideas
in an environment of constructive
criticism and design enthusiasts.
I wanted the boards to have
a theme that was easily
renewable yet simple in its
layout. I felt this ensure that the
content is not overwhelmed
by the design of the layout.
22

23. 2323

24. DEFINE
MEMORY LINK
24

25. WHAT TO EXPECT
RESEARCH PROJECTION
PROBLEM/FOCUS
SKETCHES & IDEATION
IDEA 1 & ITERATION
REFORMED CONCEPT
IDEA 2 & ITERATION
MARK II
2525

26. RESEARCH PROJECTION
Following the ongoing investigations
conducted I have learned a great deal
about dementia and the struggles
of those who live wit it. As the result
I have directed Memory Link as
whole utilising the insights gathered.
I now have a direction which is much
more focused than before. With the
process of divergent and convergent
design thinking I was able to
produce concept and ideas which are
influenced by the information gathered.
From making progress thus far the
research has concluded that I would
definitely be creating a product which
includes using technology as an aid .
Having the opportunity to speak with
carer’s one to one and experiencing
their living environments validated that
my project would address the problems
found in my research investigations.
26

27. BRIEF / FOCUS
To create a product
that effectively evokes
memories allowing for
the user to reminisce
about their past.
OBJECTIVE
Memory loss causes fear of losing
oneself and worry about your own
health. For someone to experience
this it can be a daunting change to
their life as they being to feel less
worth for themselves. A product
which plays on the light side of
this would help change mood
and provide the dementia patient
with more trust in themselves.
REASON
HOW
Using the humans sense’s
with technology to create
a device that activates
the cognitive functions in
turn evokes memories
2727

28. Initially I began with sketching quick
concepts that would provide enough
visual understanding to further take
concept ahead to the next stages.
My goal here was to ideate rapidly
so I could move to physical
prototyping as fast as possible .
The idea here was to test ideas in a
physical form as I f ind the iterative
process more eff icient in the form.
START
SKETCHES &
28

29. & IDEATION
2929

30. Idea 1 was a smart home kit that was
IoT enabled allowing for a number
of sensors to trigger a command
resulting in evoking the senses.
The thinking behind this was that the
whole house could be automated
in terms of aiding memory loss
and by activating the senses
the product is able to stimulate
cognitive functions in their brain
allow the impaired to improve
their quality of their lifestyle.
IDEA 1
30

31. IDEA 2
Idea 2 was an assistive
technology aid that connects
the dementia carer and
patient together for safety
of both parties, using
sensory stimulation to help
patients live and feel
safer in the care home
environment. It would have
done this by utilisations of
sound recordings, reminders
and nurse call sensor.
3131

32. FINAL CONCEPT MARK 2
The final concept was reached
by evaluating the first two ideas
and developing them until
he final concept was reached.
I created the form around the function
and based it around the technology
which informed the overall shape the
design would take. I began by creating
simple cad models on Solidworks ,
that way I could dive into having a 3d
model ready to 3d print. Once printed I
would have the first physical prototype
and was ready to develop the model.
MEMORY LINK The f irst physical prototype
was fairly simple and I did not
over think it. The next move
was to iterate until I was
satisf ied with the prototype.
32

33. 3333

34. DEVELOP
MEMORY LINK
34

35. WHAT TO EXPECT
TECHNOLOGY PROCESS
PROTOTYPING
USER PERSONA
PROFESSION
MARK 2.1
BRANDING
3535

36. TECHNOLOG
To begin with I tested out the heat pads
which I used to create the sense of smell by
applying the fragrance oil seen in the image.
Additionally the setup involved connecting
with the relay which acted as a switch that
turned over using the arduino nano. The heat
pad was 12v mains operated. I quickly realised
that the larger heat pad temperatures
were too high and so the experience would
not be engaging enough so I changed
to smaller size and max temperature
which when tested worked a lot better.
In the next step I also added a speaker
using a dfplayer mini which would allow
the sound files to be held on an sd card
ready to play when the relay switches.
All this was triggered by the pir sensor.
The whole tech process involved soldering
wire connections together and testing code
with it to achieve the actuation required.
STEP 1
36

37. GY PROCESS
Following an evaluation of this
setup I found there was still space
to improve and so I swapped
out the pir motion sensor for
an ultrasonic (distance) sensor
that is better in reliability.
STEP 2
The next step was to create a
circuit diagram which included a
breadbaord so I could test the full
circuit and make changes faster
allowing me to iterate the tech faster.
3737

38. Idea 1 was a smart home kit
that was IoT enabled allowing
for a number of sensors to
trigger a command resulting
in evoking the senses.
The thinking behind this was
that the whole house could be
automated in terms of aiding
memory loss and by activating
the senses the product is
able to stimulate cognitive
functions in their brain allow
the impaired to improve
their quality of their lifestyle.
38

39. The next step was to create a circuit diagram
which included a breadbaord so I could
test the full circuit and make changes
faster allowing me to iterate the tech faster.
3939

40. A number of iterations were then created so I could
evaluate what must change and how the form looks
as well . Eventually the form progressed from the more
square shape to a better aesthetic with still ensuring
the focus remains on fitting the technology within it.
PROTOTYPING
The p
sanded
increas
The wo
be san
the t
40

41. One part to the product was
printed in wood filament which
allowed for a precise form
to fit the rest of the model.
Next I was able to add snap fits to
the models which took a number
of iterations as it needed to
be accurate therefore it was a
longer process than anticipated.
prototypes once printed were
d with a low grit and gradually
sed until the finish was smooth.
ood prints however could not
nded to the same extent as
texture would have removed.
4141

42. USER PROFESSION
A major part to the experience
of Memory Link was the use of
professions or occupations to
decide the output of the sense’s.
Memory Link uses sound and scent
to create this experience and can be
adapted to various occupations to suit
the intended user. By doing this Memory
Link is versatile and is able to activate the
cognitive functions to evoke memories.
This specific experience is that of a car
mechanics garage and so the sound and
scent produced follows that output.
42

43. BRANDING
The branding was the next part of the
project and since the form is simple I
felt the branding should be likewise.
I tried a few colours to explore the
aesthetic and f ind whether it looks
better with colours. I personally f ind the
orange and black stands out however
since I would rather minimalise it
I chose double black as the f inal.
The name Memory Link stemmed f rom
the original name - Assist Away. I felt the
original was too gimmicky and so as the
research progressed so did the name.
4343

44. 44

45. MARK 2.1
The final prototype for Memory Link
involved more sanding and applying
danish oil to the wooden component
for a nice surface finish. At this point
the prototype has been resolved and
tested for issues with tech numerous
times to ensure its workability.
These are minor changes for the
end result which make a difference
for the prototype as whole.
I am pleased with the end result and enjoy
the experience that Memory Link provides.
4545

46. DELIVER
MEMORY LINK
46

47. WHAT TO EXPECT
100 WORDS
FINAL IMAGE
1 MINUTE VIDEO
CRITICAL REFLECTION
4747

48. Loss of memory is a worrying effect for people
astheircognitivefunctionsbegintodeteriorate.
This is prominent in those who live with
dementiaastheeffectisashocktotheirlifestyle
which often leads to stressful adaptation.
Memory Link is a reminiscence device that
engages users with personal memories that
were forgotten due to short term memory
loss. It does this by evoking the sense of smell
and sound thus allowing the user to re-connect
with their past. Additionally It aids the user in
an environment where they are comfortable
in order to fully involve them in the experience.
100 WORDS
48

49. 4949

50. 1 MINUTE VIDEO
I conducted an onliine
interview / discussion via
message with a carer who was
kind enough to answer my questions
to give me insight to her experience
of people who are mentally
impaired living with dementia.
The information I learned was insightful
and gave me a good understanding of
how the living conditions really are based
on the carer’s experience of working
with those who live with dementia.
There was a major emphasis on the
cognitive functions of dementia patients.
50

51. 5151

52. CRITICAL REFLECTION
Coming into year four of university I knew one
thing for sure. It was which area I wish to do
my honours project – Design for Dementia.
This stemmed from a personal experience I
have had and so I was motivated to investigate
this field of work and product something
that would be helpful to those who live
with dementia. Of course at that point in
September I had no idea as to what exactly
I was going to do nor any idea how to do it.
Research was going to have to be in depth
in order for me to design a product months
in the future that addresses a problem or
issue around people and possibly utilising
technology in the process to achieve this.
My Aims
From the beginning of the project my goals
have been clear to me. I planned to ensure I
have a good grasp of the each section of the
project from research, design, development
all the way through to producing a final
outcome. My aims for this years project was to
create a product which effectively uses the insights
I gathered in the research stage. Essentially creating
a product which is resolved to a high standard.
To do this I set myself up to ensure that I spend
enough time on all aspects except when I find it
necessary to focus more on something of higher
importance. This is for example the technology
in my case. I knew that without ensuring the
technology works the way I need it to then the
experience I need to create would not be achieved.
Conducting a high level of research to
understand the life of those with dementia
The first steps of my honour project seemed to go
by fairly fast and before I knew it the time had come
to solidify my ideas and take the project onwards to
the next step. Although my initial motivation was
from something personal, the further I investigated
in dementia as a whole I realised that I had a
genuine interest in designing for disability. One
of my first steps to attempt to get myself into the
52

53. environment of people with dementia and so I soon
learned of the Dementia Services Development
Centre (DSDC) situated in Stirling as part of the
university and contacted them for a meeting. Once
their I was able to do a mobile tour of the type of
home environment that is most commonly found
in ones living circumstances. It made me think
about the use of design and how it really affects
their lives from minute situations through to larger
issues that may arise. One of the most prominent
things however was that a lot of the environment
felt forced upon them by care situations, something
that was not a very positive reflection of what the
patient may want. The mobile tour was an audible
tour that explained the outward effect that cognitive
impairments cause. This had me thinking about the
sense of independence dementia patients have
whether they live at home or within a care home
and so I began to take a firm interest in this side of it.
In the first semester I also took the time to do some
desk research where I could learn about dementia
as a condition from various sources. This allowed
for some understanding around the help and
support available to those people. NHS have a
supportsystemtoallowforcarersathomeoutwith
home to create a safety net for dementia patients.
Acknowledging this was an easy task for me, I
understood why these services are in place but it
was rather how they affect the patients life that I
took interest in. Still with independence in mind
I soon came across a reoccurring problem which
was wandering caused by memory loss. Memory
loss is a major effect of dementia and anyone
who has it will experience it. It is something that
I found is one of the most struggle some areas
to adapt to since the panic it causes would take
a rather negative impact on the lives of these
people. Other research I have conducted was to
contact carers that were happy to answer some
questions about dementia as a whole but even
some more specific questions and the answers
were rather interesting. I also created surveys
to gather more answers, this was to find out
5353

54. whether there are some overlying patterns
from the answers which was found to be true.
Other primary research I took part in
was visiting a care home and speaking
with the head carer. I got the chance to
discuss dementia in great detail and many
questions were given both ways. Ultimately
my goal in this part was to get a feel and
understanding of living conditions, mindsets
and activities that are all vital to promoting a
safer healthier lifestyle for dementia patients.
This level of research remained ideally
through the whole project as in my mind the
best way to gather insights is to get as close
to experiencing the lives of those affected
by dementia. And through this I would be
able to take my project into the next stage.
The Product and Technology
Creating the product was a long task as
was anticipated. Pushing of the part of the
project began making some quick sketches
where I could understand how the form was
going to look. With this in mind I still left some
space to develop as I progress. Thereafter I took
my sketches onto cad using Solidworks which I
underestimated in terms of how long a process
it would take. This meant part of the process
then became learning to use Solidworks at a
higher level of competence. I found it quite a
tedious task to undertake as it was an area I
hadn’t touched on in some time. Once I had the
cad model ready I set the to 3d print which was
a satisfying result although the prints did not
always work straight away. It had me thinking
about more of the miniscule details around the
model, such as where the power cord would
go, the pcb boards and what size would I like
to make the model. This was of course a long
process which developed within the time of the
project where I had a number of iterations of the
models until the final was reached. An exciting
part of 3d printing was making use of wooden
filament and then seeing an end result that
54

55. surprised me. It turned out a lot better than
expected and thus I was able to create a the
final model. The last part was palm sanding in
the workshop and slowly increasing the grit
from 100 to 400 to achieve a smooth surface.
This was most likely the easiest task I did.
The technology was perhaps the most
underestimated part of my process. It took
some time learn how to code as I had not
used it since year two of university. The
method I used was to find examples that
were similar in some aspects and then learn
to adapt it for my own code. It took a lot of
tinkering to get my code to work correctly
so the process was a lot of trial and error
until the result was viable. Besides this was
the physical technology and wiring plus
soldering which can also be a tedious task
as I learned it won’t always go the way I wish
but then again I do realise it is an iterative
process. Looking at it now though I feel the
stress of going through it was definitely
worth it as it is quite warming to see
your own creation working in the end.
Conclusion
Over the course of my honours years
nine months have passed and I feel it
has been an enjoyable time regardless
of the ups and downs of the process.
I enjoyed utilising my personal
design process and feel as though
I have made it work in this project.
Furthermore I have involved myself in
the project to a depth where I happy
to say the various stages of the project
connect together as one. Lastly the full
process has been an energising time
which proved both a troublesome
task but joyous also therefore it has
reinforced that design is something
I do enjoy and that the process is
what makes it the right fit for me.
5555

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