ReMindMe: Agent-based Support for Self-disclosure of Personal Memories in People with Alzheimer’s Disease

This paper presents work on the design rationale and architecture of ReMindMe. ReMindMe aims to provide agent-based support for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their social environment by playing music with a strong personal meaning to the patient so as to activate personal memory recall. ReMindMe stimulates reminiscence and self-disclosure of personal memories. Through long-term interaction with the patient, the ReMindMe agent gradually constructs a knowledge base containing information about the patient’s life stories. The agent uses this knowledge base to engage in mutual conversational self-disclosure about personal memories so as to stimulate reminiscence. Future research aims to develop and refine ReMindMe through coactive design and testing 'in the wild', i.e. at dementia care facilities. The envisioned outcome of the project is a usable and effective proof-of-concept of a conversational agent for the dementia care practice.