weorient

weorient - Sensorimotor navigation assistance for people with dementia impairments

The goal of this research project is to develop a technical assistance system tailored to the highly specific deficits in the domain of spatial cognition of people with mild cognitive impairments and dementia.

weorient - Sensorimotor navigation assistance for people with dementia impairments

The goal of this research project is to develop a technical assistance system tailored to the highly specific deficits in the domain of spatial cognition of people with mild cognitive impairments and dementia.

The assistive technology aims at preventing the loss of spatial orientation, allowing for prolonged autonomy and a more independent life. Espescially people with Alzheimer's disease often show very specific impairments in the early stages of the disease, with spatial orientation in particular. Considering these problems, a landmark-based navigation will be developed in this assistance system using cognitive strategies of sensorimotor spatial orientation as well as including autobiographical important routes and landmarks. In addition, the system involves the user's emotional state, which allows for a more plausible user interaction and more appropriate assistive functions.

This project is a preliminary scientific project. Funding is provided by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).