Cassandra Ei Lyn
Publications
Designing Mindfulness Conversational Agents for People With Early-Stage Dementia and Their Caregivers: Thematic Analysis of Expert and User Perspectives
PubMed/JMIR Aging · Dec 6, 2022
Background: The number of people with dementia is expected to grow worldwide. Among the ways to support both persons with early-stage dementia and their caregivers (dyads), researchers are studying mindfulness interventions. However, few studies have explored technology-enhanced mindfulness interventions for dyads and the needs of persons with dementia and their caregivers.
Objective: The main aim of this study was to elicit essential needs from people with dementia, their caregivers, dementia experts, and mindfulness experts to identify themes that can be used in the design of mindfulness conversational agents for dyads.
Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 5 dementia experts, 5 mindfulness experts, 5 people with early-stage dementia, and 5 dementia caregivers. Interviews were transcribed and coded on NVivo (QSR International) before themes were identified through a bottom-up inductive approach.
Results: The results revealed that dyadic mindfulness is preferred and that implementation formats such as conversational agents have potential. A total of 5 common themes were also identified from expert and user feedback, which should be used to design mindfulness conversational agents for persons with dementia and their caregivers. The 5 themes included enhancing accessibility, cultivating positivity, providing simplified tangible and thought-based activities, encouraging a mindful mindset shift, and enhancing relationships.
Conclusions: In essence, this research concluded with 5 themes that mindfulness conversational agents could be designed based on to meet the needs of persons with dementia and their caregivers.
Using a User Centered Design Approach to Design Mindfulness Conversational Agent for Persons with Dementia and their Caregivers
Association for Computing Machinery UbiComp ISWC · Sep 1, 2022
Caring for people with dementia is itself a difficult task affecting the wellbeing and relationship of the patient and carer. Conversational agents (CA), like Alexa, can support mindfulness training for these dyads of persons with early-stage dementia and their caregivers. But so far, no study has utilised a user centered design (UCD) approach for such interventions. We address this, using an iterative UCD approach where experts in dementia and mindfulness (N=4) and end-users (carers and patients, N=20) were interviewed. Four design iterations resulted in the creation of a working prototype. From this expert and user feedback, general user needs were identified and integrated into future designs. By addressing the needs of dyads, the prototype CA could be well received and may be used to support mindfulness practices using CA, that could be helpful for dyads.
MatchLink - A Multi-Sensorial Game For Persons With Dementia
15th International Design Conference · Jan 1, 2018
Sensory, cognitive and motor stimulation can enhance the wellbeing of people with dementia and their caregivers by reducing their susceptibility to developing behavioural or psychological symptoms. This project led to the development of a multi-sensorial game (MatchLink) for use by occupational therapists and caregivers to engage and stimulate people with dementia, with the intention to increase functional ability and prevent decline. Primary information was collected through an ethnographic observation at Ng Teng Fong Hospital with the guidance of an occupational therapist.
Conferences and Symposiums
• Ubicomp ISWC 2022 Conference – Presented at UbiComp the premier conference for Ubiquitous Computing.
• President's Scholars Research Symposium 2021 and 2022 Poster Presentation, 2022 Dyadic Mindfulness Conversational Agents Presentation – The symposium showcases selected PhD scholar’s work school wide.
• Human Behaviour and Experience (Hubex) - Human TechX 2022 Future of Healthcare Poster presentation.
• International Conference on Cognitive Reserve in Dementia and other Disorders 2019 - Poster presentation on dementia multi-sensory rehabilitation.
• The Global Undergraduate Awards Conference 2018 – Presented at the world’s leading undergraduate awards conference.
• Nanyang Technological University URECA Poster Presentation 2018
•International Conference of Undergraduate Research 2017 & 2018 (Presented) – Intergenerational Engagement Space.