Memoir
Undergraduate Thesis
Individual Project
Spring 2020
Tool: Diagrams.net, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator
My BFA is a culmination of research into artificial intelligence, and it’s cohesion within design to solve for real human obstacles like memory loss. I wanted to gain an understanding of how we can ethically and responsibly design for the future, where we use technology like brain-computer interfaces.
Memoir is an artificial intelligence application which utilizes a brain-computer interface to catalogue and archive memories for those coping with the onset of memory loss.
The hardest part about his memory loss, is that he does not realize it.
In our society, there are so many stigmas revolving around memory loss. Many factors can contribute to someone being unable to recognize their memory loss, whether it’s pride, guilt, ignorance, etcetera. Choosing a project based on the loss of memories, means I have to accept that the people I want to help might not necessarily accept it.
The future of technology includes fear of the unknown. The fear of the implications which could result from utilizing technology to solve for problems like memory loss.
What do we do when we lose our memories?
This project is dedicated to my grandfather. He is currently 81 years old, and slowly over time, his age has taken control over his memories.
When I moved away for college, I hugged him and cried. Through my four years of college and living 3,000 miles away from him, I started to notice the problem.
Each call home, my grandfather would ask:
“When are you coming home?”
“In December, Grandpa.”
I had this conversation 4 more times in a matter of calling home everyday in a week’s time. My grandfather was and is to this day struggling with the onset of memory loss.
When I finally had the guts to tell my grandfather
about this project, his reply was only this:
My BFA at a Glance
The Pitch
Memoir is an artificial intelligence application which utilizes a brain computer interface to catalogue and archive memories for those coping with the onset of memory loss.
The Demographic
This product would be a tool useful to any human, at any age, who is suffering from the onset of memory loss and wishing to catalogue their memories; those who seek to remember the data and sensations attributed to a memory.
The Deliverables
Mobile Application Interface Prototype
Prose Narrative on Ethics
Annotated Bibliography of Research
The technological research of my BFA was inspired by the 2019 Neuralink presentation by Elon Musk at the California Academy of Sciences. This heavily influenced my BFA, so please check it out to get a better understanding of my project.
Watch the presentation here.
Or, if you love a good scientific paper,
you can read about it here as well.
Neuralink & Neurotechnology
Current Brain-Computer Interfaces
This is a device that translates neuronal information into commands capable of controlling external software or hardware such as a computer. It is a direct communication pathway between an enhanced brain and an external device. In principle, any type of brain signal could be used to control a BCI system. If someone has a BCI implanted in their brain, the connection is a hardwire to a nearby computer.
The Future of Neurotechnology & BCI
Companies such as Neuralink are designing BCI hardware for the future. The image on the left shows a clunky BCI system. The future of neurotechnology is a chip smaller than a penny, which can be implanted in a minimally invasive surgery, connecting your brain to your phone via bluetooth wireless connection. As these technologies become commonplace, how can we ethically design for their systems.
My BFA would utilize a BCI to record memories, and the app Memoir would store them using an AI system.
The AI in the App would gather these 5 data sets recorded by the BCI, and then the user would consent to store it as a memory.
01
Survey
I conducted a survey using Google Forms.
The survey contained 13 questions, and I received 45 responses. I learned what people valued most in a memory. Out of all 45 responses, only 1 person did not think we should use technology to save memories. That person was my grandfather.
10
Interviews
I conducted 10 interviews with a variety of people including: those who suffer from memory loss, those whose family members have memory loss. memory care support teams, a neuropsychological doctor, and those who work in memory care nursing homes.
02
Field trips
I visited 2 different facilities to gain first person experience on top of my personal experience. I went to an Alzheimer’s cafe: a place for those with Alzheimer’s to interact and socialize with family. I also went to a memory care unit at The Summit nursing home.
User Flow
When considering the different users from my user persona, I was able to create a thorough user journey using a UML format. The system puts an emphasis on consent, as this is required for an ethical design when dealing with so much personal and private information. A user can opt out at any time, and then can choose how they remember and the intensity of remembrance. Click on the flowchart to view it full screen and read the user’s journey.
Information Architecture
The information architecture was designed to give the user constant access to their memories and consent preferences. I wanted the recording and storage of memories to be customizable while remaining ethical. Click on the IA chart to view it full screen.
Dear
COVID-19,
I don’t have much to say. But the few words I do have are to mourn my project. So far in reading, you probably thought this project would have a well-designed solution to my question. As a UX designer, I am supposed to solve problems. Unfortunately, a pandemic is not the problem I was looking for.
We all have expectations and plans for exactly how everything is supposed to happen. And just like that, it can be gone into thin air.
Thank you for reading my undergraduate thesis.
Here’s to my grandpa, may our memories together, last forever.