Using mindminder as a User
Users, typically with the help of a Carer (family member or formal care provider), place a suitable device (phone, tablet, laptop etc.) in an appropriate place in their environment to be within audible distance.
In normal operation, mindminder provides a customisable "clock" display to provide orientation of time of day, date and day of the week. However when scheduled by a Carer, dialogue starts; initially asking the User if a conversation is convenient, and then discussing elements customised on a per-conversation basis.
For example in the morning a User may be simply reminded to make sure the curtains have been opened, later in the morning a check that the user has had breakfast and prompted to have a drink to stay hydrated, mid-afternoon a check on mood, and later to take medication before bed and to close the curtains again. More explicit tasks such as timely preparation for an appointment, putting out and recovering the bins on bin-day, remembering to call a friend or relative periodically can all be customised by Carers and enabled/disabled in real-time as required..
An example mindminder conversation is shown below.
* Volume Up to hear the conversation
Typical User Conversations
mindminder's conversations are infinitely customisable based on pre-provided content or User-specific Carer-provided elements such as Anecdotes, Reminders, Personal Facts or Inspiration Statements.
A few of examples of typical conversations are shown below.
Mixed Conversation
In this conversation, each of the User replies is available to Carers for review.
The anecdote about Ronnie and the specific reminder about the bins are provided by Carers and are unique to the circumstances of the User.
Carer-provided content is stored and can be repeated in multiple conversations.
{mindminder}
Good evening, I hope you are well. Do you mind if we have a quick chat?
{user} Yes
OK Thanks.
Can you confirm how you are feeling right now.
Answer Yes or No.
Do you feel Happy?
Yes
Do you feel Lonely?
No
Do you feel Comfortable?
Yes
Now I'd like to confirm you are are eating well.
What was the last thing you had to eat?
Tomato Soup
Do you remember when you and Ronnie went fishing and ... [an anecdote follows here]
It's Sunday now and getting dark soon.
Make sure you put the bins out as soon as you can.
Thanks for your time. I'll be back to talk again soon.
Goodnight.
Rejection
Users aren't obliged to talk every time however if they decline a conversation, Carers can see this through their User dashboards and may wish to follow-up to determine the causes for systematic rejection.
Good afternoon, it's mindminder here, Do you mind if we have a quick chat?
No
OK I heard you would rather not speak at the moment.
I'll try to have another conversation later with you.
Have a good afternoon.. Goodbye.
Cognitive Practice
This example includes a set of questions to collate results regarding cognitive capability.
The reminder about the User's past jobs is Carer-provided and hopefully provides a fond lookback on past times to improve mood and trigger further recollection.
Good morning.
Can we have a short conversation?
Yes
In one word, can you describe how you feel at the moment?
Yes
Can you repeat the following three words back to me:
Coat,
Boat,
Giraffe.
Now your turn, what was the first word?
Coat
And the second word?
Boat
And what was the last word?
Giraffe
You used to be a bus driver and then worked in the butchers down on Peter Street. That's where you met your wife Maggie.
Can you let me know if you have taken your tablets this morning?
Yes
It's been nice to hear from you. I'll be back again soon. Goodbye.
Fully Rhetorical
Some conversations can be rhetorical; for example this message simply provides a time context and a reminder to stay hydrated.
As mindminder provides an audible statement and visual summary of the conversation, such statements can be equally useful to those hard of hearing or visually impaired.
It's Quarter past Nine in the evening.
Make sure you have a glass of water before you go to bed.
Goodnight