A Pocketful Of Help For Alzheimer's Sufferers And CaregiversCategory

14 Dec 2005

Florida Tech Professor of Psychology, Dr. Frank Webbe, and Dr. Annie Becker, director of the Florida Tech National Center for Small Business Information, received $200,000 from the Alzheimer's Association (in partnership with Intel Corporation and Agilent Technologies) to study the use of PocketPC and Web technologies to promote quality of life for Alzheimer's patients and caregivers. The project is one of four funded internationally under the Alzheimer's Association's program for "Everyday Technologies for Alzheimer's Care." The researchers will develop a portable caregiver support system called PocketBuddy. The system would issue audio and text reminders to the caregiver, which could include medication information, appointment reminders and automated checklists for daily support. Also embedded could be such information as bill paying instructions, the location of important documents and emergency contact names. Family and friends might access information about patients and caregivers via a Web log, a "Buddy Blog," linked to the PocketPC. This technology could bridge the time and space barriers, which often separate loved ones.
"Combining expertise in psychology and information systems/computer science, we hope to ease the burden and reduce the isolation of Alzheimer's caregivers who care for their family member at home," said Webbe. Becker brings the technology skills to the interface appearance and system usability. She will also supervise the creation of the software that will control the device.