Samsung Releases 'Backup Memory' App to Help People With Alzheimer’s

Backup Memory app aims to stimulate specific memories of people showing early signs of Alzheimer’s. It also shows the user how he or she is related to someone.

Samsung has introduced a new app for people with Alzheimer’s called “Backup Memory” developed by employees of Samsung Electronics Tunisia (SETN).

“We wanted to make life easier for Alzheimer’s patients as well as their caretakers, but we were initially unsure of how to go about doing this. While Alzheimer’s may be incurable, recent studies have shown that mental stimulation in the form of regular reminders of past events could potentially slow down the progression of the disease. This is where we saw an opportunity,” said, Azer Jaafoura, SETN Marketing Manager for Mobile Products.

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Backup Memory app is available in French and English on Android smartphones, which stimulates user’s memory.

The app shows the users relationship to someone, and uses the phone to identify family members. This is achieved over Bluetooth, with each person near the patient also running the Backup Memory app on his or her phone.

When a family member (who also has the app on their phone) is near the patient, the user will see identity data like photos or videos that has been uploaded to the app.

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The app helps to improve the patient’s daily life and also provides cognitive stimulation. The Tunisian Alzheimer’s Association conducted initial tests of the app.

“The app is not exactly a technological breakthrough, but it is definitely a good use of existing technology. We are satisfied with the progress so far, but we’d like to do more. There is so much good you can do with technology, and I’d like to think that we’re just getting started,” said Jaafoura.

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In future, the team plans to add a feature that uses GPS to help family members keep track of the person with Alzheimer’s.

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Source-Medindia