Pioneering innovations for social inclusion developed at the University of Dundee will be on display for government this week as a Scotland Office minister views technology to improve social inclusion.
Anne McGuire will visit Dundee's Division of Applied Computing on Wednesday 28 August to see the latest in innovations at the new Queen Mother Research centre which is spearheading computing access and programmes for the elderly. The Division is working on numerous projects involving IT for old people including a system that tells them when to take medication and a device that uses visual sensors to detect people falling.
Professor Alan Newell, Research Director of the Queen Mother Research Initiative explains: "Information Technology is an integral part of young people's lives enabling quick communication, and a host of services at the touch of a button. We want to give older people the opportunity to access similar services and use our cutting edge computing technology to invent devices which will make life for older people easier and safer."
Ann McGuire, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State will meet research staff of the Division and hear details of the Computer Interactive Reminiscence Conversation Aid project - a collaborative project with the University of St Andrews and School of Design at the Duncan of Jordanstone faculty of art and design. This project will produce an innovatively designed reminiscence experience and conversation support, using multimedia techniques. It will help people with dementia and their families or carers to communicate and interact through reminiscence in a way which is easier and more engaging than scrapbooks. A prototype is being developed which will allow users to navigate easily through text, pictures, photos, music and video clips on a large touch screen.
The University of Dundee plans to establish the Queen Mother Research Centre as a base for research and development of IT support for older people. The late Queen Mother lent her name to this timely and important venture and the University hopes to quickly establish the centre as an international centre of excellence of computing research.
Lady Strathmore, patron to the Queen Mother Research Centre and honorary graduate of the University of Dundee will show Ann McGuire the technology and test some of the innovations being developed by the research centre./ENDS
Contact Liz Murant 01382 345526