Summary
The study conducted by Hodges et al., demonstrated that through the use of SenseCam – a small digital camera that is designed to take photographs automatically, without user intervention, whilst it is being worn – a markedly amnesic patient was consistently able to remember aspects of several events. After presenting an interesting review of memory-loss problems and their associated impacts on the lives of the sufferers, the paper went on to describe the ideas behind the conception and design of the Sensecam.
The field research of the latest prototype model relied mainly on evidence obtained from test trials conducted on one patient – Mrs B. According to the paper, recall was maintained almost a year after some of the events took place, and without any review of those events for up to three months. The research also demonstrated the near-accurate recall of a number of different events which occurred over a three month period; and emphasized the point that there was minimal ‘contamination’ and inconsistencies between the recalls of different events, which the paper identifies as an ‘important’ step. Further anecdotal evidence reported by Mr and Mrs B during the period of the trial indicated that Mrs B sense of awareness improved aesthetically; and the quality of recall, from her own memory, alluded to a clear description of her feelings at the time.
Commentary
I thought the design and build of the prototype model was carried out with great attention to detail; there was an emphasis on precision and ease of use. A number of issues – some from the earlier prototype versions – were considered, namely: issues with battery life, storage capacity, and the form and shape of the camera were considered. Accordingly, adaptive measures were incorporated in the current prototype (version 2.3).
Nevertheless, I have identified a number of issues that were not taken into account in the research:
1. Outside temperature considerations: Because the intended users may have limited awareness of their immediate environment, the outside temperature conditions could become a significant factor in the sustainable operation of the camera. The paper indicated that the Sensecam was designed to be used for an extended period of operation – 8 to 12 hours. Given the varied nature of outside temperatures, which can rise or drop to very low or high levels depending on the location, it is possible that the smooth operation of the Sensecam may be impeded following an extended usage, and exposure of the camera to outside weather conditions. This is an area that further research should consider.
2. Legal implications: There might be legal implications that could affect future users of Sensecam. It is one thing to record personal events; it is another matter to record events which involve other people – mostly without their consent. There is also a social side to it: how would people react when they find that someone around them is wearing a camera, and consistently keeping a visual record of events? Since one of the laudable objectives of the research was to maintain an individual’s ability to function in the society, despite their debilitating illness, it becomes pertinent to maintain their integration in the society. Again, this is an area that further research should investigate.
3. Personal Application: The playback and review options, especially in the case of Mrs B, were, seemingly, not moderated to suit the usage and application of one person – albeit with limited cognitive abilities. If it were to apply in the case of an elderly person – assuming that such a person is suffering from the early stages of a debilitating memory loss disease like Alzeihmer, and happens to be living alone, as is often the case – can they operate and manipulate the playback and recall systems on their own? In the study conducted on Mrs B, her husband – Mr B played a crucial supervisory role to review the date-marked and location-marked images on the Sensecam. What if he was not there? Future research should seek to highlight this aspect of the work.
4. Another shortcoming of the study, in my view, was the limited field of clinical tests carried for this prototype version. Instead of concentrating on Mrs B alone, other patients with similar and varying memory-recall attributes should have been included in the study.
Opinion
Having worked in a Nursing Home in the UK, I have experience first-hand, the effects of memory-loss diseases, like Alzeheimer, on the elderly. I have always wondered why the rooms and personal quarters were decorated with a plethora of pictures. I have also worked with individuals with Downs Syndrome and other forms of learning disabilities, who possess limited cognitive and recall abilities. From this perspective, I believe that the Sensecam applications could potentially make an important contribution to the field of medical science, and possibly aid crime-fighting, if the shortcomings – some of them already identified by the researchers – are addressed by future work.
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