SBIR-STTR Award

In Phase I, Decision Systems proposes to develop a prototype computerized memory training package named MemoryPerfect. It is designed to teach a variety of relaxation, imagery, and mnemonic techniques that research shows improves recall of information in the elderly.The MemoryPerfect prototype consists of six modules. The first is the Records-Keeping Module, which maintains a running score of the user's performance, returns the user to the training module last used, and maintains and displays a chart of the training modules completed and those yet to be studied. The second module is the Manus and Command Line Prompts Module. Third is the Introductory Session Module, and fourth is the Anxiety Evaluation and Relaxation Training Module, which assesses the user's degree of learning anxiety and offers relaxation training if necessary. The fifth module is the Imagery Pretraining Module, used to improve the user's ability to create effective images during memory training. The final module is the Mnemonic Training Module, used to teach a wide variety of memory improvement techniques.Decision Systems has identified the following vertical markets for the computerized training: (1) senior citizen centers, (2) retirement community recreational centers, (3) audio-visual centers at public libraries, and (4) medical care centers.National Institute on Aging (NIA)

The long term objective is to develop a computer aided instruction (CAI) package named MemoryPerfect that will teach memory skills that elders want to improve. This software is a departure from previous approaches to memory training. First, it is computerized training. Second, it teaches specific memory skills requested by elders themselves. Finally, it employs external memory side rather than hard to learn internal mnemonics. Three experiments will validate and refine the eight memory training units included in MemoryPerfect. The eight training units are: a) people's names. b) important dates, c) location of household items, d) recent and past events, e) meetings and appointments, f) information and facts, g) general memory improvement, and h) medication recall. During Phase Two the training units are refined by conducting each experiment, analyzing the results, modifying the training unit, and then repeating the experiment. MemoryPerfect will provide inexpensive, standardized, and validated memory training on a mass scale. As a result of research and development of MemoryPerfect, two additional products will be produced. They are CourseWriter, a CAI authoring system, and MediMarker, a medication adherence monitoring system. These two products add virtually no cost to the project. Five vertical markets for these product are outlined below.

Thesaurus Terms:
age (human), adult, frail-elderly, computer programs (software), education, audiovisual and other training aids, psychology, learning, memory computer, man-computer interaction, drugs, chemotherapy, self medication, aging human, clinical