SGER: Assisted Cognition: First Steps Towards Computer Aids for People with Alzheimer's Disease

这笔用于探索性研究的小额赠款将支持新型计算机系统的开发，这些系统将提高阿尔茨海默病和类似认知障碍患者的生活质量。辅助认知系统使用无处不在的计算和人工智能技术来取代阿尔茨海默病患者失去的部分记忆和解决问题的能力。辅助认知系统：个人位置和环境的感知方面，无论是在户外还是在家中，依赖于广泛的传感器，如全球定位系统（GPS），主动徽章，运动探测器和其他无处不在的计算基础设施；学习解释日常行为模式，并识别痛苦、迷失方向或困惑的迹象，使用状态估计、计划识别和机器学习的技术；通过语音和自然语言处理等多种干预措施为患者提供帮助；并在发生危险时提醒人类护理人员。将开发的辅助认知系统的两个具体例子是一个活动指南针，有助于减少在家内外的空间迷失，以及一个自适应提示器，帮助患者完成多步骤的日常任务。该项目将探索一个在未来几十年具有重大人道主义、商业、社会和科学重要性的新兴领域。

This small grant for exploratory research will support development of novel computer systems that will enhance the quality of life of people suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and similar cognitive disorders. Assisted Cognition systems use ubiquitous computing and artificial intelligence technology to replace some of the memory and problem-solving abilities that have been lost by an Alzheimer's patient. Assisted Cognition systems: sense aspects of an individual's location and environment, both outdoors and at home, relying on a wide range of sensors such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS), active badges, motion detectors, and other ubiquitous computing infrastructure; learn to interpret patterns of everyday behavior, and recognize signs of distress, disorientation, or confusion, using techniques from state estimation, plan recognition, and machine learning; offer help to patients through various kinds of interventions including speech and natural language processing; and alert human care-givers in case of danger.Two concrete examples of the Assisted Cognition systems that will be developed are an activity compass that helps reduce spatial disorientation both inside and outside the home, and an adaptive prompter that helps patients carry out multi-step everyday tasks. This project will explore an emerging area that could be of great humanitarian, commercial, social, and scientific importance in the coming decades.