West Country entrepreneurs are looking for people to test an innovative new product aimed at people with dementia.
As part of the Design Together, Live Better project, which connects members of the public with companies and entrepreneurs looking to co-create the next generation of healthcare solutions; people living in and around Bath are being asked to test a number of new products.
These include the Music Memory Box, a personalised, multi-sensory device that enables people to recall memories.
Designed by Chloe Meineck of Studio Meineck, the Music Memory Box is designed to look like a shoebox which can be filled with precious trinkets.
Making use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, these objects trigger music, encouraging the owner to recall memories.
“This creates a personal, multi-sensory reminiscence activity for a person living with dementia, helping them to recollect and reconnect with their loved ones,” said Meineck.
She added: “I co-designed this with a loved one who has dementia. Now I am in the process of putting it into production and would love to hear what people from across the West Country think about it and their feedback about the design and use of it.”
People interested in getting involved and testing out the Music Memory Box can find out more at www.designtogetherlivebetter.org/the-music-memory-box.
Design Together, Live Better has been developed by the NHS-funded West of England Academic Health Science to encourage meaningful dialogue between patients and companies and to help gather user input.
Lars Sundstrom, enterprise director, said: “We need to make better use of people’s insights into their own conditions and lives. They are the experts in what would make life easier and, more specifically, what’s missing and what could be created to help.
“Our new innovation platform will do exactly that by putting people in touch with each other to co-design and co-create the next generation of innovative healthcare products so they precisely match currently-unmet needs. I am really excited about this – it could be a real game changer.”
