Demi Tao

I found the course to be intriguing and engaging since it allowed me to put myself in the shoes of persons with dementia in order to look at the problem and design from their perspective, as well as to understand their specific needs and limitations. It was challenging since we had to consider multiple factors, such as the user interface, simplicity of use, and emotional engagement, so as to design an effective and user-friendly solution. However, as a result of this effort, I now have a greater understanding of this group and expect to become more tolerant of them.

As we worked on our prototype, I became more aware of the importance of collaboration and teamwork. We had to work together to brainstorm ideas, identify potential challenges, and find solutions that were practical and feasible. Due to time constraints, our prototype implemented the majority of the features we intended but did not have the opportunity to test in a real-world scenario. Perhaps as a result of this, the results of the experiment differ from what we expected.

I also learned a lot from user evaluation and testing. Our testing phase came in a bit rushed, there were only three volunteers in the first three hours. To get more individuals interested, each team member started mobilising their friends and looking for students who were available in the building. My team members also thoughtfully prepared cookies in the hopes of attracting more people to join, despite the interesting fact that most of them refused after completing the experiment. Lessons learned, this kind of activity that involves many people need to be properly planned in advance.

Overall, the course was a valuable experience that helped me understand the importance of designing solutions that are tailored to the needs of specific user groups. I feel more confident in my ability to apply socio-cognitive engineering principles to future projects, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked on a project that could hopefully make a real difference in the lives of people with dementia.