We have been using picture phones for people with dementia. They look and
feel just like an ordinary phone but they have largish buttons into which
you slot a passport photo sized picture. The user just has to pick up the
phone and touch the picture of the person they wish to ring. From the point
of view of people with dementia they are great because the amount of new
learning needed is very limited, and they are interacting with a piece of
equipment that is similar to what they have used for communicating in the
past. They are only about £22. We have 40 under evaluation as part of an EU
project and they are looking good.
Roger Orpwood
Dr Roger Orpwood
Bath Institute of Medical Engineering
University of Bath
c/o Wolfson Centre
Royal United Hospital
BATH BA1 3NG
tel: +44(0)1225 824103
fax: +44(0)1225 824111
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