Camera to tackle memory loss

[dyslimbic]

Camera to tackle memory loss

By Clive Cookson, Science Editor

Published: November 28 2007 01:59 | Last updated: November 28 2007 01:59

An automatic wearable camera that takes photos continuously through the day can transform the life of patients with memory loss, researchers said on Tuesday.

Microsoft, which is developing the SenseCam camera at its Cambridge laboratory, announced an expansion of the research programme including grants worth $550,000 (£266,000) for academics to investigate health and medical applications.

An initial trial with 20 patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of memory loss has given spectacular results, said Emma Berry, a clinical neuropsychologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. “Not only does SenseCam allow people to recall memories while they are looking at the images, which in itself is wonderful, but after an initial period of consolidation it appears to lead to long-term retention of memories over many months, without the need to view the images repeatedly,” she said.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/583333f0-9d3e-11dc-af03-0000779fd2ac.html

[houghchrst]

This is a wonderful idea but what happens if the wearer does not remember why they are wearing it and continuously takes it off. No, I am not trying to be funny, just really wondering if it was considered.

[lewisl]

I guess no one idea works for everyone, but this is a nice idea with wonderful possibilities. Great for my holiday trips.

[michael178]

I have cadasil disease and a lot of dementia, thus short term memory problems, in the process of trying to get online banking to work for me, I've gotten all of the usual suggestions for tackling memory deficits: take notes being the most common. OK but where do I put the notes and how do I remember where I put them, or what they even meant...to remind me of what? The answers are easy to suggest, and I use the ones that I think will work for me, but discard most of them. Mainly, I hope for the fog to lift, and to find an easy way to explain what is happening to me without the need to get embarrassed about it (and, yes, I know I need not be embarrassed, but if you dare tell that to me, it only shows to me that you've never stood in my shoes, so just accept that it is embarrassing to circle around in your neighborhood looking for your home because you've forgotten the way there.)
I would not be interested in the continually clicking camera. I have little need to relive the day I just struggled through. I just need enough short term memory to recall my password when I am forced to repeat it on the next line. Or enough memory to know I need to write it down before I first type it, so that I can repeat it a second latter..and a camera is not going to help me much with that problem.
It is interesting, isn't it, that a review of the cameras images somehow was significant enough to plant them in the person's long term memory. Or did I read that wrong or disremember that incorrectly.