This week's Projects section will feature works coming from Art Center's brand new Interaction Design Department. The students featured are part of the department's very first graduating class. Each project explores through interactive tech solutions how people think, feel and behave when they encounter a product, place or ecosystem.

Monument is a project designed as a system to improve the quality of life for Alzheimer's patients, their families, and their caregivers.

Design Team

Karl C. Walker

The Monument system capitalizes on the skills that Alzheimer's patients retain and the activities that they enjoy. Depending on what stage of Alzheimer's the patients are experiencing, many are no longer able to carry on long conversations, watch television and films, or read books. Because of this, patients have few activities to enjoy in their independent leisure time; they experience a dramatic drop in stimulation, which often leads to anxiety. Activities that continue to keep them engaged are listening to music, playing with puzzles, and being creative through art such as painting or coloring.

Monument is a network of RFID speakers that are housed inside colorful blocks that sonically communicate with each other. When the speakers are placed next to each other, they produce musical sounds. Each speaker plays sounds from different instruments. As Alzheimer's patients enjoy being creative through building, they are also making different combinations of music.

The blocks also communicate with a wearable device that relays their daily activity to their family members and caregivers, allowing them to stay up to date on their loved ones' activity levels and well being.

Learn More About This Projectx