As we age we begin to bind or encode non-relevant bits of information into the memories we form. This is called hyper-binding and reveals an interesting increase in bandwidth but decrease in discrimination in memory formation in the elderly. This may have significant implications for the cognitive designer.
Design a guided imagery experiment to reveal what people really think-and-feel
Figuring out what people really think and feel is the big problem in cognitive design. After all, most of what we know (memory) is implicit and cannot be readily called to mind and reported. Simply asking people what they think and feel fails to produce interesting results. That is why we do protocol studies, build prototypes and ask people to bring in pictures that resonate with them. All so we can play detective and try and infer what cognitive biases, mental models, metaphors and other implicit memories are beneath the surface driving thoughts and feelings.
I was reading a post, Mind over Matter: Imagery in the Classroom, on the Eide Neurolearning Blog and it reminded me of powerful technique for getting at implicit or unconscious memories – mental imagery. The post links to a chapter by Kosslyn and Moulton on Mental Imagery and Implicit Memory. This is a must read for cognitive designers for several reasons.
First, it provides ample scientific evidence for the claim that asking people to imagine doing something and reporting on the experience (a guided imagery experiment) is a powerful way to reveal how they really think about things.
More specifically, it argues how we simulate things in our mind (imagine doing and feeling things via imagination) provides many clues into the content of implicit memories. This make sense because in the absence of direct perception to guide our thinking we must rely of what we assume to know, or what we know unconsciously to construct events, project behaviors and simulate feelings.
I am often asked by clients and students, what can cognitive design do to help us with stereotypes? For example, consider the belief (and supporting mental models) that female drivers are way worse than male drivers. Further, how can we differentiate harmful stereotypes from useful generalizations?
The first step, as is always the case in cognitive design, is to make sure we understand what cognitive psychology and neuroscience have to say on the matter. Cognitive design starts with the best scientific model of the “workflow between the ears” that we can muster. Fortunately, there has been a lot of work on stereotypes lately. Take for instance the link that Gina Farag shared recently on Biases the Blind: The role of stereotypes in decision-making processes. It is a treasure chest full of designable insights, including:
The frequency and duration of exposure to information as well as the length of the rest period between exposures all impact how well we can learn new information.
Balancing these variables to optimize memory function or “managing your learning schedule” is well beyond most of us and even the most well intentioned instructors- until now. A new type of memory enhancer that uses adaptive algorithms are beginning to appear. Technology Review has a good article, An App so you’ll never forget, that focuses on the latest, a new iPhone app smart.fm. Definitely cognitive design in action.
Check out this short video on the science behind smart.fm
Designing artifacts that generate deep personal meaning is tricky work.
Autobiographical memories (AM) or memories about our personal history are a key component of self identity. As such designs that activate AM can often generate waves of deep meaning and mental energy. Tokens, mementos, family heirlooms and retro designs are common examples. But the opportunities for cognitive design go deeper.
Some designers go further and make use so-called flash bulb memories or AM burnt deeply and in rich detail into our brains. These range from the first encounter with our true love to presidential assassinations.
However, an exciting new book on the development of AM suggests that there is far more to the story because the development of conscious self, integrated personality and AMs are all intertwined. That being the case, designs that leverage autobiographic memory should tap a mother load of meaning.
I’ve extract 8 design guidelines from the book and am going to test them out.
I have blogged many times on various designs aimed at improving medication adherence. Remembering to take your meds and remembering to refill your perscriptions are serious cognitive design challenges, especially for the elderly taking many medications.
Enter the GlowCaps product from Vitality. You use special caps:
and this gadget that plugs easily into a wall socket.
The gadget pulses orange when it is time to take a pill, sends a weekly update to someone you designate (for social support), connects to your pharmacy and automatically reorders and sends a monthly report to you and your doctor indicating if you missed, met or exceeded your compliance goals. You are provided an incentive to exceed your goals.
I imagine there is some set up involved. Although I have not tested it yet, this appears to have a lot of the right stuff from a cognitive design perspective.
A Northwestern student sent a link to Think Faster, Remember More, one of the themes we discuss in the Cognitive Design class I teach there. The post is a “how to guide” and contains a number of interesting insights into memory, including why we can’t remember being born, how memories are formed and why we forget our keys.
Unfortunately, reading the post won’t give you super memory, but it does provide useful context and pointers for designers working on memory-related challenges.
Modern living has gotten so complex that we now have a pronounced prospective memory challenge. The demands on prospective memory, or remembering to remember something (calling your spouse before leaving work, watering your plants, or checking your calendar when you get into work, etc. ) have exploded over the last 30 years. I post from time to time on the latest cognitive science research and techniques for managing prospective memory.
Just found a relevant post on The Human Factors Blog, Smart Phones as Event-Based Prospective Memory Aids. Simple but effective, check it out especially if you have a smart phone.
Cognitive designers will be especially interested in the articles on why music moves us, why it is hard to unlearn false facts and brain/body fitness.
Be Sure to Factor Biases about Cognition into Your Design
As we age our memory gets worse, right? Holding that negative stereotype, or believing others around you hold it, can in fact make your memory worse. Or so reports researchers from North Carolina State University. They report:
“For example, older adults will perform more poorly on a memory test if they are told that older folks do poorly on that particular type of memory test,” Hess says. Memory also suffers if senior citizens believe they are being “stigmatized,” meaning that others are looking down on them because of their age.”
I have seen similar studies even ones that have an impact on where folks score on the dementia scale.
This is an important finding for cognitive designers working on applications for highly educated elderly, especially 70 and up. (more…)
