Re-purposing voice assistant technology for use by people living with dementia and their carers

The use of voice assistants (e.g., Amazon Alexa, Google Home) is being widely advocated as part of supporting people living with dementia at home. The development of this technology is largely driven by industry, and there is little research to determine how people living with dementia, family carers and professionals can use voice assistants, and understand the challenges that this technology presents. In the UK there is an impending digital switch away from analogue systems that is poised to take place by 2025, hence it is essential that alternative technologies are adopted by mainstream health and care services and that acceptance and utilization is high. This paper presents the findings from two studies: 1 - a qualitative enquiry aiming to identify the views and barriers of using voice assistants by people living with dementia, family carers and professionals; 2 - a pilot case study evaluating a prototype that addresses barriers identified during study 1, entitled IntraVox. Based on processing of smart home sensor data, IntraVox uses a personalised human voice to send prompts and reminders to end-users to conduct daily life activities and to activate smart home processes using voice assistants.