Assistive Technology for Cognitive DisordersCompany OriginsCompany VisionCognitive DisordersCognitive DisordersCompany HistoryCompany HistoryCompany HistoryCompany HistoryHardware platformsPEAT: Hardware PlatformsProduct GoalsPEAT: The Planning and ExecutionAssistant and TrainerCue CardExecutive FunctionsActivity ModelIntegrated Planning and ExecutionMatching Individual NeedsUnique FeaturesBenefitsClinical TrialsCustomersPEAT: A customizable cognitive aidPatented TechnologyPatented TechnologyAssistive Technology for Cognitive DisordersAttention Control Systemsbrainaid.com© Copyright 2006 ACSCompany Origins• NASA and Valley Medical Center - circa 1993• NASA uses software to increase robot autonomy• Software provides planning and executive functions• Software on PDA can increase human autonomy© Copyright 2006 ACSCompany VisionPortable planning aids will Increase independence for millions of peoplewith cognitive disorders© Copyright 2006 ACSCognitive DisordersCausesBrain injury, Stroke, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism, Developmental disorders, Attention Deficit Disorder, othersIncidence20 million in U.S. • Seven percent of U.S. population• Brain Injury - 5.3 million, 80k/yr, 2/3 younger than age 30• Stroke - 4 million, 600k/year• Alzheimer’s Disease - 4 million• Growing population as baby boomers age© Copyright 2006 ACSCognitive DisordersEffects• Distractibility, Inflexibility, Perseveration• Impaired attention, error detection and correction• Poor time mgmt, planning, choice making, judgment• Impaired ability to plan and execute daily activities• Difficulty adjusting to changes• Often do not start or stop tasks on time• Lost independence and employment© Copyright 2006 ACSCompany HistoryNASA Ames – Autonomous systems• Autonomous failure recovery• Automatic planning & Robust executionSerendipity & Eureka!• Accidental invite to neuropsychology courseComputer model of human frontal lobes• Computer simulated “executive functions”• Integrated planning and execution• Combination of AI and neuropsychology models© Copyright 2006 ACSCompany History• Johns Hopkins National Search for Computing to Assist Persons with Disabilities• Partial NASA funding• Initial collaboration with Valley Medical Center (Grand Rounds, presentations)• Peer-review articles in AI and Neuropsychologyjournals (AIJ, JHTR, NYAS)© Copyright 2006 ACSCompany HistoryAttention Control Systems, Inc.• Incorporated 1996• NASA Spinoff• Who owns intellectual property?• Who owns the company?• What hardware platform?© Copyright 2006 ACSCompany History• “Friends and Family” funding• Conferences, Peer support groups, The TBI project• Three U.S. Patents• U.S. Dept. of Ed. funding for clinical trials with VMC• Key customers: VA & Dept. of Rehabilitation© Copyright 2006 ACSHardware platforms• Pre “PDA”• Sony Magic Link© Copyright 2006 ACSPEAT: Hardware PlatformsMagic Link Discontinued by Sony!Which device to use now?Pocket PC (windows) vs. Palm?Form factor: clamshell vs. pocket sized?© Copyright 2006 ACSProduct GoalsFlexibility• for operating in uncertain and changing situationsReal-world activities• health, shopping, travel, school, workPersonal Assistant • at home, school, work, community© Copyright 2006 ACSPEAT: The Planning and ExecutionAssistant and Trainer• Handheld Cognitive Aid • Automatic Planning and Cueing• Floating Tasks and Scripts • Specialized User Interface© Copyright 2006 ACSCue Card• Focus is only on current activity• Automatically jumps to Cue Card• Cues include pictures and sounds (from camera and voice recorder)• Keeps cueing until user responds• Different levels of cuesfrom subtle to explicitDemo© Copyright 2006 ACSExecutive Functions• Floating tasks are put in time sequence based on priority• Schedule is adjusted when task is delayed or modified• Helps with detecting and correcting scheduling problems© Copyright 2006 ACSActivity ModelFloating Tasks• Flexible start times within a time window • Lunch [12pm –2pm], 45 min, Daily, priority 3• Shopping [6pm – 9pm], 1 hr, Mondays, priority 2Scripts• Activity sequences break large tasks into smaller steps• Examples: Morning routine, Yard work, LaundryChoice Lists• Prompts user to choose from activity lists• Examples: Meal Choices (toast, eggs, sandwich), Exercise, Leisure, Housework© Copyright 2006 ACSIntegrated Planning and ExecutionCueing• Start and Stop cues• Cueing “levels”Execution Monitoring• Cue responses• Calendar Changes• Error detection and correction© Copyright 2006 ACSMatching Individual NeedsUser Interface• Remove buttons & hide access to sections • Personalized sounds, voice recordings, pictures• Cueing LevelsActivity Model• A model of the user’s daily living activities• Floating tasks, scripts, repeating tasks• Checklists, unscheduled tasks (“To Do” items)© Copyright 2006 ACSUnique Features• Patented methods for simulating executive functions• Compensates for planning, error correction deficits• Realistic daily activity models (floating tasks, scripts)• For users with cognitive, visual, and motor deficits• Highly customizable options for individual needs• Individualized cues including digital pictures and voice recordings© Copyright 2006 ACSBenefitsBetter outcomes:• Better fitting, more powerful cognitive orthotics• Increased Independence• Increased Quality of Life• Decreased cost of care© Copyright 2006 ACSClinical TrialsPartnership with Valley Medical Center• Leader in brain injury rehabilitationDept. of Education Grant• $450K for 3 year study• National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research© Copyright 2006 ACSCustomersDepartments of Rehabilitation (25 states)Hospitals and Rehabilitation Centers• Santa Clara Valley Medical Center• Palo Alto VA• Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital/Harvard• Assistive Technology Centers• Insurance Agencies• School Districts© Copyright 2006 ACSPEAT: A customizable cognitive aidEND© Copyright 2006 ACSPatented TechnologyScheduling• Temporal ConstraintsPlanning• Choices and error correction• Add and replace activitiesExecution• Cueing, Monitoring, AdjustingU.S. patents 7,027,996 & 6,381,580 & 6,047,260B1T1[2, 15][1, 2]TWR[4, 5][6,20]B2T1BES© Copyright 2006 ACSPatented TechnologyScheduling• Temporal ConstraintsPlanning• Choices and error correction• Add and