Cognizant Sponsored Project
3 Weeks
Viswak Raja
Jimmy Guo
Long Dao
Ivy Huang
Mingle offers a multi-modal ecosystem designed to empower individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and their caregivers through adaptive products and integrated services that evolve with the user's needs. The solution includes a customizable platform that adjusts to different stages of MCI, providing personalized support through digital tools, engaging activities, and therapeutic exercises tailored to maintain cognitive function and enhance quality of life. By partnering with existing services like Hello Fresh and Blick etc., we create immersive and inclusive MCI assessments embedded in daily activities, such as cooking and creative projects, to deliver real-time insights and a more comprehensive understanding of cognitive health in real-world settings.
An adaptive, multi-modal platform that evolves with the needs of individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to provide personalized support and immersive cognitive assessments. Utilizing AI to learn from user interactions, the platform creates personalized activity boxes that cater to individual preferences and cognitive abilities, enhancing engagement and promoting cognitive health.
Tackling cognitive decline early and providing continuous monitoring and assessment for medical professionals are crucial steps in delaying the onset of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and supporting better outcomes. The adaptive, personalized approach helps individuals manage their cognitive health proactively, empowering both them and their caregivers with real-time insights and targeted interventions.
Individuals with MCI are at an increased risk of progressing to Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, with studies suggesting that 10-15% of people with MCI develop dementia each year. Early identification and management of MCI are therefore crucial, and that’s why our stakeholders believe this product could mitigate the impact of MCI and help delay further cognitive decline.
I was the project lead, managing a team of researchers and designers to bring everything together in a cohesive and creative way. I was in charge of the UX design for both the physical and digital interfaces and conducted user interviews to gather valuable insights and feedback.
A modified camera that helps assists with tracking and completing task using AI
A bedside mechanical flower that reflects the users progress and achievements
A Monthly subscription box with activities that help assess or delay the onset of MCI
Humans are visual creatures, making it easier to grasp concepts through images rather than words. In this approach, users receive a visual reminder of their task and are asked to validate completion by simply snapping a picture of the finished task.
The system reminds the user one task at a time and automatically updates the caregiver on the status of the activity.
The flower serves as a reflection of the user's well-being, indicating how well they've done throughout the day, both physically and mentally. For example, the flower remains healthy if the user meets their daily step goal. Additionally, it functions as a memory box, offering a quick snapshot of the user's day-to-day life.
The system leverages AI to annotate and tag memories to help create a personalized solution.
It’s crucial to take proactive steps in delaying the onset or progression of MCI. To support this, we offer carefully curated activities that keep users engaged. These activities not only stimulate the mind but also allow us to continuously assess and monitor their cognitive health."
To design an adaptable system for different levels of MCI that supports communication, engagement, and independence.
Every 65 seconds, someone in the US develops Alzheimer’s and Demetia , among individuals aged 65 and older.
Today, 6.5 million Americans over 65 are living with Alzheimer's . By 2060, this number is projected to more than double to ~14 million.
“They didn’t have any suggestions! Just a diagnosis and have a good day!”
MCI Patient
“The thing now is you go see your doctor and your doctor tells you that you have MCI, and says, ‘Good luck. There is nothing I can do for you. Come and see me next year. That is basically what is happening”
“It is not controversial to say the single most important thing a patient with MCI can do to slow the disease is physical activity, preferably a walk.”
Dr. Oscar L. Lopez
Director, Disease Research Center, University of Pittsburg
Significant gaps remain in the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Demetia , when symptoms are subtle and are difficult to distinguish from normal aging
Over 80% of Americans lack awareness or knowledge about MCI, an early stage of Alzheimer's.
Individuals with MCI and their caregivers often deal with Insomnia for various reasons.
Some Caregivers also experience mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to stress and lack of sleep.
Target Group
Activities that are conducted at CEP
Must Have
Clear, visible, and cue-based interactions
Tangible interface - for accessibility
The system should adapt to varying stages of MCI
Should Have
"Nudging" users to perform tasks without forcing
Shallow learning curve for interface (Universal Design)
Remote access to caregiver or care-partner
Nice to Have
Supporting different modes of interaction
Gamification- rewards can motivate and engage users
Personalization-to fit individual user needs
We made initial sketches on concepts trying to cater different opportunity areas identifies suring research
We then brainstormed on picking features are must haves aworks in a scnarios that would usefuk considering the affordability and scalability fof the system
We then categorized concpets to group them and find commonalities
All these concepts were then grouped on the common systems to create a family of products that would evolve with the need of the user and also make them an affordable service
We will have a look at the overall system once we have better undertsanding of the individual components of the system.
Task Tracking
Self Reflection
Continuous Diagnosis
1-page, 30-point test; assesses 8 cognitive domains through 13 tasks;Found to be more sensitive than MMSE in assessing memory, visuospatial, executive, language function, and orientation to time and place
Below is an example of how a clock drawing exercise is used to assess the different stage of cognitive decline
Mobile Application Interface
We made prototypes of the components in 1:1 scale to help the users see the vision of the system and imagine our uses cases better.
We used a combination of Wizard of Oz and roleplay techniques to validate our service.
Care partners should make their own task schedules in their early stages.
Should not hide the progress data from care partners.
The boxes can be a collaborative activity - caregivers and care partners can work on the contents together
Provide delivery boxes based on care partners’ personal interests.
Different service provider options to cater to different hobbies.
Creating Tasks together with the caregiver will make them feel more involved.
Creating a treasure hunt like game.
Helping with medicine and meals can be really helpful.
No one size fits all
I learned that there's no one-size-fits-all solution when designing for individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Each person’s needs and experiences are unique, so it’s crucial to create adaptable solutions that cater to individual preferences and abilities
Maintain users’ dignity is important.
A key lesson for me was the importance of maintaining users' dignity. The design should empower and respect the user, avoiding anything that feels patronizing. It’s about creating an experience that makes them feel capable and valued.
Consideration towards accessibility in every step.
I realized that accessibility isn’t just a feature—it’s a fundamental part of the design process. Every step needs to consider how people with different cognitive and physical abilities will interact with the product, ensuring it’s inclusive and easy to use for everyone.
More user testing.
I learned that frequent user testing is essential. Engaging with users throughout the design process helps identify real needs and pain points
Designing activities for better evaluation.
It became clear that designing engaging activities isn't just about entertainment; it's about creating meaningful experiences that can better assess cognitive abilities.
Spreading awareness and importance of early detection.
I realized the importance of raising awareness about early detection of MCI. Educating users and caregivers on recognizing early signs can lead to timely interventions
Understanding of building AI models on localized user data for data privacy
It’s crucial to develop intelligent systems that respect users' privacy while still providing personalized and effective cognitive assessments and support.
