Students from Coleg Gwent’s Newport campus have been recognised for their innovative use of technology to support dementia patients.
The British Science Association (BSA) awarded the students Gold CREST Awards for their project, which involved designing AI-powered glasses featuring facial recognition technology.
The project was inspired by one student’s personal experiences with family members suffering from dementia.
The aim is to help dementia patients recognise loved ones and increase their independence.
The students identified the lack of supportive devices available and set out to address this by exploring how new technology could be better applied to aid memory loss in patients.
The proposed glasses feature a small, high-definition camera to scan for registered faces, saved in an app connected to the glasses.
This app would contain information about each registered face, including family members, friends, and care staff.
An earpiece connected to the glasses could inform the wearer when a recognised face is detected, telling them who they are.
As part of their project, the group created a theoretical company to manufacture the glasses, named Theia: AR Technology after the Greek goddess of sight.
Each student had a specified role in the company, including a founder, a researcher and evaluator, a financial and technological analyst, and a project manager.
They undertook comprehensive research into issues relating to memory loss in dementia patients and its impact on patients and those around them, as well as new AI and engineering approaches.
Their project was completed in collaboration with Engineering Education Scheme Wales (EESW) STEM Cymru, an educational charity that supports young people to discover careers in engineering.
Once they had completed the project, four of the group worked together to submit it for a Gold CREST Award, producing a final report to capture their work from start to finish.
Evelyn, the company’s founder, said: “I have family members and friends with loved ones suffering from dementia.
“I’m aware of the lack of medical devices or treatments available to help individuals with dementia.
“The glasses could benefit the dementia patient as it reduces the emotional impact of memory loss.
“It additionally benefits the people around them.”
Researcher and evaluator Teagan added that projects like this could give people with dementia more agency when communicating, helping to “alleviate the pressure of those around them” and give them back some more independence.
Jeremy Morgan, South Wales coordinator for EESW, said: “Team 1 at Coleg Gwent – Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone, won the EESW South Wales award for the project with the most commercial potential.”