As Amicus Brain Innovations fine-tunes its app that fills in missing words for dementia patients, at least it won’t have to worry about missing funding.
The company’s virtual speech assistant, which will utilize artificial intelligence to echo a “modified,” more cohesive version of a users’ impaired speech, was one of 24 projects that received $99,000 each in funding from the Longitude Prize on Dementia.
Overall the proposed technologies address a wide-ranging number of issues that might stem from dementia, from injuries to memory to more general well-being, like maintaining adequate schedules.
Currently, the US-based Amicus Brain has made a live demo version of its app available upon request.
On the company’s website, founder Chitra Dorai, PhD, cites experience with her own parents’ neurodegenerative disorders to use AI technology to “increase quality of life for the caregivers of the graying globe.”
Other semifinalist projects include a system that offers personalized music sessions to ease anxiety, and an augmented reality map to aid people who get lost or confused, according to a press release about the award.
This “Yellow Brick Road” is a collaboration of several UK-based companies to expand the use of the “Dorothy” app, which provides assistance within care facilities, to community spaces.
The Longitude Prize on Dementia was begun last year and is funded by two UK-based charities targeting dementia, Alzheimer’s Society and Innovate UK. The goal is to identify technology-based tools for those living with the early stages of dementia.
“It’s vital people with dementia are able to live independently, for as long as possible,” said Alzheimer’s Society CEO Kate Lee in a press release. “And that’s exactly what tech innovation can provide.”
Five finalists will receive an additional $1.9 million in funding next year to build prototypes, program leaders said.
