JamCare

JameCare is a prototype for a device whose purpose is to help dementia patients and their caregivers by increasing engagement between them. It achieves this by utilising methods that are popular within music therapy. The device itself is a condensed piano that plays music when the keys are pressed, this is intended to be done in collaboration with others to promote social relationships and tackle isolation.

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JamCare addresses the pressing global issue of dementia, a degenerative disease affecting cognitive abilities and daily functioning for a substantial amount of the world’s population. JamCare’s purpose is to enhance the well-being of dementia patients and their caregivers by fostering meaningful engagement through a unique music therapy strategy.  Through playing and learning, the project is looking to offer a different type of support and engagement opportunity for dementia patients and caregivers, particularly in the absence of a cure for the disease.

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​When the user presses a key, it plays a chord on a loop and when the next key is pressed it will play the next chord within that sequence.  The sequence that plays would be beat-matched to provide the user with a sense that they are composing as if playing on a full-sized instrument.  The simple interface and playing technique are designed to provide the user with agency and familiarity.