Design for Health
NENU
Industry
HEALTHCARE DESIGN
Year
2022
Client
Concept Design for Tovertaffel
Nenu is an interactive meditation projector designed for people with dementia, with the purpose of improving their quality of life, as well as slowing down the progression of the illness.
Nenu projects visuals onto the available surface of the room it is placed in. These visuals come in the form of a chosen environment, and an individualised Guide which leads the person through the process of meditation.
Meditation is a learned technique of changing conciousness in order to achieve stronger focus, a hightened sense of awareness, and general improvement of mental state. These benefits of meditation are wel known, moreover research points out that, when applied correctly, meditation can have an imensely positive impact on the lives of people with dementia, by significantly slowing down the progression of the ilness.
Nenu engages with the user by inviting them for a daily meditation at a previously set time, it helps the user by guiding them through the process, while at the end of the session asking questions about the users past and reacting appropriately. In this way the person with dementia is stimulated enough as well as helped in with the illness.
The set up of Nenu is done through the accompanying app, where all of the choices, regarding the meditation guide personalisation, environments, time of meditation, type of meditation, a s well as personal information, can be selected and adjusted. The initial set up is intended to be done with a loved one or a caretaker.
The person with dementia has the freedom to choose their preferred environment that will accompany their meditation. The environments are divided into figurative and abstract ones. The figurative ones are intended for use during the early and mid-stage dementia, while the abstract ones are more suited for later and more progressive stages of dementia due to their simpler visuals.
The guide exists primarily with the purpose of providing the user with the needed information about how to do the meditation. Since the guide is the main focus point during the interaction, it is possible to personalise them, through the Nenu App. The user can choose the body shape of the guide, as well as the preferred colour and tone of the voice, and other facial features.
During use, Nenu offers different levels that represent various types of meditation and allow users to track their progress. These levels adapt to the user’s symptoms and stage of dementia, ensuring a comfortable and achievable experience. Each level is designed around factors such as difficulty, required focus, cognitive engagement, and range of movement. Progressing through the levels helps users build a sense of accomplishment and pride, while supporting continued engagement and wellbeing.
