KeyTag: A Real-Time Item Tracking System For People With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Alexis Hernandez, Gerardo Nuñez
Faculty Supervisor: Alyssa Kubota
Department: Engineering
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodromal state between normal aging and dementia which can affect a person’s cognitive functioning, including memory, attention, and executive functioning in their everyday life. One challenge that people with MCI may experience is frequently misplacing items such as their keys and wallets, leading to wasted time and stress looking for them. To combat this challenge, we present KeyTag, a compact device that recognizes whether the user has placed their keys in a designated location upon entering the home, and reminding them to do so if they have not. KeyTag provides real-time reminders and location-based tracking of items by seamlessly integrating with a home automation system. Our hope is that KeyTag will result in a significant reduction in the incidence of misplaced items and improve household organization. Ultimately, our work will support users to achieve real-world behavior change by fostering a more organized living environment and routines.