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Minder
The Minder series of body tapes was developed to aid those who struggle with prospective memory issues. Unlike some other forms of memory, prospective memory (essentially, memory for intentions, or, remembering to remember a previously planned action or task in relation to an action or task currently being carried out) involves many distinct regions of the brain and is tied to a multitude of external and internal stimuli.
Prospective memory is crucial to our lives, especially in a technologically advancing society in which keeping appointments, sending communications at given times, and remembering what you are supposed to do and when you are supposed to do it are at the root of much of daily life.
Those with impaired, reduced or simply “weaker” prospective memories often experience difficulty with routine and consistency, keeping up with personal relationships, organization, efficient use of time, and many other work- and life-related tasks that require planning and precise, timely execution.
In less severe manifestations, prospective memory difficulties can lead to “forgetfulness,” delay and frustration in daily life, along with a certain level of “resistance” to solutions designed to aid prospective memory, such as alarms, notifications, reminders and alerts in their standard forms.
Minder is a response to this resistance. Through a unique combination of technology, physical interaction and customization, Minder body tapes provide an alternative to the current ecosystem of devices and applications attempting to aid prospective memory through auditory and text-based reminders.
Drawing on my own personal experiences with “reminder fatigue” and the wealth of scientific research surrounding memory, recall and their neurological associates (sensory input and event-associated emotion), Minder tapes were designed as a way to circumvent fatigue and create a more holistic reminder system that can actually improve prospective memory over time.
In less severe manifestations, prospective memory difficulties can lead to “forgetfulness,” delay and frustration in daily life, along with a certain level of “resistance” to solutions designed to aid prospective memory, such as alarms, notifications, reminders and alerts in their standard forms.
Minder is a response to this resistance. Through a unique combination of technology, physical interaction and customization, Minder body tapes provide an alternative to the current ecosystem of devices and applications attempting to aid prospective memory through auditory and text-based reminders.
Drawing on my own personal experiences with “reminder fatigue” and the wealth of scientific research surrounding memory, recall and their neurological associates (sensory input and event-associated emotion), Minder tapes were designed as a way to circumvent fatigue and create a more holistic reminder system that can actually improve prospective memory over time.
My research found that prospective memory recall is most effective when the brain forms a strong event-associated emotional memory cue. In other words, you remember best that which you have had a meaningful emotional reaction to. Because the most important and useful manifestations of prospective memory often lack emotional weight (e.g. every day routine, personal hygiene, chores, work tasks, etc.), Minder presents a pathway for introducing emotionally meaningful sensory input during cue formation, as predetermined by the user.
The Minder product suite combines customizable biomechanical vibration-, pressure-, warmth- and light-based reminders with a comfortable, breathable, stick-anywhere body tape. The tape and its associated app allow the user to experience a reminder in a meaningful place on the body, triggering and incorporating previous emotional-sensory associations that the user determines.
Keep forgetting to check the time? Use the vibrating TouchTape on your wrist or under a watch. Having trouble shifting gears at work? Use HugTape to gently squeeze your arm, reminding you to move on to the next task.
The infinite combinations and customization allow the user to choose their own meaningful reminders and when, how and where they occur. Alerts based on physical stimuli prevent reminder fatigue and build associations that can last beyond Minder’s use.
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