OLDER ADULTS | COMPANION TECHNOLOGY | EMPATHETIC TECHNOLOGY | HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION
REMI THE SOCIAL ROBOT
DESIGNING A SOCIAL ROBOT
FOR EARLY-ONSET ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PATIENTS
ROLE
Qualitative Interviewer & Robot Interface Designer
DESCRIPTION
Based on my experiences of witnessing my grandmother having Alzheimer's Disease, I know how terrifying it is to slowly lose memories of your loved ones. With similar experiences related to Alzheimer's Disease, Nakyung and I teamed up to explore how our inspiration from movies could help Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease patients. For this project, I conducted the user research and prototyping process of designing the user interface of Remi. As part of our Senior Project, we are currently preparing for the final class exhibition.
TEAMMATES
Nakyung Kim
TIMELINE
May 2025 - Present
RESEARCH METHODS
Semi-structured interviews
TARGET USERS
Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Patients
TOOLS
Figma, ChatGPT, Suno.AI
PROJECT INTRODUCTION
REMI is a socially assistive robot designed to support early-stage Alzheimer’s patients with emotional reassurance, routine reminders, and caregiver communication.
FINAL PROTOTYPE DESIGN
5th iteration
PROJECT CONCEPT
A friendly, interactive robotic companion designed to humanize the first experiences of Alzheimer's diagnosis by supporting identity and memory through interactions, reducing social isolation, and easing emotional challenges.
Inspiration from films
STORYLINE & MOTIF
Still Alice (2014): Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease patients often experience feelings of loneliness and difficulty coping with memory loss.
Quote from Gone with the Wind (1939): Like this quote, we hope to encourage Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease patients to have hope for tomorrow.
SOCIAL ROBOTS AND AI
Baymax from BIg Hero 6 (2014): We aimed to evoke feelings of friendliness and softness like Baymax with REMI.
J.A.R.V.I.S. from The Iron Man Trilogy: Like J.A.R.V.I.S., we want our robot to be a friendly assistant to Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease patients.
+ 아플 때 혼자면 서럽다
(You feel lonelier when you’re sick)
: A Korean expression about how no one wants to be alone when they’re sick
PROBLEM STATEMENT
EARLY-ONSET ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PATIENTS STRUGGLE WITH LOSING THEIR SENSE OF SELF
As seen from the movie Still Alice (2014), patients diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (EOAD)
often experience loneliness, social isolation, and difficulty coping with memory loss and changes in personal identity.
Koenig, A. M., et al. (2008). Early-onset Alzheimer's disease: a global cross-sectional analysis of patient perspectives. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 26(4), 318–326. https://doi.org/10.1159/000162262
Caddell, L. S., & Clare, L. (2010). The impact of dementia on self and identity: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(1), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.10.003
Larsson, M., Trajkovska, A., Karsberg, S., & Andersson, S. (2025). Global, regional, and national burden of early-onset Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, 1990-2019: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 11(9), 907-923. https://doi.org/10.5887/ERR2016.2688
(From: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11921012/)
Loy, C. T., Schofield, P. R., Turner, A. M., & Kwok, J. B. (2020). Genetic factors in early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Neurodegenerative Disease Management, 10(2), 127-144. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32914938/
What Is Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease?
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Defined as Alzheimer's disease diagnosed before the age of 65, often between 30 and 60 years old.
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Characterized by progressive cognitive decline with symptoms that may differ from typical late-onset Alzheimer's, often involving language, visuospatial, and executive function deficits.
5% of approximately 6.5M people have Alzheimer's in the U.S.
Roughly 6.3 per 100,000 person-years in the age range 45-64 years.
Koenig, A. M., et al. (2008). Early-onset Alzheimer's disease: a global cross-sectional analysis of patient perspectives. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 26(4), 318–326. https://doi.org/10.1159/000162262
Mendez M. F. (2019). Early-onset Alzheimer Disease and Its Variants. Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.), 25(1), 34–51. https://doi.org/10.1212/CON.0000000000000687
Larsson, M., Trajkovska, A., Karsberg, S., & Andersson, S. (2025). Global, regional, and national burden of early-onset Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, 1990-2019: A
Loy, C. T., Schofield, P. R., Turner, A. M., & Kwok, J. B. J. (2020). Genetic factors in early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Neurodegenerative Disease Management, 10(2), 127-144. https://doi.org/10.2217/nmt-2019-0024
Kim, J., Kim, S., & Lee, H. (2023). Sex and ethnicity in early-onset Alzheimer's disease: A population-based study. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 19(10), 1545-1553. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13133
Symptoms of
Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease
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Early symptoms: subtle memory loss, language difficulties, visual impairment, executive dysfunction, and behavioral changes.
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Symptoms often cause difficulties at work, social withdrawal, mood swings, anxiety, and depression.
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Disease progression leads to impaired daily functioning and need for full-time care.
Mendez M. F. (2019). Early-onset Alzheimer Disease and Its Variants. Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.), 25(1), 34–51. https://doi.org/10.1212/CON.0000000000000687
Barnes, J., et al. (2015). Alzheimer's disease first symptoms are age dependent. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 11(5), 563-572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2014.09.004
Seath, P., et al. (2024). Clinical characteristics of early-onset versus late-onset Alzheimer's disease. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 39(4), 567-575. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.5639
Maersk, J. L., Peoples, H., Præstegaard, J., & Kristensen, H. K. (2024). A meta-ethnography of identity formation among people with early-onset dementia. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 87(9), 565-576. https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226241253699
Kohl, G., Koh, W. Q., Scior, K., & Charlesworth, G. (2024). "It's just getting the word out there": Self-disclosure by people with young-onset dementia. PLoS One, 19(10), e0310983. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310983
Impact on
Self and Identity
Alice struggling with her memory loss and loss of identity in Still Alice (2014).
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Diagnosis challenges patients’ sense of self, leading to feelings of loss, isolation, and identity struggles.
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Changes in cognitive and functional abilities affect social roles and self-concept.
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Maintaining engagement in meaningful activities and social support helps preserve identity despite disease progression.
Caddell, L. S., & Clare, L. (2010). The impact of dementia on self and identity: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(1), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.10.003
Jones, D. K. (2015). A family living with Alzheimer’s disease: The communicative challenges. Dementia, 14(5), 555–573. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301213502213
Maersk, J. L., Peoples, H., Præstegaard, J., & Kristensen, H. K. (2024). A meta-ethnography of identity formation among people with early-onset dementia. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 87(9), 565-576. https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226241253699
Kohl, G., Koh, W. Q., Scior, K., & Charlesworth, G. (2024). "It's just getting the word out there": Self-disclosure by people with young-onset dementia. PLoS One, 19(10), e0310983. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310983
Batra, S., Sullivan, J., Williams, B. R., & Geldmacher, D. S. (2016). Qualitative assessment of self-identity in people with advanced dementia. Dementia, 15(5), 1260-1278. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301215601619
Phinney, A. (1998). Preserving selves: Identity work and dementia. Research on Aging, 20(1), 91-136. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027598201006
MacRae, H. (2010). Managing identity while living with Alzheimer's disease. Qualitative Health Research, 20(3), 293-305. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732309354280
Sabat, S. R., & Harré, R. (1992). The construction and deconstruction of self in Alzheimer's disease. Ageing & Society, 12(4), 443-461. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X00005262
USER JOURNEY MAP
Through our literature review, we were able to create a user journey map depicting the coping process of early-onset Alzheimer's disease patients. Through this user journey map, we were able to identify that the stage patients would need the most would be the last one, seeking for help.
QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS
To further discover what difficulties patients would have in real life,
my teammate and I reached out to guardians of Early-Onset Alzheimer's patients and medical experts.
Feeling Helpless
Guardian 1
(KOR → ENG Translated) “It was devastating to see my father slowly lose his memories. It was hard at first for both our family and my father to accept it. Even after receiving the diagnosis at the hospital, it was still difficult. My father had a hard time coming to terms with it, and from our perspective, it felt like my father was almost a different person, which was also very tough. On top of that, since my siblings and I were all working at the time, it wasn’t easy to keep taking care of him."
Being Physically
and Mentally
Vulnerable
Early-onset Alzheimer’s profoundly disrupts individuals’ core sense of self, as they lose memories tied to personal identity and life accomplishments. This vulnerability often leads to heightened anxiety and a need for interventions that actively support and reaffirm patients’ enduring sense of who they are.
Patients with early-onset Alzheimer’s often show muscle weakness and impaired balance, making them especially vulnerable to falls. It is critical that caregivers remain vigilant. They should ensure clear pathways, use supportive devices, and provide assistance during transfers to minimize the risk of serious injury.
— Expert from Daegu Catholic University Medical Center
HOW MIGHT WE...
Painpoint 1
The user feels their sense of self slipping away as early-onset Alzheimer’s alters their roles and future aspirations.
How Might We...
Reinforce a sense of identity for patients so they feel valued and recognized for who they are beyond their diagnosis.
Painpoint 2
The user feels anxious and helpless when they forget recent conversations, appointments, or familiar routes.
How Might We...
Design supportive reminders and contextual cues that empower patients to navigate daily tasks without feeling controlled.
Painpoint 3
The user feels isolated and depressed, withdrawing from social interactions out of fear of embarrassment.
How Might We...
Foster emotionally supportive social experiences that reduce feelings of isolation among early-onset Alzheimer’s patients.
RESEARCH QUESTION
What if... a robot can become a companion
to Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Patients?
Family members or caregivers won’t always be able to assist them.
Robots may be able to provide continuous, tireless support without fatigue.
This may also prevent older adults from feeling isolated or excluded by technology.
THE CORE IDEA
A Social Robot Providing
Both Mental & Daily Activity Support for EOAD Patients
KEYWORDS
IDENTITY
HUMAN
MEMORY
HOPEFUL
FRIENDLY
PERSONALIZED
TALK
INTERACT
CONNECT
MOODBOARD & DESIGN REFERENCES
MARKET ANALYSIS AND COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
E-BAR
Form
-
Wall-mounted screen
Primary Functions
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Context-aware reminders
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Telepresence with caregivers
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Ambient alerts
Target Population
-
Home-based elderly users
Key Differentiators
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Integrates seamlessly into home environment
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Context sensing via smart sensors
Bolli, R., & Asada, H. (2025). Elderly Bodily Assistance Robot (E-BAR): A robot system for body-weight support, ambulation assistance, and fall catching, without the use of a harness [Manuscript]. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/159256
Karami, V., Yaffe, M. J., Gore, G., Moon, A., & Abbasgholizadeh Rahimi, S. (2024). Socially assistive robots for patients with Alzheimer’s disease: A scoping review. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 123, 105409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2024.105409
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING (ADL)
ADL refers to the fundamental tasks necessary for independent living.
REMI is a socially assistive robot designed to support early-stage Alzheimer’s patients with emotional reassurance, routine reminders, and caregiver communication.
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Cognitive Reminders – medication prompts, routine scheduling
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Emotional Engagement – social cues, mood tracking, empathy-building animations
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Mobility Motivation – guiding users toward light activities, gentle exercise, or movement prompts
Marshall, G. A., Rentz, D. M., Frey, M. T., Locascio, J. J., Johnson, K. A., & Sperling, R. A. (2011). Executive function and instrumental activities of daily living in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 7(3), 300-308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2010.04.005
Cipriani, G., Lucetti, C., Danti, S., & Nuti, A. (2020). Daily functioning and dementia. Dementia & Neuropsychologia, 14(2), 93-102. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-57642020dn14-020001
Liu, C., Gao, S., & Li, S. (2024). The effect of physical exercise intervention on the ability of daily living in patients with Alzheimer's dementia: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 16, 1391611. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2024.1391611
Giebel, C. M., Sutcliffe, C., & Challis, D. (2015). Activities of daily living and quality of life across different stages of dementia: A UK study. Aging & Mental Health, 19(1), 63-71. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2014.915920
INITIAL SKETCHES
This is the very first draft of how I imagined our robot REMI would look like. My teammate Nakyung and I wanted it to look like a small assistant or pet that follows around patients.
DESIGN ITERATIONS
We used ChatGPT to imagine and create multiple iterations of our robot REMI.
FUNCTIONALITIES
Medical (Patient Monitoring)
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For medical experts: Remote patient monitoring
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For patients:
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Fall prevention/detection
- Emergency response
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Reminders
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Daily Assistance and Care
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Monitor and encourage physical activity (step count & flashcards)
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Interactive reinforcement learning (flashcards)
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Safer navigation and understanding of environment
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entertainment (plug-in)
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
REMI has two focuses: assisting with daily engagement (physical activities & mental activities), and medical care to support patients.
VISUAL IDENTITY
Font Family: Nunito Sans
Aa
Font Weight:
Bold
Nunito Bold
Extra Bold
Nunito Extra Bold
Black
Nunito Black
#FFF0A3
#FFCA8D
#FFF1DA
#000000
#C0E4FF
#CDF4D3
UI DESIGN REFERENCES FOR EARLY-ONSET ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PATIENTS
Aa
Typography
and Readability
Use large font sizes, high contrast ratios between text and background, and sans serif fonts for readability.
Memory and
Orientation Support
Implement consistent visual cues,
familiar metaphors, and terminology
to avoid confusion.
Color and
Visual Elements
Implement consistent color-coding systems, text labels, and clear distinction between headings
and body text.
Information
Processing
Use simple, direct language with short sentences. Present one primary task per screen to avoid cognitive overload.
Button and
Interactive Elements
Ensure large touch targets, adequate spacing, and immediate visual feedback for all interactive elements.
Adaptive
Features
Include text size adjustment options, and customizable interfaces to tailor individual needs.
Amouzadeh, E., Li, G., & Chen, M. (2025). Optimizing mobile app design for older adults: Systematic review of design guidelines. BMC Geriatrics, 25(1), 234. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05234-2
Williams, R., Thompson, K., & Anderson, P. (2024). Accessible web design for older adults: Challenges and opportunities. ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing, 17(2), 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1145/3763243
Li, G., Zhang, H., & Wang, S. (2025). Online performance and interface design implications for older adults: A comprehensive analysis. Applied Ergonomics, 118, 104267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104267
Chien, S. Y., Baker, J., & Martinez, L. (2024). Technology usability for people living with dementia: A systematic analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26(7), e45123. https://doi.org/10.2196/45123
Rodriguez, M., Thompson, A., & Lee, K. (2020). User experience design for persons living with dementia: Guidelines and best practices. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 142, 102475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2020.102475
Siangpipop, S., Chen, L., & Park, J. (2023). Designing a mobile app for managing Alzheimer's disease: A user-centered approach. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 70(8), 2234-2242. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2023.3275689
Johnson, K., Smith, R., & Davis, M. (2024). Adapting UX research for people living with Alzheimer's disease: Methodological considerations. Proceedings of the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 145, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1145/3663548.3688542
UI DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION
FINAL PRODUCT
Help That Will Not Fade Away
FINAL PROTOTYPE DESIGN
5th iteration
Talk to REMI
Hi there! I’m REMI! 💛
I’m your friendly little helper robot thats just a heartbeat away!— here to make your day brighter, and your heart a little happier!
Voice: IIElevenLabs Jessica
A warm, friendly voice to acknowledge interaction and foster trust through clear, human-like responses.
Have A Heart-to Heart Conversation
Push the heart-shaped home button to start talking to REMI. The glowing heart shape invites users to physically interact.
Positioned at the “chest,” it was designed to evoke warmth and familiarity, creating a comfortable connection.
Remi Will Always Repond
REMI will also respond with facial expressions according to context as a gesture of empathy.
Arm shapes and positions suggest approachable, interactive gestures like waving or offering help. These movements can provide immediate, visible responses.
Your Daily Routine with REMI
Docking Station for REMI
By returning to the same spot daily, REMI can reinforce routines and help users form comforting, repeatable habits.
REMI Will Be There for You, Always
REMI can immediately call and notify medical staff in case of medical emergencies. In case of a medical emergency, the handle will light up and turn red to indicate that help is on the way.
Personalize
with Add-Ons and Color
Through add-ons, we support personal preferences and diverse needs. These functional attachments can inspire users to use REMI in different daily routines and environments.
Table & Cup Holder
Magnetic Paw Plate:
Users can attach car keys, rings, etc. in case they forget.
Magnetic
Mini Fan
Magnetic
Clipboard
Magnetic
lamp
Body Color Options
Website Design for REMI
Next Step
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Collaboration with hospitals specializing in Alzheimer's Disease, such as Boramae Hospital.
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Include quantitative data on early-onset AD prevalence, current treatment gaps, and existing robot effectiveness
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Document usability testing results with physical prototype.
Impact
We aimed to transform care for early-onset Alzheimer’s patients by providing physical and mental support through a social robot companion. Physically, we designed Remi to follow users through the home environment, offering fall warnings and prompts for gentle mobility exercises that help maintain strength and coordination. Mentally, it engages patients in personalized conversation and memory-reinforcement activities. By integrating movement assistance with empathetic interaction, we aimed to bridge the gap between clinical care and everyday life.
My Key Takeaways
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Combining storytelling with research is something that aligns well with my research directions. After this project, I have started to find inspiration from movies to come up with research projects. I think I definitely enjoy bringing imaginative ideas to life with research projects and tangible prototypes.
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Research, research, research. Especially for marginalized populations. Meet real users and stakeholders. This was my second time designing for older people, and every time I design for older generations, I notice the importance of research more than when I design for younger generations. I think it is definitely a bit harder because it takes more effort to put myself in their shoes. In these kind of cases, I think meeting people in real life and listening to the problems they face is always key to gather insights.
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Conduct a thorough benchmarking process, especially when designing physical prototypes like robots. I realized that designing a physical prototype requires more knowledge on types of interaction/material/software, etc. Hence, knowing what approach other researchers and designers took definitely helps in differentiating my project from others.