Augmented senility

I love the idea of augmented reality. Point your device at a building and see its history; at a painting and view information about the artist; at the night sky and see the names of the constellations. As this functionality moves from phones and tablets to eye-glasses worn on a daily basis, I can see an increasing use for AR, especially for those of my generation who may be able to recapture some loss of mental functioning lost due to aging. (Or that's my excuse, anyway.)

These speciality AR apps I am calling Augmented Senility.

The first app I would personally use would be the "link the face to the name" app. I am now capable of mis-remembering the names of people, including my own family, that I have know for years. The routine of calling a grandchild the name of each grandchild before hitting on the right nomenclature could be prevented. An in-app purchase might be adding data beyond the name - how you know this person, if you owe them money (or vice versa), their political bent, etc.. (OK, Daniel Suarez has already written about this in his science fiction books Daemon and Freedom.)

The next app would be the "this is why you came into the room." On entering a room, your eyeglasses display would actually point to the reason for your trip - your tablet, car keys, wine glass, inhaler, the toilet - etc.

Another great app to have would be the "find my car in the parking lot." A small brightly lit and flashing arrow pointing one's way back to the specific location in the mall's parking lot could be voice activated. Couple that with directions back to one's hotel room when on vacation or at a conference and you'd really have something.

The list of things for which Augmented Senility could be used is endless, but it would mostly be a memory aid - did you take your meds, did you change your Depends, did chase those kids off your lawn, did you post something curmudgeonly to Facebook?

Kickstarter, anyone?

Comments

[Stacey McMackin]

This is the best idea I've heard yet! Thanks so much. If I knew how to build it, I'd fund it myself! In anticipation of an augmented NEED in the future.

[Doug Johnson]

Thanks, Stacey. I am coming up with new applications for this all the time!

Doug

[Doug Johnson]

Thanks, Stacey. I am coming up with new applications for this all the time!

Doug

[Debra Gottsleben]

Love these ideas! Think you are on to something!