"Method of producing a product"

The present invention relates to a method of producing a product and particularly, but not exclusively, to a method of producing a product derived from media content for a person with dementia.

Dementia is the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal ageing. Dementia mainly effects memory, but can also affect attention, language, and problem solving. Especially in the later stages of the condition, affected persons may be disoriented in time, in place and in person.

People with dementia, their families and carers are encouraged to make up books or albums with their life story as content. These life story books help the person with dementia recall memories and mitigate disorientation and may also reduce anxiety.

Life story work is a means of engaging with a person with dementia in a meaningful way, attributing the positive benefits of personhood through an examination of aspects of that person's life story.

Currently, life story work is a strong route of engagement/activity for carers. Where carers have no knowledge of a person with dementia's life, their impact is limited. Furthermore, carers often have to deal with many such persons with dementia within a short period of time, which makes it difficult to ensure that each person is properly cared for.

In addition, due to the decrease in cognitive ability over time of dementia patients, a life story book created at an earlier time can become inappropriate and ineffective for the patients care at a later date.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a product comprising the steps of: gathering media content in respect of a person representing personal information of the person; storing the media content in a computer system; extracting the media content from the computer system; obtaining a first template from the computer system; applying the media content to the template and generating a first product for use with the person; obtaining a second template from the computer system; and applying the media content to the second template and generating a second product for use by a second person to engage the first person.

Preferably, the first template is selected in accordance with the cognitive ability of the person.

Preferably, the cognitive ability is assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) method giving an MMSE score, the MMSE score being used to select the appropriate first template.

Preferably, the second product is produced more than once at pre-defined intervals.

Preferably, the method further comprises categorising the gathered media content based on pre-defined themes.

Preferably, the first template is selected according to a pre-defined threshold relating to themes associated with the media content.

Preferably, the second template is selected from a plurality of templates, each of the plurality of templates based on a different theme.

Preferably, the media content includes one or more of the following: pictures, videos, sound and text.

Preferably, the media content may be updated subsequent to the initial step of gathering media content and both user product and carer products can be altered accordingly.

Preferably, the method may be implemented in an online system, allowing data gathering and editing to be performed in an online environment.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a flow diagram of a method for producing a carer product and a patient product; and

Fig. 2 is a diagram of different phases in a carer and user product lifecycle.

Referring to Fig. 1 , a method of producing a product 10 first involves gathering data 14 from a data source 12. Typically, the data source 12 would be the end user of the product, such as a person with dementia. As dementia is a degenerative disease, gathering data from the user is best performed early in the conditions onset. The data source 12 may also be

other persons, such as friends and family, newspapers, the Internet or any other source which can give details of the person's life or issues relevant to the person's life, such as likes and dislikes, memorable events during the person's life or hobbies. The data itself is media content and therefore can be video, images, sound and/or text.

During the step of gathering 14, the data is labelled according to themes or subjects before being stored 16 in a computer system 18, in a known manner. Typically, a database application on the computer system 18 stores the data and related information and an appropriate software application accesses the database application when required. It should be appreciated that the computer system 18 may be a network of computers providing different functions or a single computer providing all functionality.

As the data has now resident on the computer system 18, the subsequent steps can now be performed to generate products.

A first product for a user involves selecting a template 20 from a range of user templates, the template may be automatically selected based on the data stored. For example, a particular template may be most appropriate to a person of a certain age and therefore could be selected based on the person's age. Alternatively, a particular template may be most appropriate for the type of data, such as whether it is made up mostly of images, or by the overriding themes of the data, such as a pre-defined percentage of the data is labelled with a particular sport.

A user product is then generated 22 by insertion of the relevant data in the template. Typically, this is done automatically based on the labelled content. However, insertion of the data can also be performed manually by

a carer, relative, friend or even the end user themselves, depending on their cognitive ability.

In parallel to the user product, a carer product is generated 24. A template is selected 20 from a range of carer's templates, corresponding to the user template. The carer's templates enable a number of conversational or activity topics to be generated from the user data, one or more of which can be to be used each time the carer visits the user. As such, the carer product and user product can be used together to help the carer care for the user and the user to benefit from a better quality of life.

Alternatively, the carer product may be generated with only one or two conversational topics at a time. The carer product can then be communicated to the carer at pre-defined intervals, or on request, such as by email, enabling them to print out the product before visiting the relevant person.

Furthermore, the user product and carer product can be continuously altered over time according to the cognitive ability of the user. That is a user template and carer template may have a number of variations according to cognitive ability. Cognitive ability is typically measured using the likes of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or Folstein test. MMSE scores can, for example, be updated in the data for a user each time a new score is recorded. As such, an updated user product and carer product can become available as time progresses.

It should be appreciated that the MMSE test is just one example of measuring cognitive ability and other tests may be used.

Other data can also be added to the original data gathering during the life of the user. This can be done by the user themselves, their carer or a friend and relative. The new data, such as a session which caused the user to be upset, can be taken into account when generating or modifying the carer or user product.

A rules based system can be used to implement the automatic generation of templates or automatic exclusion of certain themes. That is, carers may add information to the user's data at a later date such that a rule is created to avoid a particular theme in the future or to indicate that a particular theme has been covered recently and that others should be used for variety.

One embodiment of the method as described utilised an online system for implementation. Co-pending patent application PCT/GB2007/050555 discloses a method and system for generating a product and, particularly, a photo-book type product. One embodiment of the product involves an online product, in the form of a web page URL (Uniform Resource Locator), which can be viewed online or downloaded and printed. The present invention is particularly suitable for implementation in this form as the end product can change over time dependent on any updated information.

Accordingly, the present invention can be implemented in a web system with an online interface for gathering of information for an end user, manipulation of media content in templates, interface for updating of a user's information and software portions for generation of the user and carer's products. Furthermore, the system can implement automatic updates of a carer's product on a regular basis, which can then be emailed when an update has been performed direct to the carer.

The following examples demonstrate how present invention is used in practice. A user, such as a person with dementia, possibly with the help of their carers/family go online to a hosted website and download a "life story event extractor" application from the computer system 18. The life story event extractor application assists the person with dementia and his team in revealing and recording not only the obvious events of the person's life, but also the emotional aspects of these events. An intelligent questionnaire drives much of the factual events. For example, questions such as "did you like school?"; "what school did you attend?"; "when?"; and "were you in the armed forces?".

In looking at events in more detail the events may be remembered as "Christmas's of the 1930's", which can then be defined as a theme for a person. On one level the person with dementia recalls where he was living, what presents he got, what his siblings got and these might be represented with descriptive text and old family Christmas photos as well as archive photos of the toy he was given. Perhaps his siblings also provide content. These are the factual aspects of the event. In addition, the tool will help to extract what the person with dementia felt emotionally (warm, happy, reassured etc) and encouraged to find the words to describe these feelings and also find photos or images that reflect feelings. This combination of "fact and feeling" based data provides the data source for the person with dementia 12.

This data is then stored in the computer system 18. The gathering step formats the data for storage and use with flexible templates which can be automatically generated into products 22, or edited by the person with dementia and his team to generate products 22.

In the early stages of dementia these products will contain more content. Additionally, training modules are provided for carers to accompany these products, in the form of carer's products as described above, will reflect the more complex content.

In time, as the person with dementia's cognitive ability declines, simpler products are more appropriate. In the example of Christmas in the 1930's, the details of presents and location become less relevant and the Christmas of his childhood in the1930's is distilled to a sparkly Christmas bauble and a picture of his mother. A simpler product can be automatically generated, and the content tested and edited to capture the emotional drivers taking precedence in delivering comfort for that aspect of the person with dementia's life. The carer product will also reflect the activity appropriate to cognitive ability, as discussed in more detail below.

When carers access training material to use in conjunction with a person with dementia and the respective user product, it is possible to have the computer system 18 capture this event, thereby recording who is using the system. If the system becomes a point of best practise, this could become a measure, or indicator, of competence of a care home. If they are not using the system, their level of engagement with clients of the care home may be lower than desired.

The system also has the facility to be interactive - to take from the carer feedback on the training package delivered and make adjustments to ongoing carer training for that individual. For example, a person with dementia might progressively find a subject distressing as his cognitive abilities change - this subject could be suppressed in subsequent carer prompts.

Feedback from carers is another aspect - ideas that they have incorporated, changes, successes/failures into the training package. These could be captured and the system updated to take advantage of user feedback and make the training better. Informal forums could also be a device for exchange of these ideas.

The building of an archive of photos is another aspect to the development. These could prompt the system to search this database using search criteria driven from existing client details. For example, from a questionnaire at data source 12, a search of interrogation of a database may be performed to see if any new images have been uploaded of the primary school that the client attended. In time, an automated feed of relevant images could be generated for the individual with dementia.

Referring to Fig. 2, in Phase 1 the numbers represent

1. Download a training tool to help extract the elements of one's life story and securely store them in a system database (such as in computer system 18). Typically, the elements would be media content such as the individuals photos, videos, sound recordings and text, though media content may be taken from any source. The carer/family and person with dementia work together on this as a team.

2. The team work to deliver the above. 3. The uploading of media content recording the events that need to be stored in the database.

4. From pre-set templates, an individualised photo book of the person's life is created, edited by the person and his care team and printed and sent out as well as a set of individualised particulars which are

sent to preface the care notes file for the patient held with, for example, the care home or social work department.

5. A personalised URL is created for the person with dementia and his team. The computer system 18 can send prompts to carers when the URL is accessed, if desired.

6. Individualised training lessons, in the form of a carer's product, is sent to carers so that they can engage with the person with dementia and their life story.

7. These "lessons" allow carers to engage better and more relevantly with the person with dementia.

8. Any changes is the person with dementia's cognitive ability are recognised by carers and clinicians and entered into the computer system 18.

9. This prompts the creation of a simpler product (s) 10. Carers can engage with the person with dementia to edit the user product and carer product using the media content with a simpler template/layout.

11. New products appropriate to the level of cognitive impairment of the person with dementia are created and despatched. 12. New training "lessons" are sent to carers

This goes on until the end of life of the person with dementia.

This is further explained in the following table.

To further develop the way that a user and carer product can develop, a table (the Perrin et al table) on page 106 of "Wellbeing in Dementia" by Perrin and May (2000), which is incorporated in its entirety by reference, demonstrates the levels and needs of a person with dementia. The table is adapted from Allen, Earhart and Blue's six cognitive levels (1992).

The Perrin et al table maps the indicative phases of product change within the system both for the person with dementia's product (the user product) and for the carer product. The Perrin et al table defined the developmental stages of dementia as "reflective", "symbolic", "sensori-motor" and "reflex", which correspond to "early dementia", "early to middle dementia", "middle to late dementia" and "late dementia".

Thus, a "reflective" developmental stage, which indicates a high MMSE score, would be represented by a life story book with almost unabridged detail from the data source 12. Likewise, the carer product for this phase would represent sophisticated activity, informed by all aspects of the data source 12, as well as other sources. Activities might include games, discussions, sports, crafts and quizzes representing a level of thinking including flexibility of thought, ability to handle multiple stimuli, deductive reasoning and facility with language.

A "symbolic" stage, representing early to middle dementia, requires a reduction in stimulus and triggers a less complicated product. For example, a life story book with less detail and fewer pictures, focussing more on feelings than facts. This product range might include a series of easy to handle cards, with key single photos or images, which are easily turned, perhaps by wiro binding, and connect to the person with dementia's belt so they are easily at hand, familiar and comforting. The carer product would reflect the change in activity, as suggested by the Perrin et al table, and might reduce the specific factual and contextual reference to detail from the data source 12, and instead use the softer feeling detail to individualise activity where possible.

"Sensori-motor" and "reflex" developmental stages are characterised by being of middle to late and late stage dementia and thereby a very low MMSE score again triggers product changes. Now a single comforting image might be appropriate, perhaps a favoured picture of the person with dementia's mother on a soft pillow to cuddle. Again, the carers product would reflect best practise for this stage. Activities are more likely to include singing, rocking, holding and non-verbal communication representing a level of thinking with little to no evidence of directed thought, loss of language and little or no evidence of symbol use.

Change from product to product is indicative but not proscriptive in using an MMSE score or the Perrin et al table and should also be in the hands of the person with dementia where possible and their team. The individualised patient documentation which is sent to the person with dementia's care notes filed at the outset 22 via a template specific to this purpose, may be updated with, but without losing the key facts and images which represent, establish (and are designed to defend) the personhood of

the person with dementia, regardless of developmental stage or MMSE score.

Although the description refers to a person with dementia being the end user for a product described by the method contained herein, it should be appreciated that the product may be equally applicable to persons with lower cognitive ability as a result of other causes.

Further modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention .