title: A Mobile Augmented Memory Aid for people with Traumatic Brain Injury

authors: Chang, Su-Ping Carole

subjects: Brain Injury

abstract: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when an external mechanical force traumatically injures the brain. The 2010/2011 population-based study shows that the total incidence of TBI in New Zealand has increased to 790 per 100,000 population. Memory impairment is the most common symptom and affects most TBI survivors. Memory impairments resulting from TBI take many forms depending on the nature of the injury. Existing work to use technology to help with memory problems focuses predominantly on capturing all information digitally to enable ‘replaying’ of memories. Other software applications (like calendar that reminders) are designed to assist the average people tracking their schedules. Both are inadequate for supporting TBI survivors.
The aim of this research is to build an augmented autobiographical memory system for a mobile device for supporting TBI survivors with their memory problems. I address the lack of information about TBI survivors’ use of digital aids through user studies and interviews.
This research includes three studies. The first study is the interview user study, which aims to investigate TBI survivors’ use of their own memory aids/strategies to cope with difficulties caused by memory impairments. The results contribute to develop the conceptual design of the prototype.
The second study is the interface user study, which aims to examine the usability of the conceptual design. Findings from this study provide the data and feedback for structuring the implementation of the MyMemory prototype on a mobile device. MyMemory is an augmented autobiographical memory aid specialized for TBI survivors with memory impairments. According to the results from the interface user study, we develop the implementation of the MyMemory prototype.
The third study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of MyMemory for improving autobiographical memory for people with TBI. This evaluation study is based on the ABAB case study used in psychology which can provide more accurate outcomes about the evaluation of MyMemory.

text: A Mobile Augmented Memory Aid for people with Traumatic Brain Injury Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when an external mechanical force traumatically injures the brain. The 2010/2011 population-based study shows that the total incidence of TBI in New Zealand has increased to 790 per 100,000 population. Memory impairment is the most common symptom and affects most TBI survivors. Memory impairments resulting from TBI take many forms depending on the nature of the injury. Existing work to use technology to help with memory problems focuses predominantly on capturing all information digitally to enable ‘replaying’ of memories. Other software applications (like calendar that reminders) are designed to assist the average people tracking their schedules. Both are inadequate for supporting TBI survivors.
The aim of this research is to build an augmented autobiographical memory system for a mobile device for supporting TBI survivors with their memory problems. I address the lack of information about TBI survivors’ use of digital aids through user studies and interviews.
This research includes three studies. The first study is the interview user study, which aims to investigate TBI survivors’ use of their own memory aids/strategies to cope with difficulties caused by memory impairments. The results contribute to develop the conceptual design of the prototype.
The second study is the interface user study, which aims to examine the usability of the conceptual design. Findings from this study provide the data and feedback for structuring the implementation of the MyMemory prototype on a mobile device. MyMemory is an augmented autobiographical memory aid specialized for TBI survivors with memory impairments. According to the results from the interface user study, we develop the implementation of the MyMemory prototype.
The third study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of MyMemory for improving autobiographical memory for people with TBI. This evaluation study is based on the ABAB case study used in psychology which can provide more accurate outcomes about the evaluation of MyMemory.

year: 2017

title: Shifting sands

authors: Hume, Anne Christine

subjects: curriculum change

abstract: The article presents the proposed changes to the New Zealand Draft Curriculum on the Nature of Science. In July 2006, the draft was released to school and the wider educational community for consultation on the national curriculum policy. It asserts to help science teachers to develop their understanding on nature of scientific knowledge and on how the community can effectively teach such aspects of the curriculum in the classroom setting.

text: Shifting sands The article presents the proposed changes to the New Zealand Draft Curriculum on the Nature of Science. In July 2006, the draft was released to school and the wider educational community for consultation on the national curriculum policy. It asserts to help science teachers to develop their understanding on nature of scientific knowledge and on how the community can effectively teach such aspects of the curriculum in the classroom setting.

year: 2007

title: Mouri Tu, Mouri Moko, Mouri Ora! Moko as a wellbeing strategy

authors: Penehira, Mera

subjects: Maori

abstract: This research has been undertaken within the Health Research Council funded International Collaborative Indigenous Health Research Partnership (ICIHRP) program, “The role of resiliency in responding to blood borne viral and sexually transmitted infections in Indigenous communities”. Some Indigenous communities in Australia, New Zealand and Canada have been shown to experience higher rates of blood borne viral infections. There are a number of categories of health intervention that have been shown to be effective in prevention and enhancing access to treatment for blood borne viral infections, including various forms of health promotion, enhanced diagnostic and treatment services, and harm reduction measures related to injecting drug use. The present research was undertaken with the understanding that development of effective responses of this kind among Indigenous people would benefit from a better understanding of the social and cultural factors that might protect against these infections and their consequences. It is argued that such factors are linked in various ways to Indigenous resistance and resiliency, which is described as the means by which people choose to make use of individual and community strengths to protect themselves against adverse health outcomes and enhance their health and wellbeing.

In this thesis I explore how people and their identity are affected when you are part of a marginalised or vulnerable population – namely, Māori women who have contracted the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). I argue that traditional knowledge and healing practices are central to Māori getting well and keeping well, and that the use of cultural frameworks and practices have potentially restorative, therapeutic and healing values that are not yet researched or understood by the health field. I argue that a Māori framework of wellbeing, namely ‘Mana Kaitiakitanga’, provides the context in which tā moko (Māori traditional tattoo) fits naturally as a healing intervention. I share the stories of Māori women with HCV who have applied this (tā moko and other forms of tattoo) in their lives and in their journeys back to wellness. Tā moko is a process that penetrates the flesh and marks the skin; it is a process that involves both blood and pain, which may seem incongruous with healing. It is argued however that through pain comes understanding; through pain comes a RE-membering of strength; through pain comes joy; and finally through marking comes identity of who we are and how well we have been and can be again.

Issues and intersections of identity, marginalisation, gender, health, and wellbeing are at the forefront of this research story and of the journeys of the three women whose case studies are presented in this thesis. What makes this thesis unique is that it researches all three of these potential cornerstones of health: identity; wellbeing (spiritual and emotional), and physical wellbeing, in relation to a specific health problem, namely HCV. It is intended that this work will add power to what might be viewed as a particularly Indigenous solution to a virus that disproportionately affects our Indigenous population. This is not about rejecting Western health solutions, but it is about recognising and returning to Indigenous health solutions.

text: Mouri Tu, Mouri Moko, Mouri Ora! Moko as a wellbeing strategy This research has been undertaken within the Health Research Council funded International Collaborative Indigenous Health Research Partnership (ICIHRP) program, “The role of resiliency in responding to blood borne viral and sexually transmitted infections in Indigenous communities”. Some Indigenous communities in Australia, New Zealand and Canada have been shown to experience higher rates of blood borne viral infections. There are a number of categories of health intervention that have been shown to be effective in prevention and enhancing access to treatment for blood borne viral infections, including various forms of health promotion, enhanced diagnostic and treatment services, and harm reduction measures related to injecting drug use. The present research was undertaken with the understanding that development of effective responses of this kind among Indigenous people would benefit from a better understanding of the social and cultural factors that might protect against these infections and their consequences. It is argued that such factors are linked in various ways to Indigenous resistance and resiliency, which is described as the means by which people choose to make use of individual and community strengths to protect themselves against adverse health outcomes and enhance their health and wellbeing.

In this thesis I explore how people and their identity are affected when you are part of a marginalised or vulnerable population – namely, Māori women who have contracted the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). I argue that traditional knowledge and healing practices are central to Māori getting well and keeping well, and that the use of cultural frameworks and practices have potentially restorative, therapeutic and healing values that are not yet researched or understood by the health field. I argue that a Māori framework of wellbeing, namely ‘Mana Kaitiakitanga’, provides the context in which tā moko (Māori traditional tattoo) fits naturally as a healing intervention. I share the stories of Māori women with HCV who have applied this (tā moko and other forms of tattoo) in their lives and in their journeys back to wellness. Tā moko is a process that penetrates the flesh and marks the skin; it is a process that involves both blood and pain, which may seem incongruous with healing. It is argued however that through pain comes understanding; through pain comes a RE-membering of strength; through pain comes joy; and finally through marking comes identity of who we are and how well we have been and can be again.

Issues and intersections of identity, marginalisation, gender, health, and wellbeing are at the forefront of this research story and of the journeys of the three women whose case studies are presented in this thesis. What makes this thesis unique is that it researches all three of these potential cornerstones of health: identity; wellbeing (spiritual and emotional), and physical wellbeing, in relation to a specific health problem, namely HCV. It is intended that this work will add power to what might be viewed as a particularly Indigenous solution to a virus that disproportionately affects our Indigenous population. This is not about rejecting Western health solutions, but it is about recognising and returning to Indigenous health solutions.

year: 2011