ReJAM Research
The ReJAM research started in 2015 with the first prototypes of music applications for elderly, which were evaluated in terms of engagement and usability during formative studies with the target group. In 2016 we developed the second generation of prototypes, which were evaluated in the summer of 2016.
The prototypes in 2015 consisted of a user interface for the caregivers to create music playlists based on life events or periods. The playlists could be accessed through a virtual picture album; or a picture slide show. The pictures were obtained from the caregivers and added to the life events.
The prototypes in 2016 included the development of two music-based games: one game designed for individual and/or dyadic experience sharing, the other for group-based experience sharing under the guidance of a professional caregiver. In addition, we developed robot behaviors for the NAO: these behaviours included music bingo, physical upper-body exercises, and guided reminiscence. These prototypes were evaluated in the summer of 2016. Subsequently, these activities were included into human-robot activities, aiming at improved Quality of Life:
In subsequent research activities of MSc and PhD-students, the use cases and functionalities were further extended and refined. A Socio-Cognitive Engineering methodology is followed, to harmonize these activities and realize coherent progress on the envisioned robot support as part of the overall socio-technical system.
Listening to music with a Social Robot at a Care Center
Publications:
Li, Y., Broz, F., Neerincx, M.A. (2023). Human- or Machine-like Music Assistive Robots: Effects of Fluency and Memory Recall. HRI2023 Conference (Late Breaking report, 4 pages),
Li, Y. (2022). Human- or Robot-like Music Assistive Robots. M.Sc. Thesis, Delft University of Technology,
Neerincx, M.A., Peeters, M.M.M., Psychoula, I., Oertel, C. Kreynen, B., and (to appear). The Design and Evaluation of a Robotic e-Partner Engaging People with Dementia in Joint Activities with Music.
Agres, K. R., Schaefer, R. S., Volk, A., van Hooren, S., Holzapfel, A., Dalla Bella, S., Muller, M., de Witte, M., Herremans, D., Ramirez Melendez, R., Neerincx, M.A., Ruiz, S., Meredith, D., Dimitriadis, T. & Magee, W. L. (2021). Music, Computing, and Health: A roadmap for the current and future roles of music technology for health care and well-being. Music & Science, 4, 2059204321997709.
Kreynen, B. (2021). Music Playlist Generation for Emotion Regulation: A Functional Component in the Individualized Music Intervention for Persons with Dementia. M.Sc. Thesis, Delft University of Technology.
De Kok, R., Rothweiler, J., Scholten, L., van Zoest, M., Boumans, R., & Neerincx, M. (2018). Combining Social Robotics and Music as a Non-Medical Treatment for People with Dementia. In 27th IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN) (pp. 465-467). IEEE.
Peeters, M.M.M., Harbers, M., and Neerincx, M.A. (2016). Designing a Personal Music Assistant that Enhances the Social, Cognitive, and Affective Experiences of People with Dementia, Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 63, pp. 727-737, ISSN 0747-5632, DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2016.06.003, Elsevier.
Peeters, M.M.M. (2016). ReMindMe: Agent-based Support for Self-disclosure of Personal Memories in People with Alzheimer's Disease. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on ICT for Aging and Well-Being (ICT4AWE2016), ISBN 978-989-758-180-9, pp. 61-66, DOI: 10.5220/0005913000610066, ScitePress.
Psychoula, I (2016), Robotic e-Partner that engages in music-related group activities with people affected by dementia - The Design and Evaluation of a Robotic e-Partner Engaging People with Dementia in Joint Activities with Music, M.Sc. Thesis, Delft University of Technology, 22 Nov 2016.