Project participants from academia and industry
Conclusion and future outlook for the “KlangDem” research project at Furtwangen University
A very special project at Furtwangen University (HFU) came to an end with a successful closing event. The aim of “KlangDem” was to further develop an interactive sound cover in order to design person-centered services for people with dementia.
The event focused on the transdisciplinary collaboration that has significantly shaped the research project. “The close integration of scientific expertise from various disciplines – health technologies, nursing science, music design – and experience from nursing practice formed the basis for the further development of the sound pad,” explains project manager Prof. Dr. Christophe Kunze. The sound pad, known as the Kokea Board, was designed at HFU as part of the predecessor project “Digital Technologies for the Care of People with Dementia” (DIDEM). Various picture cards or figures can be placed on the board. The board then plays appropriate sounds – from birds chirping to campfires crackling to telephones ringing. The sounds serve to evoke memories and stimulate interaction within the group.
“As with the previous DIDEM project, we again involved people with dementia and caregivers in the KlangDem research process. This can be challenging and always involves additional effort. But what makes it special is that it gives those affected the opportunity to help shape solutions,” reports Kunze.
The newly developed instrument cards for the Kokea Board were also tested during the closing event. “I never want to work any other way again. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, we were not only able to expand the Kokea Board's existing library of everyday and environmental sounds to make it dementia-friendly, but also to introduce the narratives and musical elements requested by caregivers,” summarizes HFU professor Dr. Norbert Schnell, who was involved in the project as a sound and music expert.
The further development of the board with an additional smaller and more compact version was presented, along with the accompanying training videos. “The accompanying videos and materials were created in close consultation with caregivers to ensure that they are precisely tailored to their needs,” explains project team member Katharina Reinhart. In addition, students from the Applied Health Promotion master's programme presented their current research project on testing the Kokea Board in the field of occupational therapy.
Christophe Kunze sums up, “This project has brought together various scientific perspectives and practical experience, and also demonstrates the direct contribution of applied research to solving social challenges. I am therefore very pleased that the work is continuing. As part of EXIST funding, there are currently plans to establish a spin-off company – so perhaps the Kokea board will soon be available to all care facilities.”
The “KlangDem” project is the follow-up project for one of the three sub-projects of the DIDEM project funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. It was implemented at the HFU by the Care and Technology Lab (IMTT) and funded for 18 months by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) as part of the “DATIpilot” innovation sprints. More about the project at: Internal link opens in the same window:Klangdem project