MAPS: Creating socio-technical environments in support of distributed cognition for people with cognitive impairments and their caregivers

Individuals with cognitive disabilities are often unable to live independently due to their inability to perform daily tasks. By providing socio-technical environments to increase their independence, they can have richer, fuller lives. MAPS (Memory Aiding Prompting System), provides a simple effective prompting system with an interface for caregivers designed to affect high rates of integration into daily life. MAPS contributes the base upon which a distributed support system can provide mobile, context-aware error detection and repair. The process of designing and evaluation of the MAPS system utilizes and extends HCI frameworks, such as distributed cognition, situated action and end-user programming.