Co-designing TechCBT – How we are working with people living with dementia to design a technology

Overview: The Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Research Unit is designing and developing “TechCBT” a technology platform that will allow people to access a CBT program through different technologies including a smart assistant and their mobile phones (MRFF funded).  We are involving people living with dementia, their care partners and other stakeholders throughout the project in two roles: as advisors to the project and as co-designers of the Technology Platform.  Across those levels of involvement people living with dementia have helped the project create a dementia-friendly confidentiality agreement, set-up an IP position at the start of co-design, and helped us to address some difficult technology design issues.  This seminar will provide an overview of the process and methods we have used so far.

Bio: Dr Peter Worthy is currently a Post-doctoral Researcher working on two MRFF funded projects, one in UQ-CCR and the other in HaBS. After completing his Bachelor of Laws (1986) and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (1987), Peter was admitted as a Solicitor and completed 6 years in private general legal practice. Peter then completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (2000) within the field of Human Movement studies but with a focus on Exercise Physiology and Functional Anatomy. Whilst completing this degree, Peter worked in industry for approximately 16 years with roles in rehabilitation, insurance law and legal management including a position on the executive of WorkCover Qld as General Manager, Common Law. Peter then made a career change working for the University of Queensland in project management. He worked on three teaching and learning research projects.

During this time Peter completed a Master of Interaction Design (awarded 2014) and then a PhD (conferred 16 March 2020).  He then worked as a Post-doctoral Researcher and Project Manager for the Florence Project (funded by the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language).