The Cue Is Key

Abstract

This paper aims to put the memory cue in the spotlight. We show how memory cues are incorporated in the area of interaction design. The focus is on external memory cues – cues that exist outside the human mind but have an internal effect on memory reconstruction. Examples of external cues include people, environments, and things, where the latter are most relevant for the aim of this paper since these cues can be incorporated in designs. This paper makes a dual contribution to research: (1) it provides insights into how memory research informs the design of devices to facilitate personal memory recall; and (2) by taking a design perspective, it raises questions about memory cues as part of real-life remembering to inform psychological memory research. Since memory theory inspires design and both fields would benefit from collaboration, we would like these questions to be an inspiration for future memory research, in particular targeting external memory cues.

Exploring Self-Defining Memories in Old Age and their Digital Cues

“…There are two main types of cues supporting this recall namely internal ones consisting of sensorial experiences and feelings, and external cues present in physical environment [56]. The latter may include objects, people, activities and places, and their capture through photos, physical and tangible objects has been particularly explored in interaction design [56].…”

“…Most cues are printed photos or physical objects [56] created by researchers or belonging to participants' possessions. Although few prior studies have touched upon the relationship between possessions and self [27,34,40], there has been however limited explicit exploration of selfdefining memories and how they may be cued.…”

“…This paper aims to investigate selfdefining memories in older people, and in particular the possible cues that they identify for recalling them. The idea that people can identify memory cues, before they cue, has been previously argued based on meta-memory judgments [56], and on emerging findings on self-chosen cues supporting recall of self-defining memories of people living with dementia [20]. An understanding of what can cue selfdefining memories, the content, and format of such cues, where they are stored, and how they are retrieved should support the design of technologies to capture, store, and retrieve digital memory across the lifespan, and to strengthen the sense of self in old age.…”

Storytelling with Objects to Explore Digital Archives

“…Objects can serve as "entry points" to stories by triggering memories [14] which become the starting point of a conversation [11]. In a social context objects can also support collaborative storytelling -different people can contribute to selecting and arranging objects while telling a story.…”

“…Old photos trigger memories and initiate conversations. A trigger or cue is a "piece of information, a piece of mind, or an experience" [14] which facilitates memory retrieval, "bringing to consciousness an unconscious state" [14] and aiding memory to retrieve details which are not remembered otherwise. A cue can trigger a memory which a family member then communicates about [11].…”