An intentional-action guiding algorithm in a user-programmable memory prosthesis

Patients with memory problems tend to forget what their intentions are in the course of carrying out a series of sequential actions directed towards a desired goal. To aid in this problem, a working memory prosthesis has been designed and implemented on a microcomputer connected to a voice synthesizer. The instrument keeps the patient on the track of his current action plan by uttering pre-stored spoken instructions at periodic intervals. An interface algorithm allows the user to enter the steps of his own routine action-patterns in computer memory along with mnemonics for evoking them. Further potential uses of such a memory prosthesis are described.