Seed Fund Winner Developing iPhone and iPad App for Alzheimer Patients
Moved by a grandparent's ailing condition, a former King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) student has come up with a winning business plan to develop an iPhone and iPad application that will help improve the lives of Alzheimer patients and their caregivers.
"It started little by little, with my grandmother who suffered from Alzheimer's," explains Rawad Sheikh, creator of the latest Seed Fund winning project, the "Grandma, Grandpa Book" App. "She began to forget details like names, places and stories. It was a difficult time for me and my family, but I began to wonder what could be done with modern technology to help improve the lives of Alzheimer's patients."
"Mentally, loved ones are being taken away from families and they feel helpless to stop this, however I think modern interactive technology, especially multimedia applications can help them. This is what I aim to do with my application," said Sheikh.
The "Grandma, Grandpa Book" application will include a variety of features, such as a chronological photo album, which allows caregivers to upload photos and store them sequentially in order to help patients better remember memories and when they took place. According to Alzheimer specialists, one of most productive activities patients can engage in is looking at old photographs and other media to trigger memories.
The application's other features include memory boosting games, a movie player and audio studio, where favorite songs, family movies and other media can be stored. There is also a "Caregiver's Lounge", which allows Alzheimer caregivers to connect with each other and share advice and experiences.
Combating cognitive decline with multimedia interactivity
The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, is a condition that is marked by progressive cognitive decline. Alzheimer patients require constant daily assistance, which can take its toll on family and loved ones. Furthermore, the amount of people susceptible to the disease is on the rise. In 2006, it was estimated that 26 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's disease. According to the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, that figure is expected to quadruple to 106 million by 2050.
Initially Sheikh plans to release the "Grandma, Grandpa Book" application initially in Saudi Arabia and then internationally. The application will be produced in Arabic, English, Spanish and French.
Rewarding entrepreneurial experience
Sheikh previously applied for Seed Funding last year, but was unsuccessful. Disappointed, but not defeated, she looks back on the application process as a hugely beneficial and rewarding experience that rapidly developed her entrepreneurial skills. This year, with renewed vigor and a refined business plan, she was awarded funding to produce the "Grandma, Grandpa Book" application.
"For anyone who wants to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity, it only comes once in this life time. People should focus on their studies and get a great degree from KAUST, but at the same time the Seed Fund is really worth trying for and the process is an education itself," says Sheikh.
Rawad Sheikh is 25-years-old and from Jeddah. As a member of the University's founding class of 2009, she graduated with a Master's Degree in Computer Science.
The KAUST Seed Fund: Help for Enterprising Innovators
The Seed Fund Program offers finance and support to students, faculty and staff at KAUST who wish to develop their ideas and discoveries into commercial ventures.
The funding helps bridge the initial gap at the lab/patent stage of development, and provides support to entrepreneurs when they need it most to increase the likelihood of success.
To find out more about the Seed Fund Program or the application process, please visit the New Ventures website or email seedfund@kaust.edu.sa.