Announcing Our Feasibility & Usability Study With the University of Alberta

We’re pleased to share that Voiced Memories is now part of a feasibility and usability study conducted through the University of Alberta. This work is led by Md Khurshed Alam, a Master of Arts in Community Engagement (MACE) student in the School of Public Health, supervised by Dr. Kyle Whitfield (Faculty of Science – Earth & Atmospheric Sciences). The study is supported by MITACS and approved by the University of Alberta Research Ethics Board (Pro00157457).

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The study explores how Voiced Memories supports cognitive stimulation, emotional engagement, and social connection in both community settings and home use. Research activities include Life Story Café (Memory) sessions hosted in partner sites such as We Seniors – Westend Seniors Activity Centre and Chartwell Retirement Communities, as well as independent use of Voiced Memories in participants’ homes.

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During community-based Life Story Café (Memory) sessions, older adults gather for a 60-minute storytelling experience using themed photo prompts, guided conversation, and optional story recording. A research team member observes how participants and facilitators move through the platform, noting comfort, ease of use, and overall engagement.

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For home-use participants, the study focuses on how individuals and families use the platform in their everyday routines—what feels intuitive, where support is needed, and how photo-based storytelling naturally fits into connection and memory-sharing at home.

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All participation is voluntary, and no personal photos, stories, or identifiable recordings are used as research data. Insights come from surveys, brief observations, and short interviews focused on usability and experience.

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By including both community sessions and home use, the study gives us a clearer understanding of how Voiced Memories can support meaningful connections across different contexts. These findings will guide upcoming refinements as we continue building a tool that feels simple, welcoming, and accessible to older adults and the people who care about them.

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If you are part of a community program—or interested in the home-use portion of the study—we’d love to hear from you.

Early Development of Cogimetry

As part of our long-term vision for supporting families and healthy aging, we are also developing Cogimetry—a separate, home-based early-insight tool designed to observe natural storytelling patterns over time.

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Cogimetry is built on a simple idea: everyday communication often shifts gradually, and families deserve a gentle, familiar way to notice meaningful changes earlier. The tool uses ordinary photo-based storytelling sessions to map patterns such as length, clarity, hesitation, and detail. These patterns can help families reflect on changes in communication—not as a diagnosis, but as a supportive awareness tool.

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Cogimetry is currently in prototype development and will undergo future research and evaluation. Although it is closely related to Voiced Memories, it is not part of the current usability and feasibility study with the University of Alberta.

As we move forward, we will share opportunities for families, caregivers, and community partners to take part in future research phases. Our goal is to keep the process simple, supportive, and grounded in real-life use.

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Stay tuned for updates as Cogimetry continues to grow into a helpful companion for families who want to stay connected and informed.