Informing augmented memory system design through autobiographical memory theory

Abstract

Autobiographical memory (AM) is the ''memory for the events in one's life'' [1]. Often it is assumed that in order to remember all those events, you just need to record everything and when you replay these recordings you will remember those events. You can compare this with a library metaphor that has been used to explain AM according to the record-keeping approach. However, after many years of AM-research it was concluded that AM is stored in a different manner, namely according to the constructionist approach, which often is initiated by memory cues. This paper explains these AM theories, surveys literature on existing augmented memory systems and describes our own work in this area. All this input is combined into eight design recommendations for future augmented memory systems.

Family memories in the home: contrasting physical and digital mementos

“…People best remember specific aspects of autobiographical events, including who was involved and what happened, whereas when or where events occurred is less well recalled (Linton, 1986, Wagenaar, 1986. Underlying conceptions of autobiographical memory have also shifted from traditional views of a knowledge base (Conway and Pleydell-Pearce, 2000), to instead proposing core roles for reconstruction and social dynamics (Crabtree et al, 2004Fivush and Nelson, 2004, Leichtman, and Wang, 2005, van den Hoven, 2004. For example, Cohen (1989) describes how sharing autobiographical memories serves as a mechanism for self-disclosure, developing or deepening social bonds.…”

“…Souvenirs and recollection were also investigated by van den Hoven (2004). Analysis of focus group discussions suggested that souvenirs are esoteric: carrying meaning for owners that is obscure to others.…”

“…One way to retain this physicality, but to explore synergies with the digital, would be to create embodied objects where physical mementos are augmented with digital information. These types of experiments have already been carried out with some success by van den Hoven (2004) (van den Hoven and Eggen 2007) who explored augmented methods for interaction with physical souvenirs. With this approach, critical tangible, situated properties of physical mementos could be retained, allowing their owners to better incorporate these into their everyday activities.…”

Experience the World with Archetypal Symbols: A New Form of Aesthetics

“…Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of memory-association tasks in justification of the symbolic meanings for archetypal contents [23,24]. This is also in accord with the mainstream of research into memories: the constructionist approach of memory recollection [25]. This approach regards memories as dynamic recollections instead of static records of something.…”

A relação entre a sintomatologia depressiva e a evocação de memórias autobiográficas em pessoas idosas

“…Esta memória é muito organizada, construída ao longo de toda a vida, com tendência a preservar o essencial de cada evento e possui diferentes conteúdos, contexto espacial e temporal, emocional e narrativo (Aurélio & Cláudio, 2009;Nelson, 1993;Robinson, 1986;Rubin, 2005;Williams et al, 2007). A memória de um acontecimento não é uma cópia da realidade, o que implica que possa, ao longo do tempo, ser modificada, distorcida ou reconstruída (Aurélio & Cláudio, 2009;Rubin, 1986;van den Hoven & Eggen, 2008). Nesta linha, para Conway e Pleydell-Pearce (2000) "(…) as memórias autobiográficas são construções mentais dinâmicas transitórias geradas a partir de uma base de conhecimento subjacente" (p.…”