Dresden Student’s app Creates Dementia Awareness

A student from Dresden has won an Apple programming competition with an innovative app designed to foster understanding of the challenges faced by individuals living with dementia.

“Dementi” App Simulates Cognitive Challenges

At the heart of Hendrik Schülke’s award-winning app, “Dementi,” lies a memory game featuring 16 pictures. However, this is no ordinary memory game.The background images subtly shift,creating a disorienting experience for the user.This simulates the perceptual distortions that people with dementia frequently enough encounter.

Inspired by personal Experience

Schülke drew inspiration for the app from his own grandmother’s battle with dementia. He hopes that by experiencing the app’s unique challenges, users will gain a deeper appreciation for the difficulties faced by those living with the condition. “You think you are the problem,” Schülke explains, describing the intended emotional impact. “It only works once.”

Empathy Through Gameplay

Schülke envisions the app as a tool for building empathy, notably among children who may struggle to understand the experiences of relatives with dementia. The app also aims to provide valuable data about the condition itself.

apple’s Praise and Future Plans

The 25-year-old from dresden, currently pursuing a master’s degree in media informatics, developed the submission during a semester abroad in Vietnam. Apple CEO Tim Cook lauded the winning apps ahead of the WWDC developer conference,emphasizing that Schülke’s creation fosters understanding and empathy.

Schülke plans to release the app on the App Store, making it accessible to a wider audience.