This document summarizes the development of SwaytheBand, an interactive activity using handheld controllers to support shared musical experiences for dementia patients. It was informed by research finding that residents engaged organically with music. The controllers change color with the beat and encourage holding hands. Experts provided guidance, such as making it fun rather than perfunctory. The goal is to use music to promote community moments and determine if and how the technology engages and enriches residents. A song was chosen to illustrate its use and promote swaying and reminiscence. Questions are posed about how residents and caretakers may use and appropriate SwaytheBand.

1. The$Confabulators$at$$Create&4&Demen+a&
May$30th431st,$2015$
An$interac<ve$&$embodied$ac<vity$to$support$shared$experiences$in$demen<a$care$

2. SwaytheBand$is$informed$by$a$longitudinal$ethnography$of$demen<a$care$(Morrissey$&$
McCarthy,$2015)$which$found$that$residents$engaged$‘organically’$with$musical$ac<vi<es$

4. Proximity, presence & hands
‘[…]$Moira$took$my$hand$and$we$swayed$from$side4
to4side$half4singing$the$songs.$$
$
guide$ my$ hand$ in$ a$ sort$ of$ a$ twirling,$ twis<ng$
paPern$in$the$air$in$rhythm$to$the$music.$$
$
She$ squeezed$ my$ hand$ very$ <ghtly$ and$ ran$ her$
fingers$over$my$knuckles.$
!
(Excerpt!from!field!notes)!

5. What we learned from the experts –
our approach
• $ Inspired$by$Michael’s$more$playful$examples$
– The$Robo<c$Seal$
– Soundtrack$to$my$Life$–$music$as$a$way$of$geXng$
to$know$someone$
• Encouraging$everyday$ac<vi<es$(David)$
– Fun$rather$than$perfunctory$
• Technology$as$a$mee<ng$place$(Claire)$
– Coming$together$through$music$and$technology$
$

6. What we learned from the experts –
our approach
• Concerns$4$must$be$opt4in$
– Extended$this$to$playful$ac<vi<es$where$not$everyone$
will$want$to$par<cipate$
– Reflec<ng$mul<ple$ways$of$par<cipa<ng$in$music$
• Aesthe<cs$–$valuing$the$user$(Stephen)$
– Based$the$design$on$exis<ng$hand4held$musical$
instruments$(tambourines$etc)$
• A$spectrum$of$good$design$$(Michael)$
– This$could$be$fun$everyone$–$not$just$for$people$living$
with$demen<a$

7. SwaytheBand:
$
• Batons$change$colour$with$the$music’s$beat$–$this$<me$
we$hard4code$song$structure$to$illustrate$tempo$and$
rhythm$–$future$is$bpm$
$
• We$encourage$par<cipants$to$hold$hands$and$hold$the$
trigger$together$
$e.g.$4$controllers$=$5$people$
• Controllers$can$be$“downed”$at$any$<me$to$opt$out$of$
play$as$they$turn$off$
$

9. We chose Jo Stafford’s ‘Shrimp Boats’
to illustrate the use of SwaytheBand.!
!
The jaunty song is meaningful to
residents and promotes swaying and
reminiscence.

10. SwaytheBand – to answer
• Is$the$technology$engaging$and$enriching$for$
residents$of$demen<a$care?$
• How$can$we$use$SwaytheBand$to$promote$
community$moments$in$demen<a$care?$
• How$do$residents$&$carers$appropriate$or$
change$their$use$of$SwaytheBand?$
• What$is$the$place$of$SwaytheBand$in$live$
music$sessions$for$people$with$demen<a?$

11. Thank you!