Researchers from Sheffield Hallam University have been awarded £80,000 funding by the Longitude Prize on Dementia to create a wearable dementia assistant.  

Press contact: Emma Griffiths | e.griffiths@shu.ac.uk

The team, led by Dr Lynne Barker, will work with wellbeing-focussed immersive technology studio OmBeond on the project to develop A.D.A, an automated dementia assistant.  

They have been awarded one 24 Discovery Award grants worth £80k as part of the £4m Longitude Prize on Dementia, funded by Alzheimer’s Society and Innovate UK and delivered by Challenge Works. 

A.D.A will be a wearable, intelligent system that creates a personalised monitoring and tutoring toolkit to help people with dementia live more independently as well as supporting their family and carers.  

The team will work alongside people living with dementia and their carers to ensure technologies are intuitive, easy-to-use and able to adapt to their changing needs. 

Dr Lynne Barker said: “We are really pleased to receive the award and look forward to working together to create a life changing product for those living with dementia, enhancing their autonomy and the prospect of living at home for longer.” 

In 2024, five finalists will progress with additional £1.5m in funding to build real-world prototypes. In total, more than £3 million will be awarded in seed funding and development grants with a £1 million first prize to be awarded in 2026. 

Kate Lee, CEO, Alzheimer’s Society, said: “It’s vital people with dementia are able to live independently, doing things that bring them fulfilment, for as long as possible. And that’s exactly what tech innovation can provide. Today’s Discovery Award winners all have the capacity to develop cutting-edge tools that bring hope to the here and now, making a tangible difference to people’s lives.  

“New drugs have been discovered which slow the progression of early Alzheimer’s disease, but there’s still more to do. Alzheimer’s Society remains committed to innovative projects like the Longitude Prize so that together we can improve the lives of people living with dementia and their families.” 

The Longitude Prize on Dementia is driving the development of personalised, technology-based tools that are co-created with people living with the early stages of dementia, helping them live independent, more fulfilled lives and enable them to do the things they enjoy.  

The competition itself has also been co-designed with people living with dementia. Judges were advised in their decision making by the prizes Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP).