Article

A single case experimental design across behaviours was utilised to explore the
effectiveness of Google Calendar text alerts delivered to a mobile phone as a
memory aid. The participant was a 43-year-old man (JA) with severe memory
problems and executive difficulties caused by a traumatic brain injury (TBI). JA
was initially very unwilling to use any memory aid and so a detailed assessment
of his beliefs about memory aids, his cognitive difficulties and his social
context was performed and a set of specifications for an aid was produced
collaboratively. Six weeks of baseline data and six weeks of intervention data
were collected for three target memory behaviours and three control memory
behaviours. Results were analysed using nonoverlap of all pairs (NAP) analysis
which showed a reduction in forgetting in the three target behaviours and no
change in two of the three control behaviours. A subjective measure (the revised
Everyday Memory Questionnaire) also suggested improvement. This study illustrates
that Google Calendar is a highly effective memory aid and emphasises the
importance of choosing a memory aid to suit the person's lifestyle and beliefs.

Langue : ANGLAIS