September 24, 2026: Meeting with Lisa Groom¶
Attendees: Thomas Logan, Lisa Groom Length: 1 hour Source: Gemini meeting notes, reviewed and lightly edited
Summary¶
The discussion covered the app concept, a shift from cognitive quizzing toward wellness and nostalgic engagement, and a funding strategy through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
Decisions¶
- Restart app development from scratch. A new specification of core requirements and feature goals will be written first, then the app will be rebuilt against it.
- Pursue NIH SBIR grant funding. The current early prototype will support the formal application.
- Phase out the quizzing feature. The app will favor a wellness-oriented approach focused on enjoyment and frequency of use rather than testing.
Action items¶
| Owner | Action |
|---|---|
| Thomas Logan | Schedule a follow-up session to discuss project details, and record the conversation. |
| Thomas Logan | Share the VR Together grant proposal and verify that the document is accessible. |
| Lisa Groom | Research the differences between short-term and long-term memory loss to guide development. |
| Group | Draft the core requirements and feature goals for the restarted app. |
Discussion¶
Memory collection concept¶
Thomas observed that stories, videos, and music are the most engaging parts of the current app. He proposed a feature in which the senior spends about an hour on a call with a loved one, recorded on an iPhone. A list of pre-written questions would serve as guideposts, with a goal of covering at least ten questions per call. The recording would then be processed through a transcript.
Purpose: wellness versus cognitive testing¶
Lisa asked how the app's purpose is operationalized: is it meant to promote wellness by reliving memories, or to aid memory retention? Thomas explained that clinical cognitive tests, such as drawing a clock face, are unengaging, while personal memories offer a more interesting experience for the user.
Multimedia presentation and comparison to StoryWorth¶
Thomas suggested presenting memories accessibly, with large photos, comments from loved ones, and audio or video descriptions (for example, a description of a Christmas 1994 video). Lisa compared the concept to an easier and more enjoyable version of StoryWorth, and noted that AI could find matching images for a story (for example, Mustangs), provided loved ones upload and label pictures.
Memory accuracy and the move away from quizzing¶
Lisa raised a concern that people with memory impairment or dementia may introduce invented details during interviews, which raises accuracy and safety questions. Thomas responded that loved ones with historical records can enter accurate details into the system. Both agreed to phase out quizzing in favor of the wellness approach.
Nostalgia elements¶
The group discussed playing songs from top artists or top-ten lists that match the year of a memory (for example, Elvis).
Restarting development¶
Thomas stated his intention to restart development completely, beginning with a clear written specification, given how quickly the team can now iterate.
Settings bug¶
While reviewing Settings, Lisa found that the senior and loved-one relationships for Tom, Nyna, Thomas, and Lisa were mapped incorrectly. Thomas noted that those settings had not been clicked through before. This should be logged as a bug, although it may be superseded by the rebuild.
Funding through NIH SBIR¶
Lisa recommended the NIH SBIR program and noted that the principal investigator must be primarily employed by the applicant company. Thomas confirmed that Equal Entry is already registered in SAM.gov.
Prototype value and ethical co-design framework¶
Lisa noted that an early prototype makes an application more defensible, because reviewers respond well to working prototypes. She outlined an ethical co-design framework:
- Make it easy for participants to say no.
- Check understanding, not merely agreement.
- Avoid making the app something users critically rely on.
- Collect only the minimum information needed.
Prior NSF proposal¶
Thomas described a past virtual reality study conducted in Japan with seniors and children. A colleague shared the related National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal, which included SBIR elements, and Thomas suggested consulting that colleague for insight.
Commercialization and meeting logistics¶
Lisa reviewed commercialization approaches from grant examples, such as a $15 monthly subscription and Medicare reimbursement. Thomas stepped away briefly and returned at 3:30. He proposed scheduling future 30-minute meetings through a Calendly link, recording transcripts, and reviewing discussion points systematically.