Externalising memories : designing for digital mnemonic cue embodiment

Doctoral Consortium paper and presentation. Remembering is vital to our self-image, how we express ourselves, and relate to others. Nowadays people have more tools available to help them remember, such as photos, messages, and souvenirs. Increasingly, media are stored digitally and because of low associated cost, we tend to keep more. However, digital media lack salience and perceived value as mnemonic devices due to their intangible nature. A souvenir may allow for touch, playing around, showing it to others, and sharing of stories. Such engagement is harder with digital media. The question becomes how reminiscence and reflection using digital cues can be improved. I will study whether a remembering experience can be improved by extending digital mnemonic cues with a physical component, based of ideas from the field of external cognition. Exploring the effects on experience of digital and physical mnemonic cues is where my project can contribute to the body of knowledge.