Summary: Domestic Data Streamers, led by Pau Garcia, uses generative image models to create synthetic memories like a childhood balcony view and a dance hall, aiming to preserve personal histories. The technique may aid dementia treatment. Garcia recalls its inspiration and emphasizes blurry images as capturing the essence of memories. A rigorous clinical study’s planned.
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Synthetic Memories: Turning Memories into Images
Bringing Memories to Life
Maria and Denia’s memories have been brought to life through synthetic images by Barcelona-based design studio Domestic Data Streamers. Using generative image models like OpenAI’s DALL-E, the studio recreates scenes and events from people’s past, turning them into visual snapshots that can rewind a lifetime in an instant.
Extending the Project’s Reach
Since 2022, Domestic Data Streamers has been working with immigrant and refugee communities around the world to create images of scenes that have never been photographed or to re-create photos that were lost when families left their previous homes. The project has received funding from the UN and Google and is now recording people’s memories of Barcelona using synthetic images.
Potential Therapeutic Applications
The studio will start a collaboration with researchers to explore if synthetic memories could be used to treat dementia. A small pilot study in Barcelona showed promising results, and a larger clinical study is planned to compare the use of generative image models with other therapeutic approaches.
Practical Development Process
The process involves an interviewer collecting specific memories from a subject, which are then used to prompt a generative image model to create an image. The team has refined the process through collaboration with various migrant communities and a care home in Barcelona, finding that printing the images enhances their emotional impact, particularly for older individuals.
Challenges and Considerations
The team has found that older versions of generative image models, producing glitchy and blurry images, work better for evoking memories than newer, more realistic models. While the project has raised questions about the potential cognitive effects and ethical considerations of using AI-generated or altered images, it aims to clearly differentiate between synthetic memories and factual records.
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