A Kanturk student is set to showcase his award-winning Dementia Shield prototype at this year’s International Dementia Conference, which takes place on 13th and 14th May at the Athlone Springs Hotel, Roscommon. William Brosnan, a second-ary school student from Scoil Mhuire in Kanturk, won the SciFest Junior Technologist of the Future Award in November 2025 and the BD STEM Stars Software Award last month.
William’s Dementia Shield project utilises Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality with the aim of supporting quality of life for people living with dementia and potentially slowing down the progression of the disease by reducing anxiety and stress.
William has built two applications that utilise Augmented Reality Smart Glasses and Artificial Intelligence that aim to reduce anxiety and stress in social situations for people with dementia. Both technologies work in tandem to remind people of time and place, answer questions, recognise faces and provide gentle orientation supports. The app can also dial emergency contacts and share the user’s location if required. “Together, these two tools aim to guide daily routines, support memory, and give independence,” William said.
“By reducing stress, answering repeated questions calmly, giving reminders, and guiding with GPS, Dementia Shield may help to slow down the progression of dementia.”