A Goal-Oriented Chatbot for Engaging the Elderly Through Family Photo Conversations

Abstract

We propose a personalized chatbot designed for elderly individuals. The chatbot initiates discussions based on family photos, encouraging users to interact naturally. During these interactions, it generates W questions (who, where, when, and what) to stimulate cognitive function, followed by an open-ended question to promote positive reminiscence. This approach is structured around a goal-oriented dialogue framework. Additionally, after each conversation about a photo, the chatbot analyzes the discussion to identify topics that the user favors or dislikes. It then offers the user the option to chat about another photo either featuring the same family members or an individual previously mentioned in the conversation. To support this system, we have developed a web portal that allows caregivers to upload photos and review chat conversations. This personalized chatbot not only encourages elderly users to engage with the chatbot regularly and reduces feelings of loneliness but also provides caregivers with a valuable tool to gain insights into users' well-being.