Key facts
- ShieldCart is an AI-powered app designed to prevent individuals with dementia from making excessive online purchases.
- The app redirects users to a simulated checkout page, blocking actual transactions.
- Caregivers can use ShieldCart to block specific websites and monitor purchases.
- The app was developed by Hanna Miller and Nikki Elbaz, inspired by Miller's experience with her father.
- ShieldCart is currently in beta testing and will be offered for free through the end of the year.
- The app aims to preserve the independence and dignity of individuals with dementia while managing their finances.
ShieldCart, a new application developed by Hanna Miller and Nikki Elbaz, uses artificial intelligence to help caregivers manage online shopping for loved ones with dementia. The app was created after Miller's father, whose dementia had progressed to the point where he repeatedly made online purchases, began facing financial difficulties.
Miller described the emotional toll of intervening in her father's shopping habits, which included conflicts and ethical concerns about infringing on his privacy and independence. Seeking a middle ground, Miller, with Elbaz's technical expertise, developed ShieldCart. The application functions as a Chrome extension or desktop app, redirecting users to a mock checkout page that prevents actual transactions from being completed.