Shaping Unforgettable Memories with Tech: Tactics for Product and Technology Innovators

Technology is not just a tool for efficiency—it's a creator of experiences and a curator of memories. For those of us involved in the design, marketing, or innovation of tech products, understanding how to harness technology to shape memories can transform boring interactions into unforgettable ones. Here's a useful guide on how technology, especially through the emerging technologies of AI and VR, can refresh old memories and create new ones, while ensuring that each experience resonates deeply.

Shape Memories is the fourteenth Design Strategy in a series where I share essential tips for creating tech products people love, based on the book Design Things That Make Sense (with a free downloadable toolkit).

Find all articles about Design Strategies here.

Refresh Old Memories

Let's talk about turning the digital dust in our devices into cherished memories. Consider the 'Memories' feature on smartphones, which smartly stitches together photos and videos around people, dates, or places into a narrative, almost like having a personal documentary filmmaker in your pocket. It's not just looking back but rather re-experiencing those moments in a fresh way.

Take, for example, the use of AI in exploring family history. Companies like MyHeritage are using AI to add new dimensions to old memories. In addition to DNA tests that reveal one’s heritage, they also have a variety of AI-powered tools that bring old photographs to life. One example is their Deep Nostalgia tool , which animates photos of loved ones, even those that lived over 100 years ago.?

Create New Memories

On the flip side, AI and VR aren’t just passports to the past—it’s a ticket to virtually anywhere. Imagine sitting in your living room and putting on a VR headset to stroll along the Seine in Paris or float above the Grand Canyon. Companies are making these kinds of experiences accessible to more and more people, fulfilling dreams and creating new memories without physical limitations.?

AI can help us to take these experiences even further by enabling us to interact or generate experiences in new ways. For example, Google’s Art & Culture service provides abundant content for users to engage, learn and experience new things. It also includes AI-powered tools like the Art Selfie that can be used to imagine oneself in the past or future, and experience creating art in new ways.

For those who do physically go somewhere to experience something, tech tools can offer enriched experiences. Take Casa Batlló’s AR tour in Barcelona, where Gaudí’s architectural genius is brought to life. Visitors can point their device at features within the house to see vibrant, historically accurate renderings of the original décor or animations that reveal the natural inspirations behind Gaudí’s designs.

Dos and Don’ts for Shaping Memories

?? Test and Iterate: Perfecting the use of AI and VR to evoke the right emotions will likely take several tries. Be patient and thorough.

?? Consider Comfort: Remember, today's VR headgear can feel like wearing a small television on your face. Keep sessions engaging but brief to avoid discomfort—no one wants to feel like they've just run a tech marathon.

?? Avoid Gimmicks: It’s easy to get caught up in the novelty of new tech. Ensure that your use of VR or AI adds value to the experience rather than serving as just another tech trick. If the novelty wears off, what’s left should still be engaging.

In sum, whether you’re helping someone revisit their cherished memories or creating new ones, the thoughtful integration of AI and VR can significantly enhance the emotional impact of those experiences. For us in the tech field, that’s a powerful reminder that our work isn't just about building features—it's about crafting experiences that resonate on a deeply human level.

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This article is the fourteenth publication in a series of articles sharing practical, actionable tips on how to design tech products that people don't just use, but love. We'll dive into applying AI in ways that truly matter by making technology work for people, not the other way around.?You can find all publications here.

The articles build on the world’s leading design methods for designing successful tech products, as described in the book “Design Things that Make Sense”. Visit www.designthingsthatmakesense.com to learn more or download the free toolkit.

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