The work will focus on elderly people with dementia, whose short-term memory problems cause them difficulty in carrying out basic tasks.

“People with dementia need constant reminders to do everyday activities and carers have to keep reminding them,” said Prof Newell.

“Our idea is to see if we can use the TV to help this process so that, just as you get programmes interrupted with adverts to tell you to buy washing powder, one could replace that with an individual message to the elderly person.

“What we don’t know at the moment is whether that approach will be successful.”

The research will test the feasibility and usefulness of the TV reminder theory to prompt an elderly person to eat lunch, take pills, or any number of other tasks they would otherwise forget.

Professor Newell said the message flashes could feature a recognised newsreader or a member of the elderly person’s family. The alternatives would be tested locally.

Professor Newell and his colleague Norman Alm are leading a research team investigating the use of information technology to aid people with dementia that has well-established links with daycare centres and support organisations for elderly people.

Professor Newell said working out the best person to give out the messages on screen was one of the challenges. “You might get a newsreader to do it or somebody in their family,” said Prof Newell.

“The trouble is we are talking about people with short-term memory problems. You have to think very carefully about how you present things and whether they will be confused because their daughter appears on TV.”

Prof Newell is the only person outside North America to receive a grant from the American Alzheimer’s Association to investigate technology to improve the care of sufferers.

The award of almost £115,00 will fund a researcher for three years. The researcher will join Prof Newell and Dr Alm’s existing team.

Next summer the team will move into the new, purpose-built Queen Mother Research Centre, being established as a memorial to the former chancellor of the university. It will house over 30 scientists developing technology to benefit elderly and disabled people.