Aletheia

The key insight was recognizing two distinct user groups with opposite needs:

The Subject (Storyteller)
• Age: 65+
• Tech comfort: Low
• Interface: Telephone-only
• Needs: Zero friction, natural conversation, trust

The Producer (Memory Keeper)
• Age: 25-50
• Tech comfort: High
• Interface: Mobile app & web dashboard
• Needs: Control, scheduling, content management

This dual-interface approach allowed us to optimize each experience for its specific user, rather than compromising with a one-size-fits-all solution.

Designing for voice required rethinking traditional UX principles:

Patience Engineering
Elderly speakers have different conversational rhythms. We designed the AI to:
• Recognize natural pauses vs. finished thoughts
• Provide subtle acknowledgment cues ("Mm-hmm," "I see")
• Never interrupt, but respond when appropriate

Context-Aware Questioning
Instead of generic prompts, questions are grounded in verified facts:
• "Records show you lived in Detroit in 1968. What was that neighborhood like?"
• "Your marriage certificate lists you as a machinist. Can you tell me about that work?"

This approach transforms the interview from interrogation to conversation.

Family stories often contain sensitive information. We designed multiple layers of privacy control:

Time Capsule System
Stories can be locked until:
• A specific date
• The subject's passing
• Manual unlock by the subject

Story Classification
All content is tagged with trust levels:
• Verified (cross-referenced with public records)
• Personal testimony
• Conflicting accounts (when stories differ from records or other family members)

This transparency builds trust while acknowledging that memory is subjective.

The Producer interface focuses on control and insight:

Scheduling & Governance
• Set call frequency and preferred times
• Define "Do Not Disturb" windows
• Upload family tree data and photos to guide conversations
• Submit custom questions ("Ask about the red Chevy")

Content Management
• Review daily conversation highlights
• Manage privacy settings and time capsules
• Search and query the growing archive
• Export "Memory Books" (physical and digital)

The interface balances powerful functionality with emotional warmth—this isn't just data management, it's preserving a legacy.

1. Zero Friction for Storytellers
If a user has to do anything beyond answering the phone, we've failed. Technology should be invisible.

2. Respect Memory's Subjectivity
We don't position memories as absolute truth. The value is in the personal perspective, not perfect accuracy.

3. Generational Bridge
The product serves two users simultaneously—design each experience independently, then connect them seamlessly.

4. Privacy as Foundation
Trust is earned through transparency and control. Users must feel safe sharing intimate family stories.

5. Race Against Time
The emotional core of the product is urgency—every conversation captured is a story saved from being lost forever.

Aletheia represents a new category in the genealogy space—moving from dead data to living memory.

By designing for accessibility (telephone-first), trust (privacy controls), and authenticity (conversational AI), we're creating a product that doesn't just archive the past—it preserves personality, voice, and wisdom for future generations.

The true measure of success won't be user metrics, but the moment a great-grandchild, decades from now, can ask: "What did my great-grandmother think about love?" and hear her answer in her own words.