MomBoard: E-ink display for a parent with amnesia

As a side note on his mother remembering that the tablet exists, it sounds like she has amnesia quite like Henry Molaison, a famous case study in neuropathology. He had very specific brain damage that seemingly stopped him forming new memories in the same way as OP's mother, but studies showed that he could remember some things, just not consciously. So for example he would have warm feelings towards people who'd been caring for him despite not remembering them, and would also pick up card games more and more quickly as he played them repeatedly despite saying he didn't remember the game. OP's mother remembering the tablet sounds very similar, particularly when paired with the feeling of being remembered and loved by her children.

This reminds me of muscle memory. I can play pieces on the piano even though I don't actively remember the sheet music of them. My hands just "know" what to do. Funnily enough the moment I start actively thinking about certain passages that ability worsens by a lot.

At the start it's all about carrying around notes full of picking the relevant condition depending on the current permutation/state of the cube then following the step by step algorithms on which sequence of steps to perform for that condition.

Then you'll naturally realise that certain conditions happen a lot more than others and you'll start to remember the sequence of letters for each series of steps to perform.

Over time you'll forget the letters and your fingers will just know the sequence to perform when you perceive that condition, kind of like typing a password without thinking about it.

Eventually you'll be able to fit each condition and algorithm into your muscle memory and completely forget the series of letters that you used to memorise.

Now I can barely explain how to solve a rubik's cube in-person. I just do it.