Dutch healthcare technology company Tover has launched a next-generation version of its cognitive stimulation system aimed at improving quality of life of those living with dementia.
The Tovertafel 2 (‘Magic Table’ in Dutch) contains a series of games engineered to encourage instinctive participation, inviting engagement and boosting physical and social activity.
Tovertafel 2 uses a projector and infrared sensors with a speaker and processor working together to project interactive light animations onto a flat surface.
These animations respond to hand and arm movements, allowing users to ‘play’ with the light.
The games function to motivate the mind and inspire those with cognitive challenges to be active. They can also be played while maintaining safe social distances during the ongoing pandemic.
Tovel claims around three-quarters of those living with dementia are currently unable to access socially interactive games to maintain cognitive function and the Tovertafel 2 is designed to be more widely accessible, especially during the pandemic.
The new product also provides access to upgrades and new games and features at no extra cost, as well as faster game-loading times and improved pixel density for sharper images and more easy-to-read text.
The Tovertafel 2 also includes new features such as 24/7 support via personal online environment My Tover, as well as machine learning, which facilitates advanced hand-tracking to analyse users’ play abilities and modes of playing and identify when people are apathetic or inactive.
The original Tovertafel product was created by Hester Anderiesen Le Riche in 2015, after years of study during her PhD at the Delft University of Technology, where she explored how games and play could help patients with dementia. The Tovertafel 2 remains consistent in price to its earlier iteration.
“We are excited to see it rolled out across the UK in the coming weeks and months as we hope to create more moments of happiness for those living with cognitive challenges, and their family members, friends and carers,” said Le Riche.
“By updating our technology, the Tovertafel 2 will be more accessible for care homes and libraries to install and upgrade across the UK. We can then progress with our goal to create a more caring and inclusive world for people living with cognitive challenges," she added.
