To stimulate the physical activity of people with severe dementia, I designed the Tovertafel. It is an original interactive light projection system that entices those with cognitive challenges to interact and have fun together. The Tovertafel means ‘magic table’ in Dutch and is an innovative device with infrared sensors that project interactive games and vibrant images onto a surface such as a table to promote play. The games also help loved ones and caretakers better connect with patients, and are adaptable to social distancing guidelines.
We show the world what technology can bring to the quality of life in terms of long-term health and the shift in primary care to wellbeing. There is nothing more important than a patient’s quality of life and happiness.
We contribute and design products that show the more beautiful moments in the dementia journey with those two trends.
As a part of my series about “Big Ideas That Might Change The World In The Next Few Years” I had the pleasure of interviewing Hester Anderiesen Le Riche, CEO and founder of Tover.
An engineer by training, Hester Anderiesen Le Riche is the CEO and founder of Tover and the creator of a pioneering cognitive stimulation system — the Tovertafel. Hester has a PhD in Industrial Design Engineering from Delft University of Technology. She found her passion during design projects that influence people’s behaviour and contribute to their health. Her dissertation ‘Playful Design for Activation’ entails an evidence based approach of developing a product service system to stimulate physical activity of people with severe dementia. During her PhD, she designed the Tovertafel: the original interactive light projection system that entices those with cognitive challenges to interact and have fun together.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you please tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Two parts of my life were crossing. On the one hand, I graduated studying industrial design engineering from the Delft University of Technology, where I was tasked with a six-month graduation project. That’s when I designed a conceptual product for the elderly of the future to uncover how we can look after each other from a technology standpoint. I was in the mindset of designing an engaging product with a social tenant for the elderly generation.
My other track was as a professional windsurfer in the Canary Islands, and I was always involved in healthy living and activity. That’s when I met a woman intrigued by my sports and design background, particularly for those of the silver age. She encouraged me to meet her professor at the University of Amsterdam, enthusiastic about stimulating everyone’s minds and bodies, particularly those who have dementia. Within an hour, he convinced me to use my design background and ideas along with my healthy living and active mindset to encourage the older generation to become more active themselves. Ultimately, he was the inspiration and person who led me to this career path.
Can you please share with us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
One of my most memorable experiences was meeting the queen in the UK and presenting the Tovertafel during a state visit. During this time, entrepreneurs had the opportunity to share their products, and I was so engrossed by her personality. She has this incredible balance between being approachable and exceptionally well-informed.
She asked spot-on questions, and I thought how wonderful it was; after seeing fifty people a day who all want to share their idea and company, she was able to ask these perfect questions. She was incredibly generous with her headspace that she could have an open meeting, and there was no feeling of it being fake or a setup. From a female point of view, I was like, “wow, that’s power.”
Which principles or philosophies have guided your life? Your career?
What brought me this far is curiosity and an eagerness to learn.
From creating the Tovertafel for an untapped sector to competing in windsurfing competitions, my hunger for knowledge through experience has been a constant theme in my life. I have noticed that discovering bits of wisdom from unexpected mentors and reflecting on my failures has fueled my desire to work harder.
Even in windsurfing world tour competitions, I never did very well, but it allowed me to travel anywhere and meet the best training partner and friend. We had an excellent time training and filming each other to prepare for the competitions. Although we did poorly in the competition, it never killed my spirit in the sport, which translates to how I see business.
When entering my career, I had an engineering background and was a designer, but I had zero theoretical knowledge or experience running a business. However, I was curious and eager to learn. There are so many people you bump into and meet throughout your life that have a unique type of knowledge that you can use — these people quickly become your mentors. Just by asking questions, you can learn a lot. I pride myself in staying curious and eager and ensure I always continue to ask questions — you will be surprised who will share their knowledge and enthusiasm within their respective niche.
Ok thank you for that. Let’s now move to the main focus of our interview. Can you tell us about your “Big Idea That Might Change The World”?
To stimulate the physical activity of people with severe dementia, I designed the Tovertafel. It is an original interactive light projection system that entices those with cognitive challenges to interact and have fun together. The Tovertafel means ‘magic table’ in Dutch and is an innovative device with infrared sensors that project interactive games and vibrant images onto a surface such as a table to promote play. The games also help loved ones and caretakers better connect with patients, and are adaptable to social distancing guidelines.
I don’t think the Tovertafel itself will change the entire care sector, but I think we present and are revolutionizing a new product category. We show the world what technology can bring to the quality of life in terms of long-term health and the shift in primary care to wellbeing. There is nothing more important than a patient’s quality of life and happiness.
We contribute and design products that show the more beautiful moments in the dementia journey with those two trends.
How do you think this will change the world?
Most people are absolutely terrified by the idea of dementia. With the Tovertafel, we prove that you can still have that intense moment of happiness and moments of contact despite challenges with the mind. If we can explain and show that it’s possible and that patients’ memories are still there, we hope that people will realize the dementia journey is not your worst nightmare. If we have a less terrifying expectation, we can help change how people perceive the journey itself. Though there are some things patients can’t do, we are showing them what they can do.
Leading by example, we are changing the world by using technology for wellbeing in dementia care. I hope we inspire caregivers and companies to see it as a category that is worth designing for.
Was there a “tipping point” that led you to this idea? Can you tell us that story?
My Ph.D. assignment was to design a playful product that would stimulate more physical activity. My idea was to stimulate activity in daily living with the added value of giving patients independence.
As a case study, I projected taking coffee around the dining table, and it had a beautiful secondary goal of getting patients to drink more. I imagined more physical activity and more self-efficiency would create awareness of what patients were capable of while having them drinking more in a day.
We used projections as our playful experience and sensory stimulation to attract their attention to the cup of coffee to give them a subconscious reminder to take another sip. At first, it was very subtle; we were careful not to overstimulate them and then added a little bit of light and stars.
I projected around the cup, “are you thirsty” and the entire group answered yes, and no one took a sip.
I was distraught with my projections and my confidence as a designer. However, it taught me the strength of co-design and adding your target audience in the creative process of design.
So we went back to the drawing board and tried to take it to the furthest extreme to see if this concept could work with the help of outsider behavior. We wanted them to see something but transfer that experience to take an actual sip of coffee.
Even though I was studying dementia patients’ brains and environments for years, I could not anticipate their behavior. In my car ride back, I reflected and realized that one of the patients picked up her coffee cup and played with the lights that went back to my goal of stimulating physical activity. I figured if that was my goal and the prototype had been constructed, I could play with the lights and respond to when they laughed, smiled, or displayed emotion. That’s when we began exploring how we can play with life (i.e., what is fun, what is enjoyable, what doesn’t make any sense).
It was a tipping point because it was never the goal to make serious games; it was just to use the light for serious activities.
What do you need to lead this idea to widespread adoption?
We need awareness, space, and budget. Tover needs the space to explain our product, so someone can entertain the idea that physical activity via games is vital for people with dementia. In some countries, it is not a high priority on the agenda.
In some areas, professionals are even offended that we would introduce a game instead of their traditional tools. Once the caretakers are on board, the financial system in care needs to allow for these types of inventions. We are in the budget of additional activities, but the quality of life should be the primary caretakers’ concern, so we should be in their budget stream. Also, we need to build awareness around the product category, which revolves around healthcare transition. There’s movement but, every country is in a different stage of acceptance and implementation.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why. (Please share a story or example for each.)
- Refer to Words of Wisdom. You don’t always understand the significance of what someone is saying. Later on, we realize how true and beneficial a piece of advice was. For example, rereading a book such as “Good to Great” by Philip Collins, I will learn different lessons each time and pick up on specifics I had not initially.
- Learn the Operational Side. I realized later that implementing a new financial system is very time consuming, expensive, and requires dedication and focus. Figure out what your company needs so you do not have to switch.
- Work with Opposites. The people I have hired are always the opposite in terms of focus and knowledge. In hindsight, I realized how important it is to engage complementary partners for business. They offer different advice and enhance your strengths. Of course, you will bump heads, but that’s fine.
- Find your Mentors. People are eager to share their strengths. When you meet someone, ask questions and see how you can learn from them.
- Trust your Gut. If you view your product as servicing one audience, do not let others convince you otherwise. Welcome outside opinions and advice but do not let it deter you from your goal.
Can you share with our readers what you think are the most important “success habits” or “success mindsets”?
• Be stubborn in the pursuit of getting where you want to go.
• Don’t get sidetracked from your goals.
• Stay passionate about your business.
• Stick with the clear vision for your company.
• Listen more, talk less.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
Follow us on YouTube @Tover, Facebook @ToverCareGlobal, and #Instagram and Twitter at ToverCareUS!
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.
The Tovertafel: Hester Anderiesen Le Riche’s Big Idea That Might Change The World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
