Tovertafel aka the Magic Table helps patients with dementia

by Startacus Admin

Holland-based startup Active Cues have created a simple product called Tovertafel aka Magic Table, which projects imagery onto a surface, helping engage children and adults with cognitive challenges.
Passive behaviour - decreased emotion, withdrawal, and lower levels of activity - are among the common signs of dementia in older people. Those in care homes often don’t have a lot to do day to day, and while the staff take care of their physical health, their mental wellbeing goes unchecked.
Activities and outings are often at additional cost and require pre-booking, meaning that even when a resident wants to take part, they can end up excluded for a number of simple reasons. This then leads to more passivity and apathy. This in turn leads to a decline in not only physical health but also in mental health. Cognitive ability can deteriorate and depression can take hold. Living with dementia and not remaining active and engaged with their surroundings can result in agitation, anxiety, and even aggression.
Holland-based startup Active Cues has created a simple product to engage children and adults with cognitive challenges: Tovertafel.
This translates as Magic Table, and encourages people to play together around a table, stimulating their social interaction as well as their cognitive ability. Tovertafel is a projector that sits above the table and projects imagery onto its surface, complete with sound, and uses infrared sensors to detect when and how the participants are interacting with the projections, allowing them to be directly affected. For example, a projected school of fish will turn and swim away from a hand dipped into their ‘water’.
There are two versions of Tovertafel: the original, designed specifically for those with dementia, and UP for those with intellectual disabilities. It is installed in hundreds of care homes in Holland and is gaining more and more traction in the UK.
Active Cues’ innovative yet simple product is really on to something, and all of the award that they started winning way back in 2015 prove it. These include winner of Dutch Game Awards ‘15, the German Business Awards, and winner of EIT Digital Challenge '18.
Keeping those with dementia and other cognitive challenges active and stimulated is hugely important, and such an easy and non-intrusive piece of equipment that can be installed in literally any care home stands to make a massive difference to those people and those around them.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Based in the UK or Ireland and got an innovative early-stage idea for the health sector? Validate that idea via the DigiHealth pre-accelerator - applications now open.

The lowdown on watchTowr, the startup that's on a mission to provide organisations with "continuous cyber security assurance aligned to the capabilities of today’s adversaries."

Fin Cope, CEO and Co-Founder of environmentally conscious marketplace GoEthical shares insights on the signs of greenwashing he looks out for to help avoid contributing to environmental harm.

Pet owners take note! GetSetPet is a startup on a mission to become the ultimate destination for your pet supplies.

Andrea Szell, Founder of Spare Desk shares some insights on the positive impact that sharing a workspace can have on our mental health.

The lowdown on Oxford Quantum Circuits, the innovative Reading-based startup that's on a mission to make quantum computing accessible to all.

Sodexo Live! and L Marks open call for applications from innovative startups and scaleups to join their inaugural North America Innovation Lab.

Startups founded by students and recent graduates from the University of Edinburgh secure SMART:SCOTLAND grants to help support their ambitious and innovative projects.

Lydia Kothmeier, VP of Operations at Storyblok shares insights on the processes and policies that every startup should have in place in order to make remote working work.

The lowdown on HoloToyz, the Irish startup and its products for kids that can come to life through the power of augmented reality.
Published on: 12th June 2019
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- DigiHealth Lean Launch Programme opens for applications 11th Aug 2022 Based in the UK or Ireland and got an innovative early-stage idea for the health sector? Validate that idea via the DigiHealth pre-accelerator - applications now open.
- Sodexo Live! And L Marks Seeking Startups and Scaleups for first ever North America Innovation Lab 5th Aug 2022 Sodexo Live! and L Marks open call for applications from innovative startups and scaleups to join their inaugural North America Innovation Lab.
- Innovative University-supported startups secure £500,000 in grant funding awards 4th Aug 2022 Startups founded by students and recent graduates from the University of Edinburgh secure SMART:SCOTLAND grants to help support their ambitious and innovative projects.
- Registrations Open for Inbound Investors 2022 2nd Aug 2022 Inbound Investors 2022 providing NI businesses with the opportunity to pitch directly to leading UK investors over the course of one day.