During the well-attended Warm Technology Symposium, two additional awards were presented Thursday in the Blauwe Zaal by an expert jury made up of specialists from research, professional practice, and policy. The jury also included former Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport Conny Helder.

The jury award went to Het Ritme, a voice-controlled avatar created by Industrial Design master’s student Wout Vissers. People with dementia can personalize the avatar themselves, allowing it to support conversations with loved ones and healthcare providers.

The Inclusion Award — which focused primarily on social impact and the involvement of people with dementia and their loved ones — went to the project Draai het Deuntje. This AI-supported music memory game, developed by first-year HTI master’s students, acts as a “can opener” for memories and encourages collaboration and interaction.

The Warm Technology Challenge is an initiative of the TU/e Expertise Center for Dementia & Technology (ECDT). Through the design competition, the organizers aim to encourage students to create meaningful concepts for people with dementia and their loved ones in an inclusive, person-centered way.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.