Warm Intelligence for freedom of movement and safety in dementia

The project “Warm Intelligence” develops ‘The Compass’, an innovative navigation aid for people with dementia, using smart software. In this public-private collaboration, Aumens and Eindhoven University of Technology combine their strengths in product development and design expertise in dementia and technology. Together, they create a solution that combines artificial intelligence with a human-centred design, enabling people with dementia to walk more safely and  independently in their familiar environment, thereby increasing their autonomy.

The societal urgency is high: over 300,000 people in the Netherlands have dementia, a number expected to double by 2050. Dementia is the disease with the highest healthcare costs and has a major impact on quality of life. Disorientation and the fear of getting lost force many people to stay indoors, leading to faster physical decline and a high burden on informal caregivers.

Supportive technology is essential to restore freedom of movement for this growing group.The core of the approach is participatory design, in which the technology is developed directly with end users, relatives, and care professionals. Central to this is ‘Warm Intelligence’, where technology adapts to people instead of the other way around. ‘The Compass’ provides intuitive guidance without complex screens. This solution lowers the threshold to go outside, strengthens user autonomy, and offers caregivers reassurance.

The project will deliver a validated, user-friendly prototype of ‘The Compass’, extensively tested in daily practice. In addition, the results include an implementation plan for the healthcare sector and scientific insights into involving vulnerable target groups in technological development. This lays the foundation for broad deployment that increases independence for people with dementia and noticeably reduces care pressure.