The winner: Frank van Valkenhoef

Yesterday, our first event of this year took place – the TEDxEindhoven Pitch Event during the Dutch Technology Week. Through our pitch events we want to become aware of ideas outside of our own perspective, and placed an open call for pitchers. Out of all applications, we invited 12 people to tell us why their ideas are worth spreading, particularly during our main event on November 10.

We asked a panel of judges, comprised of experts on design and technology from within the TEDxEindhoven network and members of our own Program Team, to decide which of these 12 people had an idea that could potentially spark the biggest possible lightbulb moment later this year. Katja Lucas (Program Manager Dutch Design Foundation) and Naomie Verstraeten (Program Director Brainport Development) added fresh perspectives, and through their experience they were able to advise us which idea is definitely worth sharing, specifically as part of the community of Eindhoven.

After the final pitch had ended, the jury discussed all pitchers. The eventual decision was far from the easiest, having listened to 12 great ideas. The panel decided to invite Frank van Valkenhoef to come and talk at our main event. He spoke on the possibility of interaction between human and computer through haptic feedback, a means of a device to respond to touch by touch. Frank’s pitch was chosen due to the importance of his idea and the impact it could (or will) have on our global technology and design community. In short, his idea is absolutely worth spreading.

Other pitchers too spoke on issues of global importance, both within and outside of the particular TED fields. However, Frank’s idea was deemed the most original and by far the most pressing and attuned to our current times.

Katja Lucas commented:

“The panel of judges appreciates Frank’s work to combine sensory perception with technology. He helps interaction designers by designing haptic feedback. We have to make sure our interactions with devices become more ‘human’.”
We would like to thank again all pitchers for their passion in sharing their ideas. Hear more ideas worth spreading at TEDxEindhoven 2017 November 10th!