ELLA

ELLA (Elderly: Love, Laugh, Assist) is a self-operating robot which loves, laughs with, and assists elderly people who do not have anyone to do so. She charges overnight. She is a chatbot, friend, and assistant all in one. One big problem many seniors face is isolation. ELLA’s design is whimsical and simple, having a child-like presence. ELLA can converse, tell jokes, sing, etc.. ELLA also helps seniors connect with other seniors. It can set up online social accounts (on its screen, an iPad-like device attached to its body) and assist people in making new friends in person as well. ELLA also helps with tasks some seniors may have trouble with, including financial assistance, shopping, etc.. While assisting someone, it will also teach them how to do the task in order to encourage movement and social interaction. My hope is that ELLA’s cute, colorul design and friendliness makes people smile.