(in collaboration with Burak Pekoglu)

Lulu is a psychotropic rocking-chair that is designed to be an electro-mechanical companion to support seniors who are suffering from aging-related bodily and mental challenges.

Lulu is made of plywood, covered with a plexiglass seating and equipped with custom electronics to be able to generate her own electricity from the mechanical movement created by the user. Lulu is designed to be a personal trainer who plays memory games with her owner to support his/her dairly physical activities and mental well-being.

As a product, Lulu is the result of a study on smart materials, energy harvesting systems, intelligent companions and personal trainers research combined with “rocking chair therapy,” an experimental treatment that reports significant results on demetia related challenges, which are improved with the use of conventional rocking-chairs at nursery homes.

Presentation:
- December 5, 2008. Harvard Graduate Design School.

More Pictures:
Making

Publications:
Telhan, Orkan. "Materials with Computational Experience and Style." Journal of Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, Springer-Verlag, 2010.