Building the future of aging technology around people, not just products.
ELARA Lab develops empathetic AI, robotics, and digital technologies for aging, with a focus on the real-world conditions that shape trust, adoption, usability, and meaningful benefit for older adults in homes, communities, and out-of-hospital care.
What ELARA does differently
We do not stop at prototype development. ELARA studies what it takes for technology to become understandable, trusted, and sustainable in everyday life, especially for older adults who face fragmented systems, digital barriers, and support gaps.
From invention to adoption
ELARA Lab bridges technical innovation and lived human experience. The lab focuses on how AI, robotics, and digital tools can support older adults not only in theory, but in the reality of daily life, care coordination, communication, and ongoing support.
Human-centered by default
We study how trust, privacy, dignity, emotional fit, accessibility, and caregiver dynamics shape technology use.
Built for real settings
Our work targets homes, community spaces, out-of-hospital care pathways, and everyday routines where support is often missing.
Designed for translation
We aim to generate systems, design principles, and implementation models that partners can sustain beyond a single pilot.
"ELARA asks not only what technology can do, but what it takes for older adults and caregivers to actually trust it, use it, and benefit from it."
Core directions of the lab
ELARA works across aging, human-computer interaction, human-robot interaction, accessibility, care technology, and community-based support models.
Empathetic AI and assistive interaction
Designing AI systems that are understandable, emotionally appropriate, and genuinely supportive in everyday life.
Human-robot interaction for aging
Exploring how social and assistive robots can support communication, guidance, wellbeing, and long-term engagement.
Technology barriers and redesign
Identifying where users get stuck and redesigning systems so technology feels usable instead of overwhelming.
Community-embedded implementation
Co-developing support models with older adults, caregivers, and local partners so innovation can move into practice.
Creating support beyond the hospital
A major part of ELARA's mission is building community-centered care ecosystems for older adults. This includes volunteer-led support, practical navigation help, and tools that make healthcare-related tasks less confusing outside formal clinical environments.
Out-of-hospital care support
ELARA is building models that connect older adults with trained volunteers, community partners, and accessible materials that help with digital health access, telehealth preparation, appointments, medication routines, and everyday technology use tied to care.
The goal is not a one-time event. The goal is a repeatable support structure that communities can grow, adapt, and sustain over time.
See activity modelVolunteer and community activity model
ELARA's activities extend research into practical support for older adults through hands-on, community-centered initiatives that reduce digital confusion and strengthen care access.
One-to-one guidance
Helping older adults navigate tasks such as telehealth setup, appointments, portals, reminders, and health-related technology.
Volunteer training
Preparing students and community volunteers to communicate clearly, respectfully, and in ways that match older adults' comfort levels.
Community partnerships
Working through trusted organizations so support is easier to reach and more grounded in real community needs.
ELARA Lab turns emerging technology into practical support.
We focus on the human conditions that determine whether AI, robotics, and digital tools become meaningful, trusted, and usable for older adults in everyday life.
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Lab information
- Lab: ELARA Lab
- Meaning: Empathetic Lifespan AI & Robotics for Aging
- Email: cpark14@uh.edu
- Location: University of Houston
Collaboration areas
- Human-centered AI
- Human-robot interaction
- Older adult technology support
- Care ecosystem and volunteer initiatives
- Community-based aging technology research