00:03This is Jita. No, not her. That. It's a new type of robot that looks to make people's lives easier,
00:10especially the elderly, by following them around.
00:13It's being developed by the National Innovation Center for Aging in the UK. In association with the robotics company Piaggio
00:18Fast Forward, Jita can offer a helping hand, allowing users to store items for carrying in its chassis or providing
00:24a nice place to sit when users get tired.
00:26And it's programmed to always be there when you need it. Nick Pomerini, director of the NICA, says this provides
00:33a different approach to aging.
00:34Jita is a first-of-a-kind carrying following robots. I think following is the key word here, because it's
00:42a robot that instead of something you step on or a vehicle that you step on, it's literally just following
00:47you. And it does it very well.
00:49Saying this is a new approach to helping the elderly, where in the past we have developed tools to allow
00:54them to sit as a wheeled device takes them where they need to go. This one provides assistance while they
00:58walk themselves.
00:59Well, you know that one good rule of longevity of living a healthier and longer life is just to walk.
01:05We should have to take at least 10,000 steps a day. So why instead of, you know, keep on
01:11generating objects and devices on top of which we sit and they bring us somewhere, why don't empower ourselves to
01:17walk more?
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