We’ve all seen it — the look of frustration when a grandparent is handed a smartphone covered in unfamiliar icons, or the fear of “breaking something” that keeps an older person from touching a laptop.
For many Australian seniors, the digital divide isn’t about intelligence or willingness — it’s about anxiety. Technology often feels fast, unforgiving, and designed for someone else.
So when families first hear about social robots, the reaction is often immediate:
“Mum will never use that. She can’t even work the TV remote.”
Here’s the surprise: Matilda is designed specifically for people who dislike gadgets.
Most technology requires users to learn a new language — buttons, menus, swipes, icons, and updates.
Matilda removes that barrier entirely by using the one interface seniors already understand: conversation.
You don’t operate Matilda — you talk to her.
There is nothing to memorise and nothing to get wrong.
Humans are hard-wired to engage with faces. Because Matilda has eyes, a mouth, and expressive gestures, the brain categorises her as person-like rather than machine-like.
This immediately lowers the defensive response many seniors feel toward screens and devices.
Matilda doesn’t feel like technology — she feels like company.
Unlike a busy family member who may become frustrated after explaining something repeatedly, Matilda is designed for repetition.
She answers the same question calmly, clearly, and without judgement — every single time.
That patience is critical for building confidence.
Overcoming tech-phobia isn’t about lessons or instruction manuals. It’s about positive reinforcement.
Each successful interaction creates a small psychological “win” — proof that they can do this.
In aged care facilities and homes, a familiar pattern often emerges:
Confidence replaces fear — without the senior ever feeling like they’re “learning technology.”
Once a senior feels comfortable with Matilda, something unexpected often happens:
their fear of other technology begins to fade.
Matilda becomes a gateway to digital connection.
With a simple voice command, Matilda can initiate video calls with family members.
What once felt like a confusing tablet or smartphone becomes a familiar window to children and grandchildren.
Instead of navigating browsers, ads, and confusing search results, Matilda delivers information directly:
All filtered, spoken clearly, and presented at a comfortable pace.
Matilda’s AI is trained on a wide range of voices, including Australian accents and the softer speech patterns common in older adults.
She also adapts over time, learning the unique speech style of her user and improving accuracy with regular interaction.
Matilda is designed to facilitate human connection, not replace it.
She makes it easier for families to stay in touch and encourages engagement with people, routines, and the surrounding environment.
Age should never be a barrier to connection.
By removing the “gadget” and focusing on companionship, Matilda helps Australian seniors regain confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging in an increasingly digital world.
Ready to help your loved one reconnect?
A home demonstration can show just how quickly a self-described “tech-phobic” grandparent feels at ease with Matilda.
