# Smartphone-Connected Teddy Bears ELO Teddy Uses What’s App to Link Sick Kids with Their Families By Megan Facciuolo | Published 2014-05-13 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elo-teddy References: [designtaxi](http://designtaxi.com/news/365516/A-Talking-Teddy-Bear-That-Delivers-Encouraging-WhatsApp-Audio-Notes-To-Sick-Kids/) & [dm9rio.br](http://www.dm9rio.com.br) Brazil-based advertising agency DM9Rio and Amaral Carvalho Hospital have joined forces to change the lives of hospital-ridden children with an ELO teddy bear. ‘ELO’ is a [talking teddy bear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/repair-bear), but its words are not pre-automated; they come from friends and family members via [WhatsApp](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nemo-ai). The teddy is comforting for cancer-stricken children who have to spend a lot of time in the hospital in isolation. Each bear is equipped with a personal number that people can send [loving audio messages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/otter-toy) to. When the child feels lonely or is in need of some encouragement, they can press their bear’s paw and it will play a message that was sent to them. The Rio de Janeiro-based hospital decided to create the teddy in homage to its 100th anniversary and of course to the kids that have been treated in it. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 29% | Activity: 71% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Youth](https://www.trendhunter.com/youth) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Connected Teddy Bears:** Use of internet-connected toys for emotional support in healthcare settings. - **Family-centric Communication:** Use of apps like What's App to connect patients with their families remotely. - **User-generated Content Toys:** Incorporating personalized messages from loved ones into toys for emotional support. ### Who This Affects Most - **Healthcare:** Integration of internet-connected toys for emotional support of patients. - **Toy Manufacturing:** Incorporation of user-generated content into toys. - **Mobile App Development:** Development of apps for remote communication and emotional support in healthcare settings. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Powered Teddy Bear Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tedi.md) - [Loneliness-Combating AI Teddy Bears](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-friend-chatbot.md) - [Interactive Holiday Plush Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bearlieve-bear.md) - [Poem-Sharing Plush Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mood-bears.md) - [Personalised Plush Gifts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/squeezeaway.md) - [Expressive Plush Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mood-bears-sainsburys.md) - [Recordable Stuffed Animals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dubido-factory.md) - [Storytelling AI Teddy Bears](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/play.md) - [AI-Powered Toy Attachments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toypal-one.md)