Proability Walk Art
ROVA
2014 GOOD DESIGN Award
Road bike approach to assistive walking, encouraging mobility
The Why
The current solution to mobility assistance is the cumbersome and inefficient walker, which further stigmatizes and hampers the lives of those in need of assistance.
Our solution—PAT (Pedestrian Assistive Technology)—is a truly consumer-oriented mobility platform, with the objective of encouraging our aging population and people with mobility challenges to enjoy an active social life. The sleek, attractive, and convenient ROVA allows people to maintain their mobility, dignity, and social calendar.
The Who
Kim Goodsell is the embodiment of the “empowered patient,” taking control of her health and her future in many ways. She proactively self-diagnosed her conditions at a genomic level, understands the degenerative nature of her disease, and intends to meet it head-on. “We always find ways to keep moving,” says Kim, who along with her husband, CB, started their company as a way to cope with the onset of her genetic disorder.
Kim and CB realized the universal need for a new approach to mobility assistance. They initiated a project with DDSTUDIO to design and develop a new mobility experience: the ROVA Pedestrian Assistive Technology. ROVA is part of the “Digital Healthcare Movement” that aims to inspire and enable people of all ages and abilities to walk.
The How
Through iterations of observation and prototyping, we studied the flow of the user and the environment. We considered all the different usage scenarios and built rapid prototypes to test out.
It was important that we accommodate a natural walking gait and provide support when needed. Through user testing, we discovered that people actually used more than just the handle for stability. On top of that, people need to transport objects through tight spaces in the home, so carrying capacity and a compact form were priorities.
Location: San Diego, CA
Client Type: Startup
Industry: Senior Mobility Tech, ACCESSIBILITY
ID, UX, DFM
The Feeling
We focused on an alternative that looked, felt, and operated like Kim’s high-performance sports gear and would support all users in maintaining an independent and active social life. ROVA is comprised of the same ultra-durable light-weight carbon fiber used in high-performance bicycles with similar durability and sleek lines. It includes real-time health data through remote monitoring, a workout log that tracks vitals such as glucose levels, and real-time alerts to a physician or emergency personnel when needed.
The baskets are roomy enough to accommodate many custom needs, whether shopping, moving around the office, walking around the neighborhood or meeting friends for dinner.
To ensure that it is easily foldable and transportable, we consulted with origami master Robert Lang in designing the basket folds.
The Experience
