Empowering Mobility: The User-Centered Journey Behind the Scalamobil

Conquering stairs and restoring independence by smart interface design.

The Scalamobil by Alber GmbH is an innovative stair-climbing aid designed for seniors and individuals with physical disabilities. It is controlled by an accompanying person and enables safe transportation on stairs. The development was centred around user needs and the context of use, ensuring a user-friendly and safe product.

One of the main challenges was creating a reliable and intuitive user interface system for the accompanying person. Errors in detecting stair steps or an unfavourable tilting angle of the device could result in serious accidents. Therefore, ensuring safe operation was of the utmost importance.

Focus on Human Factors and Usability

Our team of human factors and usability experts guided the entire development process of the Scalamobil. Early on, we identified user needs through focus groups. These insights formed the foundation for the product’s design and technical implementation.

Concept & Interaction Design

During the conceptual phase, we developed an interaction design to ensure that the companion is not overwhelmed by the controls. At the same time, all relevant information and actions must be clearly and intuitively conveyed. Optimising the human-machine interaction was crucial, allowing users to understand and follow the automated steps of the Scalamobil.

Prototyping & Usability Testing

In the UX and prototyping phase, a user interface demonstrator was developed in conjunction with a technical prototype. Real users tested the interface and provided valuable feedback. These tests helped increase the product’s acceptance and usability, further refining the design.

Optimisation & Implementation

Following initial tests, the user interface was revised with a particular focus on design principles and heuristics relevant to the target audience. The final design was implemented in close coordination with industrial design requirements. The result is an interface that is both functional and user-friendly.

The final evaluations demonstrated the success of the developed solution. Compliance with regulatory requirements in the usability engineering process paved the way for a successful market launch of the Scalamobil. This life-changing product can now help many individuals regain their mobility.