Promotion and preservation of mobility and autonomy in old age through smart rollators—a qualitative study
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By
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April 20, 2026
Objective:
To explore the needs, experiences, and perspectives of rollator users and healthcare professionals to identify user-centered requirements for the iterative development of a smart rollator.
Key Findings:
- Three main categories emerged: daily use of rollators, sensor-based assistance systems, and application of digital assistive technologies, highlighting user needs.
- Participants positively assessed the integration of digital functions that enhance perceived safety and ease of use, indicating a strong preference for user-friendly designs.
- Desired features included navigation, environmental and fall detection, emergency call functionality, lighting, and haptic feedback, all aimed at improving user experience.
- Barriers included technological skepticism, limited digital literacy, and potential cognitive overload, which could hinder adoption.
- Facilitating factors included training, simple user interfaces, and modular system structures, which are essential for user acceptance.
Interpretation:
Participatory development processes are crucial for improving the acceptance of smart rollators, ensuring that innovations are practical, safe, and user-oriented, particularly by incorporating user feedback throughout the design process.
Limitations:
- The study's findings may not be generalizable due to the specific sample size and demographics, which limits broader applicability.
- Potential biases in qualitative data collection and analysis could affect the results, necessitating caution in interpretation.
Conclusion:
Early involvement of users and healthcare professionals in the design of smart rollators is essential for creating effective assistive technologies that meet user needs, reinforcing the importance of user-centered design.
