Wheelie - Empowering Elderly Independence through Accessible Autonomous Ride-Booking
Description: Wheelie is an inclusive autonomous ride-booking experience designed for elderly users who want greater independence without relying solely on caregivers. Our challenge was to understand the mobility and digital access limitations of older adults, and then design a voice-friendly, accessible UX solution to help them book, manage, and enjoy their rides confidently.
Collaboration with BMWDesignWorks
Role
UX Designer, UX Research, UI Design
Year
Spring 2023 (8 weeks)
Team
Ian Goldstein, Joseph Sotelo, Erick Olivares, Giorgio Tandera
PROJECT SUMMARY
Wheelie is an inclusive autonomous ride-booking experience designed for elderly users who want greater independence without relying solely on caregivers. Our challenge was to understand the mobility and digital access limitations of older adults, and then design a voice-friendly, accessible UX solution to help them book, manage, and enjoy their rides confidently.
PROBLEM
BMW Designworks challenged us to reimagine autonomous ride booking for elders dependent on caregivers. We found that older users face anxiety around rigid schedules, confusing UIs, and feeling like a burden. Our design challenge: How might we give seniors more control, flexibility, and confidence when booking rides?
INSIGHT
We used simulation (blindfolds and noise-canceling headphones) to reveal orientation issues and sensory gaps. We interviewed elders and caregivers, created personas & journey maps. Key themes: vulnerability → growing trust, orientation & wayfinding issues, emotional disconnect. Pain points included fixed pickup times, lack of feedback, and leaving the user uncertain during all parts of the ride. Competitive analysis showed competitors like Uber, Waymo, GoGoGrandparent have limited or no features like voice booking, standby/snooze modes, or itinerary sharing — gaps Wheelie fills.
SOLUTION
Early sketches explored high-text vs large-icon UI. Mid-fi prototypes included voice-activated booking flows, standby/snooze mode, multi-stop trip planning, and a live itinerary tracker. Features like “confirm or standby pickup” were added after testing. Interfaces built with large text/buttons, voice feedback, and simplified flows.
RESEARCH + PROCESS
