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Piaggio Fast Forward: Exploring “pedestrianism”
We explored who, in the space of innovation on mobility, is driving disruptive conversation, asking where extreme innovation, based on data, sustainability, technology, meets empathy, human needs and return on society?
Our vision
Mobility is key to successful economies and to citizen building in the North East to be awarded the certification health and wellbeing. We explored who, in the space of innovation on mobility, is driving disruptive conversation, asking where extreme innovation, based on data, sustainability, technology, meets empathy, human needs and return on society? After all, plenty of devices are already available to this audience. And we also know that acceptance isn’t automatic – it must be earned by truly addressing core human needs, not just coming up with the next ‘big thing’. For these reasons, we have focused on the most efficient, enjoyable and least polluting means of mobility: walking!
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The project
Piaggio Fast Forward (PFF) is a spin-off company of Piaggio - the inventor of the Vespa, one of the world's most iconic mass transit vehicles - dedicated to support a sustainable mobility ecology with healthy lifestyles and social connectivity available to all, regardless of age or abilities. PFF has recently launched GITA on the market - a knee-high robot that holds her owner’s things and follows them while they walk throughout their day.
With PFF we are testing if lightweight machines like GITA will be part of the future our urban landscape and if and how they will be accepted by older adults.
We will explore how:
- GITA can help mitigate loneliness and isolation both actively -for example, taking people shopping) – and passively – epresenting a social attractor to other citizens simply through its amazing form and function.
- GITA, despite not having any interaction function typical of robots in this era – (GITA doesn’t talk, but emits cute feedback sounds! )- can generate a sense of empathy, companionship and mutual care by encouraging people to “take her for a ride” and thus stimulate healthy behaviour.
- COVID19 suggested some scenarios dictated by social distancing, such as allowing a shopping trip in a supermarket led by an attendant to be returned to its rightful owner at the exit.