Designers
ICAROS GmbH
Year
2020
Category
Product
Country
Germany
»ICAROS Cloud is an innovative way to combine a full-body workout with an exciting virtual experience. The training device is partially inflatable, making it accessible to many user groups beyond gyms or fitness centers. Training courses can be experienced in virtual reality, but the interface allows users to connect their smartphones and tablets, as well as VR headsets. The combination of multiple interfaces and ease of storing creates a huge potential for large-scale adoption.«
Olga Madejska
And the Award goes to....
Three questions to the project team
1. What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
The key elements in the development of the ICAROS Cloud as a system were on the one hand to coordinate the interaction of hardware and software in the training context and on the other hand to ensure an intuitive operation of the entire system. The ICAROS Cloud System comprises three main components: the inflatable cloud, the training app ICALETHICS and all common tablets or smartphones (Android and iOS). Since every modern mobile device on the ICAROS Cloud serves both as a measuring instrument (gyroscope and acceleration sensors) and as an output device (screen, sound), we produce a mount that can be adapted to almost all device sizes and can be attached to the inflatable body of the ICAROS Cloud Balance Board in a motion-proof manner.
The tablet or smartphone must be easily accessible for the user between training sessions, without interfering with the training area. The ICAROS Cloud supports the user by its design to manage the respective tasks in ICALETHICS safely and intuitively by shifting weight and balance. The result of our development is a digital, multifunctional training device that is currently already used in fitness centers, physiotherapy and at home. Basically, the ICAROS Cloud is a very simple input device for controlling digital devices.
2. What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
The development of the ICAROS Cloud from prototype to prototype has provided an incredible amount of knowledge and was a lot of fun. Because every new model was clearly better than its predecessors. The project culminated in the moment when we tested our ICALETHICS App on the ICAROS Cloud in cooperation with sports scientists and the system harmonized perfectly. Of course there were setbacks, for example we had to stop the development of an almost finished training software because it made excessive demands on the users and only our team could complete the training. As a result, we learned to test much earlier with inexperienced users and not to assume too much.
3. Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
n many households there will then be an ICAROS Cloud - as a networked home training system. In five years' time, modern fitness clubs will offer ICAROS Cloud group training sessions led by trained trainers. All people who prefer to train from home will be able to participate. You can simply join in live. We already save all training data resulting from ICALETHICS on the web portal ICAROS HUB for the registered user. This data allows networking people to offer digital competitions and group training. Also, many types of training will hardly differ from games - they are simply much more strenuous.
So the range of workouts and experiences will grow steadily to make sports even more attractive and increase motivation. Also, we can already offer flight games in Virtual Reality that you fly through on the cloud. This means that there will be a suitable cloud in the children's room, making a virtual ride on a kite possible.
