ATTO folding mobility scooter makes self-determined travel possible

Mr. Zwart, for which group of people is ATTO designed?

Marcel Zwart: The ATTO is designed for everyone who has trouble walking – ranging from people with disabilities or chronic conditions to older folks who just want to get around more. Its slick design makes it highly appealing to pretty much all sectors and age groups: Once someone sits on the ATTO for the first time and feels how stable it is and how good they look in it – they’re hooked. 

Are there any restrictions for ATTO?

Zwart: We try to accommodate different types of users and their circumstances, so we are constantly working on stretching ATTO’s limits. The current weight restriction is 120kg, speed limit is 6.4 km per hour (according to local regulation) and the battery can last up to 20km. Our next product will have an even longer battery life and an enhanced capacity for weight and speed.

So, can people really take ATTO everywhere with them – even onto a plane?

Zwart: They definitely can, and they do. ATTO is easily transportable in any type of vehicle, on land, see or by air. Some of our users travel frequently by plane and for them ATTO was a huge game-changer. It is permitted on flights, so they actually board the plane with it and store it in the overhead compartment. ATTO also makes it easy to do everyday things, like shopping, running errands or visiting friends. You can take it anywhere with you and use it as needed.

There wasn’t any product like a lightweight, smart high-performance mobility scooter. But you’re not stopping innovating. So, in improving ATTO – how much do you consider the requests of users?

Zwart: If there’s something that I can say about our team with the utmost certainty, is that everyone on it, from sales through customer service to product, never loses touch with the user. We all make it a point to meet at least one user a week and talk to them about their experience. Our product team then takes this feedback and incorporates it into the design process. That’s how we created the opening and closing mechanism that’s so easy to operate, as well as ATTO’s unique ability to split into 2 light-weight parts, making it easier to lift and store. It’s user feedback that also kickstarted the production of ATTO’s full set of accessories, like its mobile phone holder, cane holder, cushions, backpacks, cable kit, flight kit and more. 

What kind of feedback did you get when you exhibited at REHACARE 2019?

Zwart: ATTO has a way of drawing a lot of attention, because of its unique look. It looks more like a fancy gadget than a mobility aid, so it was pretty much the bell of the ball at last year’s trade fair. But one of the more important issues that came up at REHACARE 2019 was light: A dealer who visited our booth talked to us about how helpful it would be to add a headlight to the scooter. So we did. Our next product will entail a built-in light, to ensure maximum safety, even when it’s dark.

What other accessories and features are planned in the near future?

Zwart: These are actually exciting times for us at MovingLife. We are getting ready to launch our next product at REHACARE 2020. We’re calling it ATTO SPORT, because of its dynamic design and enhanced physical capabilities. It can carry heavier weights, ride longer with each battery charge, has shock-absorbing tires and more. It also has a very cool, urban look that we believe people are really going to love.

To what extent is a scooter like ATTO important for self-determined traveling?

Zwart: We actually have users talking to us about this exact topic. Many of them talk about how they can now go to the mall or walk around with their family on a Sunday afternoon. Things they couldn’t really do before they got their ATTO, at least not very easily or spontaneously. But I think one of the main benefits of the ATTO when it comes to travel is the freedom to fly. You can board a plane with ATTO and the trolley mode makes it extremely easy to store within the cabin. It really gives users the sense of independence they didn’t necessarily have before.

Actually, ATTO looks really quite stylish. In which way does this design help to push forward inclusion in our society?

Zwart: People naturally feel empathy towards folks with disabilities, but this empathy is sometimes experienced as pitty, making the disabled person feel unnecessarily separated from the rest. Changing the visual impression of the disability gives you the power to eliminate this sense of separation. ATTO’s look is cool, and people are intrigued when they see it. For a person with a disability, this is a game-changer.

We have users who used to not leave their house before they got their ATTO, because they didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for them, riding around in a wheelchair or some other mobility aid. With ATTO they ride with pride. Also, ATTO is a conversation starter. Because of its unique design, people are prone to asking questions about it. This opens a dialog that used to be tabooed. Disability is a topic that most of us don’t feel comfortable bringing up, but talking about the scooter opens a candid discussion about it.

Now keep in mind that when you’re sitting on ATTO and talking to someone – there’s also the height factor. ATTO lets you sit rather high, bringing you closer to eye level. I think this all adds up to helping society see people with disabilities as what they are ... people! People with normal lives who go to work, raise families, run errands, socialize and travel. It bridges the gap between people with disabilities and non-disabled people, by providing the freedom to do more.