A review of contemporary techniques for measuring ergonomic wear comfort of protective and sport clothing

Protective and sport clothing is governed by protection requirements, performance, and comfort of the user. The comfort and impact performance of protective and sport clothing are typically subjectively measured, and this is a multifactorial and dynamic process. The aim of this review paper is to review the contemporary methodologies and approaches for measuring ergonomic wear comfort, including objective and subjective techniques. Special emphasis is given to the discussion of different methods, such as objective techniques, subjective techniques, and a combination of techniques, as well as a new biomechanical approach called modeling of skin. Literature indicates that there are four main techniques to measure wear comfort: subjective evaluation, objective measurements, a combination of subjective and objective techniques, and computer modeling of human–textile interaction. In objective measurement methods, the repeatability of results is excellent, and quantified results are obtained, but in some cases, such quantified results are quite different from the real perception of human comfort. Studies indicate that subjective analysis of comfort is less reliable than objective analysis because human subjects vary among themselves. Therefore, it can be concluded that a combination of objective and subjective measuring techniques could be the valid approach to model the comfort of textile materials

Textile materials intended for sportswear

Aktivna sportska odjeća je odjeća određenih funkcija sa svrhom zadovoljavanja očekivanih svojstava i pružanje odgovarajuće pomoći sportašima u postizanju sportskih rezultata. Osim funkcionalnosti, važan aspekt sportske odjeće je i toplinsko fiziološka udobnost kod nošenja, posebno kada se sportske aktivnosti odvijaju u zahtjevnim temperaturnim uvjetima (kod visokih ili niskih temperatura) tijekom dugog vremenskog razdoblja. Pravilan izbor odjeće može značajno smanjiti dinamička i toplinska opterećenja sportaša. Razvoj tekstilne znanosti i tehnologije usmjeren je u istraživanja razvoja vlakana visokih i posebnih svojstava za razne primjene. Tako se mnogo ulaže u tehnološke inovacije tekstilnih materijala (od vlakana, pređa, plošnih i 3D tvorevina) što rezultira poboljšanim svojstvima sportske odjeće. Osim toga, mnogo se pažnje posvećuje dizajnu koji također doprinosi poboljšanju performansi sportske odjeće. Ovdje će se ukazati na postignuća u području razvoja sportske odjeće namijenjene profesionalnim sportašima. Razmatrani su čimbenici utjecaja na udobnost sportske odjeće, a posebna pozornost posvećena je inovacijama u području materijala s učinkom hlađenja.Active sportswear is clothing of certain functions with the aim of ensuring the expected properties of certain sports. An important aspect of sportswear is thermal physiological comfort, especially when sports activities take place in demanding atmospheric conditions (at high or low temperatures) over a long period of time. Proper selection of clothing can significantly reduce the dynamic and thermal loads of athletes. Innovations in textile science and technology is focused on research into the development of fibres of high and special properties for various applications. So, a lot of investment in technological innovations of textile materials from fibres, yarns to fabric and 3D textile structure which results in improved performance of sportswear. In addition, much attention is paid to design that also contributes to improving the performance of sportswear. Here, it will be pointed on significant achievements in the field of sportswear intended for professional athletes. Various aspects that affect the comfort of clothing, the impact of different types of fibres, yarns and innovative structures of textile fabrics intended for the production of sportswear are discussed. Also, special emphasis is given to innovations in the field of jerseys with cooling effect

Research and Industry Practices in Designing Clothes for Optimal Participation of Persons with a Physical Disability

Contexte : Les vêtements sont importants dans la société et favorisent la participation des personnes ayant des déficiences physiques. Il existe peu d’information indiquant si l’industrie de la mode comprend leurs besoins. Objectifs : 1) Examiner le rôle des vêtements sur la participation des personnes ayant une déficience physique. 2) Explorer les perspectives des représentants de l'industrie de la mode vis à vis la littérature ainsi que les facteurs influençant la mobilisation des connaissances. Méthodologie : 1) Un examen de la portée a été réalisé à partir de six bases de données scientifiques, Google et plusieurs consultations d’experts. 2) Des entretiens semi-structurés ont été menés auprès des représentants de l'industrie de la mode. Résultats : 1) Cinquante-sept articles et 88 sites Web ont été sélectionnés. Des problèmes vestimentaires affectant la mobilité et les soins ressortaient fréquemment ainsi que divers facteurs personnels. Quarante-neuf pourcent des articles décrivaient des caractéristiques essentielles à la conception de vêtements adaptés. 2) Cinq entrevues révèlent l’importance de l’acquisition des connaissances pour concevoir des vêtements adaptés. Des barrières de temps, de fabrication et de commercialisation ont été identifiées au sein de l’industrie. Plus de ressources, de visibilité, de consultation et d’engagement de l’industrie permettraient des avancées dans le domaine du vêtement adapté. Conclusion : Les vêtements influencent de façon multidimensionnelle la participation des personnes. Un meilleur partenariat entre les chercheurs, les cliniciens, les personnes ayant des déficiences et l’industrie de la mode pourrait améliorer la conception de vêtement adaptés.Background: Clothing is important in human societies and could play a central role in optimizing participation of persons with physical disabilities. It is unclear whether the fashion industry understands the clothing needs of these individuals. Objectives: 1) Examine the role of clothing on participation of persons with physical disabilities, 2) Explore perspectives of representatives of the fashion industry vis à vis the literature and factors influencing uptake of this knowledge. Methodology: 1) A scoping review including six research databases, Google, and multiple expert consultations was performed. 2) Semi-structured interviews with fashion industry representatives were conducted. Results: 1) Fifty-seven articles and 88 websites were retrieved. Clothing-related issues impacting Mobility and Self-Care were frequently reported as were various personal factors. Forty-nine percent of articles reported essential clothing design features. 2) Five interviews found that acquiring knowledge for designing adapted clothing is important and time-, manufacturing-, marketing-, and purchasing-related barriers exist in the industry. Increased resources, exposure, guidance, and engagement within the fashion industry may help advance the field of adapted clothing. Conclusion: Clothing has a multidimensional influence on participation. Solidifying collaborations between researchers, clinicians, persons with disabilities, and the fashion industry may add credibility to future clothing designs

A research on footwear and foot interaction through anatomy and human engineering

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Industrial Design, Izmir, 2005Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 144)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishxix, 155 leavesThe main purpose of this thesis is to examine the footwear design from the human engineering point of view. Traditionally, the concern of the designer has mostly concerned to the form in footwear design field, but user and environment-conscious designer should think about the value and compatibility of the footwear to experience comfort, performance, safety and satisfaction during use. To develop the "Footwear Design" in a human centered way, the designer should be able to synthesis the datum of design that had been analyzed from the "Human Engineering. point of view and able to assess or evaluate which design solution is better and compatible for human mobility.The basic aim of this study is to help designers to comprehend the conceptual infrastructure of footwear and foot interaction such as anatomy, anthropometry, biomechanics, physical characteristics, and ergonomics.One of the main purposes of chapter 2 is to examine the every aspect of industrial product design from the human engineering point of view and in this context, the definition of footwear design elements.In chapter 3, the foot structure is analyzed from the anatomical, morphological and biomechanical point of view with respect to foot-footwear interaction and human engineering and the Failings of modern footwear design and its discordant features and detrimental manner for the foot natural characteristics are examined to attract the attention of the designers for perceiving the responsibility that they have.In chapter 4, there are two main sections which contain fundamental design criteria through foot- footwear interaction and ergonomic considerations. Then the innovative and affirmative characteristic of modern footwear design is analyzed to encourage the designer to design the better products to drive the footwear design to new heights with respect to human nature using appropriate materials and appropriate forms

Developing a Toolkit for Disability Inclusion in Sportswear Design Practice: Focusing on Consumers with an Upper Limb Impairment or Difference

This research investigates how sportswear industry designers can better understand consumers with an upper limb impairment or difference to create adaptive or inclusive sportswear. Recently, an increase of inclusive and adaptive apparel has appeared on the market, but many disabled consumers remain underserved. Although the Paralympics have increased in popularity and more companies are embracing disability inclusion, adaptive and inclusive sportswear remains limited. Consistent exclusion can have a negative psychological influence akin to facing repeated rejection, and barriers to participation in sport can impact well-being. Yet there remains a gap in research on design practice for adaptive or inclusive sportswear on an industry level. The aim of this study is to develop pragmatic guidance for industry designers to consider sportswear inclusion of people with an upper limb impairment or difference. Applying the social model of disability, barriers of sportswear exclusion were examined on industry, social, and garment levels. A literature review was conducted on functional and adaptive apparel design, apparel industry practice, and inclusive design. Within a participatory design approach, primary research entailed iterative stakeholder engagement. Individuals with an upper limb impairment or difference (users), sportswear designers, and a biomechanics researcher were interviewed about perspectives on adaptive sportswear design. User workshops were conducted to ideate challenges, needs, and solutions for mainstream sportswear inclusion. Findings were thematically mapped and validated with stakeholders. A desire for greater inclusion and representation existed with both users and industry, but a disconnect remained in how and where to begin designing with this consumer community. Thus, the final output is a toolkit to guide sportswear designers in better understanding and collaborating with this consumer group for more relevant product offerings. Broader implications include application of this framework and toolkit to facilitate design inclusion of other marginalised groups in apparel industry, fashion design education, or design researc

Workplace health promotion to facilitate physical activity among office workers in Sweden

Office workers spend most of their working time being sedentary, contributing to a sedentary lifestyle that increases the risk of developing disease and disability. A gradual decline in cardiorespiratory fitness among adults, along with increased rate of non-communicable diseases across developed countries, makes the workplace an important opportunity for promoting healthy behaviors. This study aimed to investigate: how office companies in Sweden organize and provide workplace health promotion services related to physical activity; the companies' vision for providing workplace health promotion; and potential facilitators and barriers. Nine informants from eight companies participated in the study, and both qualitative and quantitative data were collected by semi-structured interviews. Informants were selected through purposive sampling in collaboration with eight companies in the office market, including companies that own and develop office buildings, shared workspaces, interior design, sustainable solutions, or consult on issues related to the office sector. The framework method was used to analyze the data in a flexible and systematic way. The results showed that workplace health promotion is implemented to maintain employee health, productivity, and employee branding. Also, a significant number of financial resources, organizational support and office space are devoted to workplace health promotion. Convenience and easy access to storage and fitness facilities are key facilitators. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of employees' engagement in developing and improving workplace health promotion and addressing work-life balance constraints that hinder a healthy lifestyle. Removing barriers on an organizational level may improve the usage of workplace health promotion related to physical activity among office employees

From wearable towards epidermal computing : soft wearable devices for rich interaction on the skin

Human skin provides a large, always available, and easy to access real-estate for interaction. Recent advances in new materials, electronics, and human-computer interaction have led to the emergence of electronic devices that reside directly on the user's skin. These conformal devices, referred to as Epidermal Devices, have mechanical properties compatible with human skin: they are very thin, often thinner than human hair; they elastically deform when the body is moving, and stretch with the user's skin. Firstly, this thesis provides a conceptual understanding of Epidermal Devices in the HCI literature. We compare and contrast them with other technical approaches that enable novel on-skin interactions. Then, through a multi-disciplinary analysis of Epidermal Devices, we identify the design goals and challenges that need to be addressed for advancing this emerging research area in HCI. Following this, our fundamental empirical research investigated how epidermal devices of different rigidity levels affect passive and active tactile perception. Generally, a correlation was found between the device rigidity and tactile sensitivity thresholds as well as roughness discrimination ability. Based on these findings, we derive design recommendations for realizing epidermal devices. Secondly, this thesis contributes novel Epidermal Devices that enable rich on-body interaction. SkinMarks contributes to the fabrication and design of novel Epidermal Devices that are highly skin-conformal and enable touch, squeeze, and bend sensing with co-located visual output. These devices can be deployed on highly challenging body locations, enabling novel interaction techniques and expanding the design space of on-body interaction. Multi-Touch Skin enables high-resolution multi-touch input on the body. We present the first non-rectangular and high-resolution multi-touch sensor overlays for use on skin and introduce a design tool that generates such sensors in custom shapes and sizes. Empirical results from two technical evaluations confirm that the sensor achieves a high signal-to-noise ratio on the body under various grounding conditions and has a high spatial accuracy even when subjected to strong deformations. Thirdly, Epidermal Devices are in contact with the skin, they offer opportunities for sensing rich physiological signals from the body. To leverage this unique property, this thesis presents rapid fabrication and computational design techniques for realizing Multi-Modal Epidermal Devices that can measure multiple physiological signals from the human body. Devices fabricated through these techniques can measure ECG (Electrocardiogram), EMG (Electromyogram), and EDA (Electro-Dermal Activity). We also contribute a computational design and optimization method based on underlying human anatomical models to create optimized device designs that provide an optimal trade-off between physiological signal acquisition capability and device size. The graphical tool allows for easily specifying design preferences and to visually analyze the generated designs in real-time, enabling designer-in-the-loop optimization. Experimental results show high quantitative agreement between the prediction of the optimizer and experimentally collected physiological data. Finally, taking a multi-disciplinary perspective, we outline the roadmap for future research in this area by highlighting the next important steps, opportunities, and challenges. Taken together, this thesis contributes towards a holistic understanding of Epidermal Devices}: it provides an empirical and conceptual understanding as well as technical insights through contributions in DIY (Do-It-Yourself), rapid fabrication, and computational design techniques.Die menschliche Haut bietet eine große, stets verfügbare und leicht zugängliche Fläche für Interaktion. Jüngste Fortschritte in den Bereichen Materialwissenschaft, Elektronik und Mensch-Computer-Interaktion (Human-Computer-Interaction, HCI) [so that you can later use the Englisch abbreviation] haben zur Entwicklung elektronischer Geräte geführt, die sich direkt auf der Haut des Benutzers befinden. Diese sogenannten Epidermisgeräte haben mechanische Eigenschaften, die mit der menschlichen Haut kompatibel sind: Sie sind sehr dünn, oft dünner als ein menschliches Haar; sie verformen sich elastisch, wenn sich der Körper bewegt, und dehnen sich mit der Haut des Benutzers. Diese Thesis bietet, erstens, ein konzeptionelles Verständnis von Epidermisgeräten in der HCI-Literatur. Wir vergleichen sie mit anderen technischen Ansätzen, die neuartige Interaktionen auf der Haut ermöglichen. Dann identifizieren wir durch eine multidisziplinäre Analyse von Epidermisgeräten die Designziele und Herausforderungen, die angegangen werden müssen, um diesen aufstrebenden Forschungsbereich voranzubringen. Im Anschluss daran untersuchten wir in unserer empirischen Grundlagenforschung, wie epidermale Geräte unterschiedlicher Steifigkeit die passive und aktive taktile Wahrnehmung beeinflussen. Im Allgemeinen wurde eine Korrelation zwischen der Steifigkeit des Geräts und den taktilen Empfindlichkeitsschwellen sowie der Fähigkeit zur Rauheitsunterscheidung festgestellt. Basierend auf diesen Ergebnissen leiten wir Designempfehlungen für die Realisierung epidermaler Geräte ab. Zweitens trägt diese Thesis zu neuartigen Epidermisgeräten bei, die eine reichhaltige Interaktion am Körper ermöglichen. SkinMarks trägt zur Herstellung und zum Design neuartiger Epidermisgeräte bei, die hochgradig an die Haut angepasst sind und Berührungs-, Quetsch- und Biegesensoren mit gleichzeitiger visueller Ausgabe ermöglichen. Diese Geräte können an sehr schwierigen Körperstellen eingesetzt werden, ermöglichen neuartige Interaktionstechniken und erweitern den Designraum für die Interaktion am Körper. Multi-Touch Skin ermöglicht hochauflösende Multi-Touch-Eingaben am Körper. Wir präsentieren die ersten nicht-rechteckigen und hochauflösenden Multi-Touch-Sensor-Overlays zur Verwendung auf der Haut und stellen ein Design-Tool vor, das solche Sensoren in benutzerdefinierten Formen und Größen erzeugt. Empirische Ergebnisse aus zwei technischen Evaluierungen bestätigen, dass der Sensor auf dem Körper unter verschiedenen Bedingungen ein hohes Signal-Rausch-Verhältnis erreicht und eine hohe räumliche Auflösung aufweist, selbst wenn er starken Verformungen ausgesetzt ist. Drittens, da Epidermisgeräte in Kontakt mit der Haut stehen, bieten sie die Möglichkeit, reichhaltige physiologische Signale des Körpers zu erfassen. Um diese einzigartige Eigenschaft zu nutzen, werden in dieser Arbeit Techniken zur schnellen Herstellung und zum computergestützten Design von multimodalen Epidermisgeräten vorgestellt, die mehrere physiologische Signale des menschlichen Körpers messen können. Die mit diesen Techniken hergestellten Geräte können EKG (Elektrokardiogramm), EMG (Elektromyogramm) und EDA (elektrodermale Aktivität) messen. Darüber hinaus stellen wir eine computergestützte Design- und Optimierungsmethode vor, die auf den zugrunde liegenden anatomischen Modellen des Menschen basiert, um optimierte Gerätedesigns zu erstellen. Diese Designs bieten einen optimalen Kompromiss zwischen der Fähigkeit zur Erfassung physiologischer Signale und der Größe des Geräts. Das grafische Tool ermöglicht die einfache Festlegung von Designpräferenzen und die visuelle Analyse der generierten Designs in Echtzeit, was eine Optimierung durch den Designer im laufenden Betrieb ermöglicht. Experimentelle Ergebnisse zeigen eine hohe quantitative Übereinstimmung zwischen den Vorhersagen des Optimierers und den experimentell erfassten physiologischen Daten. Schließlich skizzieren wir aus einer multidisziplinären Perspektive einen Fahrplan für zukünftige Forschung in diesem Bereich, indem wir die nächsten wichtigen Schritte, Möglichkeiten und Herausforderungen hervorheben. Insgesamt trägt diese Arbeit zu einem ganzheitlichen Verständnis von Epidermisgeräten bei: Sie liefert ein empirisches und konzeptionelles Verständnis sowie technische Einblicke durch Beiträge zu DIY (Do-It-Yourself), schneller Fertigung und computergestützten Entwurfstechniken