5,077 research outputs found
Estimating posture-recognition performance in sensing garments using geometric wrinkle modeling
A fundamental challenge limiting information quality obtained from smart sensing garments is the influence of textile movement relative to limbs. We present and validate a comprehensive modeling and simulation framework to predict recognition performance in casual loose-fitting garments. A statistical posture and wrinkle-modeling approach is introduced to simulate sensor orientation errors pertained to local garment wrinkles. A metric was derived to assess fitting, the body-garment mobility. We validated our approach by analyzing simulations of shoulder and elbow rehabilitation postures with respect to experimental data using actual casual garments. Results confirmed congruent performance trends with estimation errors below 4% for all study participants. Our approach allows to estimate the impact of fitting before implementing a garment and performing evaluation studies with it. These simulations revealed critical design parameters for garment prototyping, related to performed body posture, utilized sensing modalities, and garment fitting. We concluded that our modeling approach can substantially expedite design and development of smart garments through early-stage performance analysis
Vigour : smart textile services to support rehabilitation
"Vigour" is a garment that shows the possibilities of smart textile services for geriatric rehabilitation exercises. It is the result of a collaborative design process between a design researcher, three therapists, an eldercare manager, a textile developer and an embedded systems designer. Vigour embodies the knowledge that was accumulated during the collaborative design process. We contribute to the theme of experimentation in design research by showing the value of experimentation in a participatory setting through the iterations leading to the final garment. Further, we will briefly describe three of the steps that lead to the final prototype
Influence of a loose-fitting sensing garment on posture recognition in rehabilitation
Several smart sensing garments have been proposed for postural and movement rehabilitation. Existing systems require a tight-fitting of the garment at body segments and precise sensor positioning. In this work, we analyzed errors of a loose-fitting sensing garment on the automatic recognition of 21 postures, relevant in shoulder and elbow-rehabilitation. The recognition performance of garment-attached acceleration sensors and additional skin-attached references was compared to discuss challenges in a garment-based classification of postures. The analysis was done with one fixed-size shirt worn by seven participants of varying body proportions. The classification accuracy using data from garment-integrated sensors was on average 13% lower compared to that of skin-attached reference sensors. This relation remained constant even after selecting an optimal input feature set. For garment-attached sensors, we observed that the loss in classification accuracy decreased, if the body dimension increased. Moreover, the alignment error of individual postures was analyzed, to identify movements and postures that are particularly affected by garment fitting aspects. Contrarily, we showed that 14 of the 21 rehabilitation-relevant postures result in a low sensor alignment error. We believe that these results indicate critical design aspects for the deployment of comfortable garments in movement rehabilitation and should be considered in garment and posture selection. © 2008 IEEE
Smart vest for respiratory rate monitoring of COPD patients based on non-contact capacitive sensing
In this paper, a first approach to the design of a portable device for non-contact monitoring
of respiratory rate by capacitive sensing is presented. The sensing system is integrated into a smart
vest for an untethered, low-cost and comfortable breathing monitoring of Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients during the rest period between respiratory rehabilitation
exercises at home. To provide an extensible solution to the remote monitoring using this sensor and
other devices, the design and preliminary development of an e-Health platform based on the Internet
of Medical Things (IoMT) paradigm is also presented. In order to validate the proposed solution,
two quasi-experimental studies have been developed, comparing the estimations with respect to the
golden standard. In a first study with healthy subjects, the mean value of the respiratory rate error,
the standard deviation of the error and the correlation coefficient were 0.01 breaths per minute (bpm),
0.97 bpm and 0.995 (p < 0.00001), respectively. In a second study with COPD patients, the values
were -0.14 bpm, 0.28 bpm and 0.9988 (p < 0.0000001), respectively. The results for the rest period
show the technical and functional feasibility of the prototype and serve as a preliminary validation of
the device for respiratory rate monitoring of patients with COPD.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PI15/00306Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación DTS15/00195Junta de Andalucía PI-0010-2013Junta de Andalucía PI-0041-2014Junta de Andalucía PIN-0394-201
Textile-based wearable sensors for assisting sports performance
There is a need for wearable sensors to assess physiological signals and body kinematics during exercise. Such sensors need to be straightforward to use, and ideally the complete system integrated fully within a garment. This would allow wearers to monitor their progress as they undergo an exercise training programme without the need to attach external devices. This takes physiological monitoring into a more natural setting. By developing textile sensors the intelligence is integrated into a sports garment in an innocuous manner. A number of textile based sensors are presented here that have been integrated into garments for various sports applications
Smart nanotextiles: materials and their application
Textiles are ubiquitous to us, enveloping our skin and
surroundings. Not only do they provide a protective
shield or act as a comforting cocoon but they also
serve esthetic appeal and cultural importance. Recent
technologies have allowed the traditional functionality
of textiles to be extended. Advances in materials
science have added intelligence to textiles and created
‘smart’ clothes.
Smart textiles can sense and react to environmental
conditions or stimuli, e.g., from mechanical, thermal,
chemical, electrical, or magnetic sources (Lam Po
Tang and Stylios 2006). Such textiles find uses in many
applications ranging from military and security to
personalized healthcare, hygiene, and entertainment.
Smart textiles may be termed ‘‘passive’’ or ‘‘active.’’ A
passive smart textile monitors the wearer’s physiology
or the environment, e.g., a shirt with in-built
thermistors to log body temperature over time. If
actuators are integrated, the textile becomes an active,
smart textile as it may respond to a particular stimulus,
e.g., the temperature-aware shirt may automatically
roll up the sleeves when body temperature rises.
The fundamental components in any smart textile
are sensors and actuators. Interconnections, power
supply, and a control unit are also needed to complete
the system. All these components must be integrated
into textiles while still retaining the usual
tactile, flexible, and comfortable properties that we
expect from a textile. Adding new functionalities to
textiles while still maintaining the look and feel of the
fabric is where nanotechnology has a huge impact on
the textile industry. This article describes current developments
in materials for smart nanotextiles and
some of the many applications where these innovative
textiles are of great benefit
Sensor Sleeve: Sensing Affective Gestures
We describe the use of textile sensors mounted in a garment sleeve to detect affective gestures. The `Sensor Sleeve' is part of a larger project to explore the role of affect in communications. Pressure activated, capacitive and elasto-resistive sensors are investigated and their relative merits reported on. An implemented application is outlined in which a cellphone receives messages derived from the sleeve's sensors using a Bluetooth interface, and relays the signals as text messages to the user's nominated partner
Dynamic Field Programmable Logic-Driven Soft Exosuit
The next generation of etextiles foresees an era of smart wearable garments
where embedded seamless intelligence provides the ability to sense, process and
perform. Core to this vision is embedded textile functionality enabling dynamic
configuration. In this paper we detail a methodology, design and implementation
of a dynamic field programmable logic-driven fabric soft exosuit. Dynamic field
programmability allows the soft exosuit to alter its functionality and adapt to
specific exercise programs depending on the wearers need. The dynamic field
programmability is enabled through motion based control arm movements of the
soft exosuit triggering momentary sensors embedded in the fabric exosuit at
specific joint placement points (right arm: wrist, elbow).The embedded
circuitry in the fabric exosuit is implemented using a layered and
interchangeable approach. This includes logic gate patches (AND,OR,NOT) and a
layered textile interconnection panel. This modular and interchangeable design
enhances the soft exosuits flexibility and adaptability. A truth table aligning
to a rehabilitation healthcare use case was utilised. Tests were completed
validating the field programmability of the soft exosuit and its capability to
switch between its embedded logic driven circuitry and its operational and
functionality options controlled by motion movement of the wearers right arm
(elbow and wrist). Iterative exercise movement and acceleration based tests
were completed to validate the functionality of the field programmable logic
driven fabric exosuit. We demonstrate a working soft exosuit prototype with
motion controlled operational functionality that can be applied to
rehabilitation applications.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figure
A user centered design methodology for functional and smart garments
Bioswim® is a multidisciplinary project that is developing a wireless full-body monitored swimsuit with the aim of increasing swimmer performance. The different points of view of the multiple working groups brought to the project a different vision that expanded the primary aim of the project to a universal level where the application of the instrumented suit for other objectives could be a real fact.
Given that most research user-centred methodologies, although straying from the user needs, are in the end actually focused on the final design product, a different approach to the problem had to be found by the working group: to have the user’s input as a significant and central part of the project. Within the project, a new methodology - the User Centered Layered Methodology (UCLM),
was designed, implemented and tested.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Projeto Bioswi
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