Advances in Usability, User Experience, Wearable and Assistive Technology

Table of Contents

1. Frontmatter

2. Human Factors and Wearable Technologies

   1. Frontmatter

   2. Design Principles for Mobile Brain-Body Imaging Devices with Optimized Ergonomics

      Niell Gorman, Antoinette Louw, Alex Craik, Jose Gonzalez, Jeff Feng, Jose L. Contreras-Vidal

      Abstract

      Mobile brain-body imaging (MoBI) technology allows the study of the brain in action and the context of complex natural settings. MoBI devices are wearable devices that typically record the scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) and head motion of the user. MoBI systems have applications in neuroscience, rehabilitation, design, and other applications. Here, we propose design principles for MoBI systems for use in brain-machine interfaces for rehabilitation by individuals with movement disabilities. This design study discusses the validity of the process of utilizing 3D anthropometric data as a basis to design a MoBI headset for an optimized fit and ergonomics. The study also discusses the need for ensuring that EEG sensors keep constant contact with the scalp and face for the best scan quality. Moreover, the need for single-handed correct positioning of the headset is discussed to address disabilities in the older populations and clinical populations with motor impairments.

   3. Training Capabilities Assessment in Support of Enhanced Military Training: Comparing Head-Mounted Displays

      Maartje Hidalgo, Scott Harris, Wiley Boland, Tristin Halfman, Joan Johnston, Travis Hillyer, Debra Patton, Linda Elliott

      Abstract

      The U.S. Army invests significant resources to modernize and develop new training systems. The Synthetic Training Environment (STE) converges different environments into a common synthetic environment, including integration with Live Training Environment (LTE) systems that are considered to replace legacy systems with more realistic technology. This paper describes use of the Training Capabilities Assessment (TCA) method to assess a training proof of concept for a STE LTE-enabled M320 grenade launcher, using two mixed reality headsets. This method relies heavily on input from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in terms of criticality of realism in a set of attributes for training/task execution and in terms of capability of the system to provide these attributes. The results show where the proof of concept is meeting the requirement and where a gap exists between capability and requirement with the headsets. The paper concludes with recommendations for improvement.

   4. Interactive Floor Mapping with Depth Sensors

      Yang Cai, Uma Arunachalam

      Abstract

      Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms have been growing popular in indoor navigation and mapping. However, it often fails in many real-world environments, such as low-lighting, fast motion, featureless walls, and large buildings. There are also usability issues with the 3D point clouds for actual indoor localization and mapping for humans and autonomous robots. In this study, we use depth sensor to generate 3D point cloud and then register that to the 2D building floor plan or footprint. We extract the ground plane from the point cloud and create a 2D point cloud and contours to be registered to the map. The experiments show that 2D map is more intuitive than 3D point cloud. Furthermore, the contour map reduces computational time in orders of magnitude. We also developed a graphical user interface to enable the user to register the 2D point cloud interactively. It is a new way to use SLAM data. Our case studies in large office buildings demonstrate that this approach is simple, intuitive, and effective to enhance the localization and mapping in the real-world.

   5. Detecting Daytime Bruxism Through Convenient and Wearable Around-the-Ear Electrodes

      Michael Thomas Knierim, Max Schemmer, Dominik Woehler

      Abstract

      Bruxism is associated with multiple health issues and affects millions of people worldwide. To enable effective interventions, precise, easy-to-use and unobtrusive detection systems are required. Unfortunately, especially for daytime bruxism, such systems still rely on electrodes placed on the face, recording diaries, and manual algorithm tuning. In this work, we present a novel approach for bruxing event detection using comfortable and inconspicuous around-the-ear sensors (cEEGrids) as a form of distal EMG-based measurement. Using Random Forest classifiers on laboratory experiment data, promising F1-scores (up to 0.9) are found for the detection of bruxing events in contrast to a variety of other facial muscle activity events. Thereby, a promising new alternative for feasible awake bruxism detection is demonstrated.

   6. On the Diversity of Self-tracking Purposes: Systematizing the Objectives in Tracking Oneself

      Fabienne Lambusch, Michael Fellmann, Christoph Rosenau, André Gember

      Abstract

      With the ongoing spread of smart devices, self-tracking increasingly finds its way into everyday use. Even a community has formed around it, called the “Quantified Selfers”. A pivotal question to further develop appropriate tools tailored to people’s needs in the future is: For what purposes do people try to systematically track their data digitally? This question is fundamental as different goals of tracking might lead to different needs and requirements, e.g. in terms of the collected data or the provided data analyses. Since knowledge regarding the purposes of self-tracking is scattered among various works, we provide a consolidated overview through a systematic literature review. In contrast to frequently mentioned health-related purposes, there are a lot less apparent purposes that are connected, for example, to a community, awareness, or life experiences. We present our systematization of the purposes as frame for consideration in future developments and research.

   7. Wearables for Quality Assurance in Manual Assembly: A Qualitative Study

      Kristin Wagner, Rebecca Maria Ries, Patrick Poetters, Bert Leyendecker, Holger Beckmann

      Abstract

      This paper presents a qualitative study to investigate the economic and technical relevance of wearables in quality management of a manual assembly. Examining the usage of wearables for business purposes, it can be determined that wearables are not yet widespread in the production industry. However, wearables offer significant optimization opportunities in terms of increased efficiency, error reduction, and quality control, as well as more economical and safer working methods. As a preliminary investigation for a research project regarding a selection tool for wearables in quality management, we conducted eleven guided expert interviews to point out the relevance and importance of this research topic, especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME). The interview results confirm the need to create a selection assistant, which supports companies choosing the right wearable for their quality processes. It turned out that SMEs, in particular, need support in the selection and implementation of wearables.

   8. The Pattern-Making and Refinement of a Smart Compression Trouser Design for Taiwan University Football Team

      Ying-Chia Huang, Wei-Hai Yang, Hsiu-Ling Hu, Chien-Chang Ho

      Abstract

      This research seeks to develop smart compression trousers for the 15 male and 15 female members of the Taiwan University football team. The study employs a non-random sample to interview 30 footballers to collect their body measurement data, and to survey their intended use of the garments, in order to determine the appropriate smart garment sizing. The garments are constructed using a hands-on method, involving manual body measurements, and using the design procedure of invention patent No. I1621405 and apparel design. The research produces three specific results from the 30 interviews conducted. The athletes express a preference for black, white, and navy blue garments, with the functional properties of moisture-wicking, dryness, and breathability, and a clean, dynamic, and powerful sportswear style. They prefer to employ an electronic module with breathing, heartbeat, mood, and pressure sensors, in the chest location, or at the back of the neck. The study employs CLO 3D to establish the garment pattern virtually, before the physical sample construction.

   9. Detection of Racial Bias from Physiological Responses

      Fateme Nikseresht, Runze Yan, Rachel Lew, Yingzheng Liu, Rose M. Sebastian, Afsaneh Doryab

      Abstract

      Despite the evolution of norms and regulations to mitigate the harm from biases, harmful discrimination linked to an individual’s unconscious biases persists. Our goal is to better understand and detect the physiological and behavioral indicators of implicit biases. This paper investigates whether we can reliably detect racial bias from physiological responses, including heart rate, conductive skin response, skin temperature, and micro-body movements. We analyzed data from 46 subjects whose physiological data was collected with Empatica E4 wristband while taking an Implicit Association Test (IAT). Our machine learning and statistical analysis show that implicit bias can be predicted from physiological signals with 76.1% accuracy. Our results also show that the EDA signal associated with skin response has the strongest correlation with racial bias and that there are significant differences between the values of EDA features for biased and unbiased participants.

   10. The Importance of Product Language: An Exploratory Study of Smartwatches for Remote Healthcare

       Bahar Khayamian Esfahani, Daniel Ganji

       Abstract

       The rise in wearable technologies that track health data is evolving at an increasing pace linking personal devices such as mobile devices and smartwatches for remote healthcare. This transformation is creating new opportunities for designers to improve user experience with wearable devices for healthcare. An essential dimension of user experience is associated with optimising human-centred design principles to develop targeted interventions to enhance user interaction with a product. Those principles, including affordances in a product, system or service, resulting in improved engagement, making wearable devices more desirable. An exploratory study was conducted and demonstrated a constructive relationship between the product language and understanding the role of gender to facilitate user engagement in the context of smartwatches. The results of our study suggest that the inclusion of gender has substantial potential to optimise user engagement with wearable devices and concludes with a path forwards for design research to promote gender awareness in product language for health promotion.

   11. Pilot State Monitoring Wearable Systems in Real Environment: Pilot’s Usability and Acceptance Feedback to Enhance Risk Management

       Daniele Ruscio, Thomas Feuerle, Jesper Sandgaard, Lisanne-Patricia Azzam-Riecher, Michael Langer, Keyvan Bayram

       Abstract

       In times of increasingly complex working environment, Airline pilots seems to be exposed to the risk of sustained cognitive demands, stress, workload that could potentially lead to cognitive fatigue. In this situation, the likelihood of human errors/mistakes could also increase. The main challenge of the present research is to validate and implement a Pilot State Monitoring (PSM) wearable system and near-infrared cameras to identify actual stress and workload levels of pilots, in real-environment flights. The setup of PSM devices into the live environment of an airline cockpit requires an assessment of technological, organizational, and safety & security aspects, including pilots’ usability and acceptance of the wearable PSM itself. A three-fold approach, adapting ISO 9241–210, was used to include the context of use and organizational requirement into the design process. Such methodological approach allows to assess the effectiveness of wearable for predicting actual pi-lot’s workload, stress, and fatigue in real-environment flights.

   12. Children’s Garments Based Near Filed Positioning Safety Oriented to Intelligence

       Wenjin Hong, Yu Miao

       Abstract

       Design/methodology/approach-Functional clothes combining textiles, wireless devices, electronics, communication technologies, and software have attracted considerable attention in recent years. The integration of pervasive small wireless sensor signaling systems, electrical circuits, Bluetooth Low Energy, and smart electrical devices on garment surfaces using conductive threads is usually limited by the conductivity, washability, durability, and manufacturing process of the material. The iBeacon works using low-energy Bluetooth technology. It can pinpoint the location of and send notifications about items. The iBeacon is controlled by the Bluetooth ARM processor. Related electronic control circuits are placed on the fabric findings-The locating information from the iBeacon is controlled using a small wireless sensor based on electronic circuits. The iBeacon location models are controlled using Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth 4.0 and Bluetooth Smart), which senses the location and nursing activities of the children. The children can be located in a variety of locations including inside a house, at school, or in the supermarket originality/value-In this paper, iBeacon construction models were successfully implemented. Functional iBeacon positioning children’s garments, such as suits, jackets, and skirts, were realized using four hardware components and one software component.

   13. The Perception and Acceptance of Wearable Fitness Devices Among People and Designing Interventions for Prolonged Use

       Swati Sarkar, Debkumar Chakrabarti

       Abstract

       Physical activity has been considered an essential health factor. Monitoring and promoting the level of physical activity in day-to-day life can tremendously improve people's health outcomes. With the increase in health awareness among people, the use of fitness devices has significantly increased. Wearable Fitness Technology (WFT) is an innovative technology that has already established its benchmark in the world market. There are various categories of people intending to avail of this facility. These devices positively motivate the users to indulge them in fitness regimes and hence derive health benefits. With the advancement in wearable technology, researchers have received opportunities with a new wave of research. However, most of the research has focused on establishing these devices' reliability and accuracy; very little research focuses on their adoption and acceptance. This paper deals with the user perception and acceptance of WFT.

   14. Innovative Design of Indigo Print in Soft Smart Knitted Garments

       Hongmei Jin

       Abstract

       As the integration of culture and technology continues to deepen, the need for cultural self-confidence is further enhanced. Aiming at the lack of traditional cultural connotation in the design of soft smart knitted garments, this paper discusses the traditional artistic characteristics of Indigo Print in southern Zhejiang area by using the literature comprehensive method and practice research method, and further studies the application of artistic elements of Indigo Print in soft smart knitted garments. From dyeing and finishing, weaving, pattern, process re-creation and design, etc., in combination with the requirements for style design characteristics of soft smart knitted garments, the traditional cultural elements of Indigo Print were integrated into soft smart knitted garments, creating an innovative style of knitted garment integrating soft smart technology and culture, so as to increase the added value of knitted garments, exhibit cultural self-confidence and innovation, and make products more competitive in the market. It is of great significance for the transformation and upgrading of the traditional knitted garment industry.

   15. Evaluation of VR/AR Visual Comfort Based on Color Perception

       Xiaoli Fan, Ye Yan, Erwei Yin, Mengjin Cai, Liang Xie, Ningci Wang

       Abstract

       With the rapid development of multimedia technology and Internet technology, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are becoming more and more mature as the typical cutting-edge three-dimensional video technology. However, the visual comfort of three-dimensional image has gradually become an important factor related to the visual safety and physiological health of viewers. Aiming at the color difference of left and right eye views in VR/AR stereoscopic video, quantitative experiments through subjective assessment were conducted to study the influence of Hue, Saturation and Brightness (HSB) on visual comfort in binocular stereoscopic video, and VR/AR comfort relationship models based on HSB was established. The universality of the models was further verified through experiments, and the results showed that the matching accuracy rate between the subjective evaluation results and the VR/AR comfort relationship models reached more than 80%, that is, the model had a high consistency with the subjective evaluation results, which will provide a reference for the evaluation of VR/AR stereo video visual comfort.