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As electronic textiles have become more advanced in sensing, actuating, and manufacturing, incorporating smartness into fabrics has become of special interest to ubiquitous computing and interaction researchers and designers. However, innovating smart textile interfaces for numerous input and output modalities usually requires expert-level knowledge of specific materials, fabrication, and protocols. This paper presents EmTex, a construction kit based on embroidered textiles, patterned with dedicated sensing, actuating, and connecting components to facilitate the design and prototyping of smart textile interfaces. With machine embroidery, EmTex is compatible with a wide range of threads and underlay fabrics, proficient in various stitches to control the electric parameters, and capable of integrating versatile and reliable interaction functionalities with aesthetic patterns and precise designs. EmTex consists of 28 textile-based sensors, actuators, connectors, and displays, presented with standardized visual and tactile effects. Along with a visual programming tool, EmTex enables the prototyping of everyday textile interfaces for diverse life-living scenarios, that embody their touch input, and visual and haptic output properties. With EmTex, we conducted a workshop and invited 25 designers and makers to create freeform textile interfaces. Our findings revealed that EmTex helped the participants explore novel interaction opportunities with various smart textile prototypes. We also identified challenges EmTex shall face for practical use in promoting the design innovation of smart textiles.[......]继续阅读
Smart textile sensors have attracted increasing interest in the domain of wearable computing for human motion monitoring. Previous studies have shown that textile sensor layout has a major impact on the effectiveness and performance of wearable prototypes. However, it is still a trick and time-consuming issue to determine textile sensor layout in a quantitative approach as it involves figuring out the number, placement, and even orientations of sensors, yet there is no streamlined digital platform or tool specifically addressing this issue. In this paper, we introduce LayTex, a digital tool capable of generating layout proposals for personalized scenarios, which aims at facilitating designers and researchers to construct prototypes efficiently. The preliminary evaluation with designers on smart garments for scoliosis indicates that LayTex has great potential to lower the barriers and simplify the process of textile prototype construction.[......]继续阅读
The shoulder joint plays a crucial role in the recovery of upper limb function. However, conventional wearable technologies employed for monitoring shoulder joint movements predominantly rely on inertial sensing units (IMUs), which may suffer alignment errors and compromise the freedom and wearability experienced by patients during their daily activities. This paper contributes in two facets, first, it presents the design, implementation, and technical evaluation of a new wearable system, a customized unilateral shoulder wrap that utilizes flexible and breathable textile sensors. Diverging from earlier studies, our system not only facilitates the monitoring of glenohumeral joint angles but also concurrently tracks the movement angles of the scapula. Secondly, to estimate joint angles, we propose a specific model called the Channel-Temporal Encoding Network (CTEN), which leverages Transformer and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) architectures. In a preliminary technical evaluation, the results demonstrate root mean square errors (RMSEs) of 2.24°and 1.13°for the glenohumeral joint and scapula, respectively. This study is intended to contribute to the development of more advanced wearables tailored for shoulder joint rehabilitation training.[......]继续阅读
Running is a highly popular form of exercise, while incorrect running posture over an extended period can lead to severe knee injuries. Smart textiles have recently demonstrated significant potential for continuous motion monitoring. This study involved the design and development of a smart legging with a resistive textile sensor network to monitor lower body motion. The study consists of three main parts. Firstly, we tested textile sensors in terms of linearity and robustness to determine the basic sensor unit that can monitor the characteristics of running postures. Next, optimal sensor placement was determined through comparison experiments, and a sensor network was proposed. Finally, based on the LSTM model with data gathered from 6 participants, we developed the smart legging system that is capable of identifying three types of improper running postures and normal postures with 99.1% accuracy. The evaluation revealed that the smart legging system had the potential to help users adjust their running postures to prevent knee injury through continuous monitoring and multi-modal feedback.[......]继续阅读
Textile sensors have demonstrated significant potential in next-generation wearable systems due to their excellent performance and unobtrusive nature. By building specialized sensing networks and algorithms, textile-based wearable systems can estimate the continuous motion angles of human joints with desirable accuracies. This article offers a systematic review aimed at identifying key challenges in this field and encouraging further applications of textile strain sensor networks within the human–computer interaction (HCI) community. To achieve this, we conducted an exhaustive literature search across four major databases: IEEE Xplore, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, spanning from January 2016 to August 2023. Applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, we narrowed down 2684 results to a total of 24 relevant papers. To analyze these studies, we proposed a framework that incorporates both technical aspects – such as textile strain sensors, sensor placement, algorithms, and technical evaluations – and contextual factors like target users, wearability, and application scenarios. Our analysis uncovered two critical research gaps: First, it exists an incongruity between the development of textile-based wearables and the advancements in textile sensors. Second, there is a noticeable absence of contextual design considerations in this specific domain. To address these issues, we offer discussions and recommendations from three perspectives: 1) enhancing the robustness of textile-sensing networks, 2) improving wearability, and 3) expanding application scenarios.[......]继续阅读
Traditional Chinese embroideries have a long history and take the most important role in the textile Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in China. At the same time, smart textiles have become a dominant trend in textiles development and the thermochromic textile interface resulted in increasing explorations. In order to study how computational thermochromic interface may contribute to the transmission of traditional embroidery craftsmanship, we investigated a novel color-changing embroidery interface and explored various prototypes in multiple scenarios including future cockpit, fitness promotion, and household items.[......]继续阅读
In this article, we focus on fitness workout scenarios. To examine the current practices, we first conducted a substantial user research, through the content analysis procedure we summarized insights regarding fitness purpose, essential data, psychological state, emotional changes and social habits. Subsequently, we generalized related design opportunities of improving the fitness experience and motivation to enhance the fitness performance and communication. Feedback and data representation have great potential to address the challenges, therefore we first proposed a design process for the feedback mode design of fitness workout, including the contextual information, feedback strategy, and realization ways. The feedback designs are implemented on a wearable augmented feedback system ‘FitSleeve’, focusing on individual and group scenarios separately. In group sessions, FitSleeve can demonstrate participants’ experience level, real-time heart rate zone and feedback regarding the correct movement execution. In individual sessions, FitSleeve can display the training progress and provide continuous encouragement. Finally, we evaluated FitSleeve by adopting the System Usability Scale, User Experience Questionnaire, Intrinsic Motivation Inventory and user subjective interviews. The findings indicate the potential of FitSleeve to improve the user experience and motivation of fitness participants.[......]继续阅读
Smart textiles have attracted great attention from Human-Computer Interaction and this study explored how dynamic thermochromic textiles may contribute to the transmission and revitalization of textile Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). We proposed Seasons which is an interactive cheongsam developed as a novel exploration in traditional craftsmanship of Shanghai-style cheongsam and smart textiles. Seasons consists of animated visual patterns including 4 stages, new leaves sprout and flowers from buds to full bloom as demonstrations of spring and summer, while leaves turn yellow in autumn and snow comes in winter. Subsequently, we presented the implementation process, feedback from the inheritors of ICH and visitors in the exhibition. In conclusion, we explored how computational thermochromic patterns may enhance the aesthetic and expression in traditional clothing. There is a great design space for thermal-activated smart textiles and this paper is believed to contribute to the future development of smart textile applications for ICH.[......]继续阅读
