Researchers assessed climbers' pants by investigating whether a pants' style or brand preference exists among rock climbers, along with looking at fit, mobility, comfort, protection, and donning/ doffing expectations for climbing pants using a mixed-methods design study. Active adult rock climbers, aged 19 or older, were conveniently sampled at two U.S. rock-climbing events and completed a questionnaire. The researchers found that rock climbers needed improvements in their pants' fit, sizing options, and design in relation to the functions of mobility, comfort, protection, and durability. Additionally, climbers wanted pants that would not interfere with their rock-climbing techniques or equipment. Last, their pants should be affordable. Outdoor apparel manufacturers could improve their climbing pants' designs by integrating this study's results, leading to better protection of climbers' bodies and fulfillment of their needs and expectations.
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate potential users’ preferences and expectations for fabric-based wearable e-nose system designs in order to develop painless and non-invasive monitoring systems for diabetes.
Design/methodology/approach
After developing a fabric-based wearable sensor, this study used an online survey with a mixture of closed- and open-ended questions about people’s desires and preferences for use-contexts, product types, design styles, and other key design factors.
Findings
This study investigated the preferences and expectations on designs of wearable e-nose systems for diabetes. The results showed that designers and developers need to consider important design components including sizes, shapes, and colors for practical wearable e-nose system designs. There were strong positive and significant correlations between participant characteristics and preferred wearable e-nose system design factors.
Research limitations/implications
Future research could compare differences between different age groups with different types of diabetes.
Practical implications
Understanding these differences will help designers and marketers target consumers and create diverse designs with different versions for success in the market.
Originality/value
There is lack of research for considering designs of wearable monitoring systems for diabetes. This research will be the first research to understand design preferences and expectations for developing wearable e-nose monitoring systems for diabetes.
Smart clothing represents less than 1% of the multibillion dollar wearables market. This lagging representation is due to many factors; one predominant challenge which includes performance reliability post-laundering/care. Due to smart clothing intimately contacting the human body, it naturally becomes soiled and requires laundering. However, insight into the impact of consumer detergents and other additives on e-textile conductive functionality post laundering has yet to be explored. The purpose of this research was to study laundering conditions, specifically the influence of select laundry detergents and additives, on surface resistivity of select e-textiles to provide initial insights into the impact of consumer-available laundering treatments to contribute to knowledge around laundering of e-textiles. Understanding initial impacts of laundering conditions, particularly detergents and other common laundry additives can inform future studies, laundering text methods of e-textiles, and care label development.
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