Current trends have shown a steep rise in the popularity of smart wearable devices. Inevitably, after mobile phones, the next technology revolution is expected to be in the field of smart wearables. As more and more startups and well-established corporations are venturing into the emerging field of smart wearables, the academic institutes have the responsibility to make students equipped with all the necessary knowledge and skills required to design these futuristic devices for the real world. Moreover, human beings are becoming increasingly dependent on smart devices for their day-to-day tasks. Therefore, a study would be beneficial to understand consumer preferences and perceptions about smart wearable devices. Words express consumers' product preferences, and in design, the terms used to express preferences can be studied using product semantics. The semantic product explorations can be carried out about the aesthetics of products that are to be worn on the body for a prolonged period. In this regard, a study is conducted through a semantic differential questionnaire to get responses from 16 volunteers (8 designers and 8 non-designers) when they are exposed to the images of smartwatches. The ratings obtained in the experimental setting are used to statistically analyze and interpret ordinary consumers' as well as designers' aesthetic preferences and perceptions. Design practitioners can quickly adopt the findings of the study for the smart wearable industry and design students to generate innovative wearable aesthetics.
ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION GRID RESEARCH AND DEVELOPment (R&D) has long focused on the reliability, affordability, flexibility, and efficiency of electricity delivery for end users; however, this focus has primarily been outside the realm of severe climate events. Due to the increasing frequency and intensity of weather-caused grid outages in recent years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has placed an added emphasis on R&D to enhance resilience to climate change and extreme weather. To forge a focused national R&D effort on grid resilience, the DOE is adopting a public/private partnership approach to join with key stakeholders in developing and implementing a resilient grid R&D plan. This article presents the plan development process and the R&D need areas identified for pursuit.
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