Design Opportunities for Wearable Devices in Learning to Climb

Abstract

In this paper, we present a field study on the learning of climbing aimed at defining the design space of wearable devices to support beginners. Three main findings have emerged from our study. First, climbing has a strong emotional impact on beginners; therefore, learning to climb requires mastering new motor patterns as well as negative emotions, such as stress and fear. Second, the feeling of danger that climbers often experience can be mitigated by trust in the climbing partner and the perception of her active presence. Finally, a big problem in climbing is the communication difficulty between the climbing partners and between climber and instructor. We conclude the paper presenting four design considerations for the design of wearable devices meant to support the learning of climbing by providing the actors involved with augmented communication. Such augmented communication should address both the physical and the emotional difficulties of this sport.

Designing Wearable Systems for Sports: A Review of Trends and Opportunities in Human–Computer Interaction

“…Two papers use a research-through-design approach [56], [60], while one employs design workshop activities [59]. One paper uses interviews with potential users [54], one adopts observation and semistructured interviews [55], and one employs content analysis of online reviews of wearable devices [57]. Others engage users through questionnaires or online surveys [53], [58], [61].…”

“…Observation and contextual interviews, instead, are used to a much lesser extent. Mencarini et al [55] observed 6 indoor climbing lessons and interviewed 17 trainees and mountain guides, whereas Patel and O'Kane [74] observed 11 participants while exercising at the gym.…”

Brotate and Tribike: Designing Smartphone Control for Cycling

“…Past work suggests that the number and complexity of available interactions under physical exertions (which cycling is likely to cause) should be limited. Wozniak et al [49] showed this requirement to be valid for running and Mencarini et al [29] for climbing. Their findings echo the constraints for interaction in motion as postulated by Marshall and Tennent [25].…”

Augmented Learning for Sports Using Wearable Head-worn and Wrist-worn Devices

“…Taking tennis as a case study, it aims to recognize player shot types and measure ball states. Wearable devices have also been used in supporting the learning of climbing by providing the actors involved with augmented communication [9].…”