Five factors affecting the on-body placement of wearable tactile safety promotion device for construction workers-on-foot

Abstract

Purpose Tactile communication that relies on the human sense of touch replicated using vibration motors is increasingly being explored for seamless communication on construction jobsite. However, the technological efficacy cannot secure the users’ acceptability of the tactile communication devices. This study aims to assess the factors affecting the wearability of such a portable tactile device based on the responses from practicing professionals. Design/methodology/approach The investigation adapted a three-step phenomenological interviewing approach to seek feedback from construction personnel in Texas, the USA, regarding the viability of wearable tactile communication. The interviewees expressed various opinions about the on-body placement upon exposure to a portable tactile feedback prototype developed for this study, which was used to derive inferences regarding the factors affecting its on-field acceptability. Findings All the participants of the round-table study (11 out of 11) considered tactile feedback as a viable mode of communication on construction jobsite. Seven professionals supported the integration of a tactile device with the hard hat, whereas the rest preferred tactile eyeglasses. Weatherability, rechargeability, traceability, safety and social receptivity were identified as the major factors affecting the on-body placement of the wearable tactile communication device. Originality/value This paper presents a roadmap to gain construction industry opinion on the factors that can affect the on-body placement of a wearable tactile communication device. The five aforementioned factors impacting tactile communication acceptability were used to evaluate 10 potential on-body placements. The findings have implications for research and development of wearable tactile devices and the subsequent acceptability of such a device on the jobsite.

The Effect of Directional Tactile Memory of the Back of the User on Reaction Time and Accuracy

“…In the construction setting, Yadaf et al [50] used tactile feedback for construction workers in hard hats and eyeglasses to explore using tactile feedback for seamless communication on construction job sites. The work by Lim et al [51] is an example of a study providing tactile feedback to the back for ergonomic purposes, in simulated construction tasks like lifting and lowering, shoveling, and tying rebar, to explore the potential of this intervention in teaching workers to minimize excessive trunk flexion exposures.…”