Helen Koo

Design functions in transformable garments for sustainability

This study was designed as a bottom-up approach to understanding what kind of changeable functions people desire in transformable garments by analysing a wardrobe database, participants’ perceptions of garment varieties, and participants’ values related to transformable garments (specifically tops, the wardrobe garment with the most observed design variability). The wardrobe database was analysed using data quantification and descriptive analysis. Style-conscious professional women, ages 20–40, were interviewed; their perceptions and values related to design variability in tops was the focus. Versatility was the most important reason for preferring specific changeable design functions. Among candidates for changeable design functions, the most preferred functions were transforming colours or patterns and sleeve lengths. Participants had three expectations for transformable garments: functional (ease of matching, ease of layering, comfort, usability, ease of care, and durability), hedonic (fun and be able to experiment with various styles), and social (context aptness and modesty).

Preferences in tracking dimensions for wearable technology

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand what dimensions consumers prefer to track using wearable technology to achieve a healthier lifestyle and how these tracking dimensions are related. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was conducted with potential consumers in the USA, and a series of Pearson’s correlation and regression analysis and multiple regressions was conducted. Findings The most preferred self-tracking dimensions, tracking dimensions on others, most private tracking dimensions, most variable dimensions, and the dimensions that need to be improved were identified. The results of this study showed positive relationships overall among similar types of tracking dimensions, such as among dimensions of physical health condition (disease and disorder symptoms and general vital signs), mental health condition (stress level and mood/feeling), healthy lifestyle (fitness, and pose and posture), and productivity and task management (work productivity, location, and time management). Originality/value Designers are encouraged to make wearable technology products that are durable, easy to care for, attractive in design, comfortable to wear and use, able to track preferred dimensions, appropriate for various consumers, unobtrusive, portable, and small. This research will guide wearable technology and fashion industry professionals in the development process of wearable technology to benefit consumers by helping them be more self-aware, empowering them to develop a healthier lifestyle, and ultimately increasing their quality of life and well-being.

Visibility aid cycling clothing: flashing light-emitting diode (FLED) configurations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate drivers’ differing psychological perceptions of cyclists’ conspicuity according to active visibility aid configurations on clothing. Design/methodology/approach – The flashing light-emitting diodes (FLEDs) were positioned on the major joints (shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles) in eight configurations and pre- and post-surveys were conducted. Findings – The results indicated that there were significant differences among the eight configurations in observers’ detection and recognition of cyclists, contributions of FLEDs, and visibility of cyclists (p<0.001). Among the eight different configurations on joints, FLEDs on the hips, knees, and ankles were the most detectable, recognizable, and visible. Originality/value – Most of the previous studies have investigated passive visibility aids and there is a lack of research on FLED configurations on major joints for cyclists. Thus, this study is expected to be beneficial to designers when deve...

Measuring movement of denim trousers for garment-integrated sensing applications

The movement of everyday garments over the body surface during wearing often presents a problematic source of noise or error for garment-integrated wearable sensors. This paper describes early results of an assessment of the impact of body location and garment ease on movement of the garment over the body surface. The method implemented uses a running mannequin with a repeatable gait cycle as the source of humanoid motion, and measures the movement of a set of custom-graded denim trousers in 5 ease amounts over the mannequins surface during the gait cycle. Initial results show consistent patterns of displacement over the body surface.

Design preferences on wearable e-nose systems for diabetes

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate potential users’ preferences and expectations for fabric-based wearable electronic nose (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 co...

Bicyclist biomotion visibility aids: a 3D eye-tracking analysis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of biomotion visibility aids for nighttime bicyclists compared to other configurations via 3D eye-tracking technology in a blind between-subjects experiment. Design/methodology/approach A total of 40 participants were randomly assigned one of four visibility aid conditions in the form of videos: biomotion (retroreflective knee and ankle bands), non-biomotion (retroreflective vest configuration), pseudo-biomotion (vertical retroreflective stripes on the back of the legs), and control (all-black clothing). Gaze fixations on a screen were measured with a 3D eye-tracking system; coordinate data for each condition were analyzed via one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc analyses with supplementary heatmaps. Post-experimental questionnaires addressed participants’ qualitative assessments. Findings Significant differences in eye gaze location were found between the four reflective clothing design conditions in X-coordinate values (p<0.01) and Y-coordinate values (p<0.05). Practical implications This research has the potential to further inform clothing designers and manufacturers on how to incorporate biomotion to increase bicyclist visibility and safety. Social implications This research has the potential to benefit both drivers and nighttime bicyclists through a better understanding of how biomotion can increase visibility and safety. Originality/value There is lack of literature addressing the issue of the commonly administered experimental task of recognizing bicyclists and its potential bias on participants’ attention and natural driving state. Eye-tracking has the potential to implicitly determine attention and visibility, devoid of biases to attention. A new retroreflective visibility aid design, pseudo-biomotion, was also introduced in this experiment.

Distributed Pressure Sensing Using Carbon Nanotube Fabrics

A nanoengineered fabric capable of densely distributed pressure sensing is presented. Piezoresistive carbon nanotube-latex thin films were spray-coated and integrated with fabric to form robust, flexible, and deformable sensors. Spatial pressure sensing was achieved and validated experimentally using an electrical impedance tomography algorithm, which was able to estimate the resistivity distribution of the fabric and its changes due to applied pressure at different locations.

Explorations of Design Factors for Developments of Protective Gardening Gloves

The purpose of this study was to identify important design factors for protective gardening gloves and consider possible design features for these gloves. A mixed methods procedure was used involving market research, an online survey, and a focus group. Ten design factors of protective gardening gloves were identified: skin cut and puncture protection, dirt and insect protection, UV ray protection, water resistance/waterproofness, dexterity, comfort of movement, breathability, ease of donning and doffing, durability, and ease of care. Potential consumers’ preferred design features for each design factor were investigated through the online survey and focus group. Designers can apply the identified preferred design features in this study as guidelines to satisfy each design factor so that designs can be more easily accepted by consumers. The results of this research can be beneficial for designers in the development process of protective gardening gloves and ultimately benefit gardeners.

Enhancing Visibility in Bicycling Apparel Using Integrated Flashing LEDs

The purpose of this study is to inform the development of visibility-enhanced bicycling safety clothing using flashing LEDs on bio-motion joints, and to evaluate the effects of this active visibility technology on bicyclist visibility under both daytime and night-time conditions. To evaluate the effectiveness of LED visibility aids, a survey and video evaluation of visibility was conducted online with 133 participants, who both drive a car and ride a bicycle. Video recordings of bicycle trials were made under four viewing conditions: with the flashing LEDs on during daytime and night-time, and with the flashing LEDs off during daytime and night-time. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Duncan Test, and the results show that the bicycling smart wear improved the perceived visibility of the bicyclist at night, and helped the bicyclist to be more recognizable and detectable under night-time conditions (p < 0.001). With respect to observer perception regarding safety and accidents, wearing the developed bicycling smart wear during times of poor visibility increased perception that bicycling is safer (p < 0.001). The results revealed the LED technology improved perceived visibility of the bicyclist, observer’s recognition and detection of the bicyclist.

Development of conductive gloves for touchscreen devices

ABSTRACT With the increased market for touchscreen devices, conductive gloves have great potential to become a major winter item, but there is lack of research about conductive gloves for touchscreen devices. The purposes of this research were: (a) to identify important design factors for conductive glove designs; (b) to develop conductive gloves for touchscreen devices considering user behaviours and design factors; and (c) to develop design and evaluation processes and methods for conductive gloves. Market research, an online survey, and a user test were conducted and identified key design factors and preferences and expectations on conductive gloves. The results of this research will benefit clothing designers as they develop conductive gloves and may be useful for retailers and marketers who promote these conductive gloves by highlighting the appealing and important factors of these gloves.