ABSTRACT
In this paper, a smart office chair with movable textile sensors to monitor sitting position during the workday is presented. The system consists of a presence textile capacitive sensor with different levels of activation with a signal conditioning device. The proposed system was integrated into an office chair to detect postures that could provoke musculoskeletal disorders or discomfort. The microcontroller measured the capacitance by means of a cycle count method and provided the position information in real time. The information could be analysed to set up warnings to prevent incorrect postures or the necessity to move. Five participants assumed a series of postures, and the results showed the workability of the proposed smart chair. The chair can be provided as a new tool for companies, hospitals, or other institutions to detect incorrect postures and monitor the postures of people with reduced mobility. This tool can optimise control procedures or prevent occupational risks.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: E-textiles have been the focus of interest in health technology, but little research has been done so far on how they could support persons with complex communication needs. A global estimate is that 97 million people may benefit from Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Unfortunately, despite the growing body of research, many persons with complex communication needs are left without functional means to communicate. This study aimed to address the lack of research in textile-based AAC and to build a picture of the issues that affect novel textile-based technology development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We arranged a focus group study for altogether 12 speech and language therapists to elicit user scenarios to understand needs, activities, and contexts when implementing a novel, textile-based technology in a user-centred approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: As a result, we present six user scenarios that were created for children to enhance their social interaction in everyday life when using textile-based technology that recognizes touch or detects motion. The persistent availability and the individual design to meet a person's capability along with ease of use and personalization were perceived important requirements. Through these scenarios, we identified technological constraints regarding the development of e-textile technology and its use in the AAC field, such as issues regarding sensors and providing power supply. Resolving the design constraints will lead to a feasible and portable e-textile AAC system.Implications for rehabilitationE-textiles are a novel approach to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for children with motor dysfunctions and intellectual disabilities.-A portable AAC system implementing e-textiles for children with complex communication needs will enable several activities in daily-life situations. Therefore, further research is needed to resolve the design constraints to reduce the bulkiness of technology embedded in textiles, e.g., looking into the possibilities of passive and battery-free solutions.The developed user scenarios offer a starting point for developing initial prototypes for touch-based and motion-detection systems to enhance social interaction and motivation for persons with complex communication needs.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The growth of new high-technology devices in the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has been rapid. However, a vast number of individuals with complex communication needs are left without functional means to communicate in their lives. Intelligent textiles are one of the growing industries in health technologies yet to be explored for the possibility of implementation as an AAC solution. This study aimed to investigate the potential of intelligent textiles and their functions in daily life perceived by experienced speech and language therapists and to obtain data, which will offer direction on how to proceed with prototype development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Focus group discussions were conducted remotely within two groups of experienced speech and language therapists (n = 12). The data obtained from the discussions were analysed thematically. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: According to the stakeholders in question, intelligent textiles were perceived most useful for individuals with motor disabilities and those with severe intellectual disabilities. The most prominent themes for the purpose of using the intelligent textiles were social interaction and accessing meaningful activities independently. The participants also described how this technology could be used in terms of the textile, the input needed and the output the technology provides. The versatile results are discussed along with directions for future research.
Wireless textile-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies are a new alternative to AAC designs using rigid electronics.Intelligent textile-based AAC may help specifically those with motor impairments and intellectual disabilities.The technological solution should adapt to the capability rather than the disability.
ABSTRACT
This paper introduces a prototype of ClothFace technology, a battery-free textile-based handwriting recognition platform that includes an e-textile antenna and a 10 × 10 array of radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuits (ICs), each with a unique ID. Touching the textile platform surface creates an electrical connection from specific ICs to the antenna, which enables the connected ICs to be read with an external UHF (ultra-haigh frequency) RFID reader. In this paper, the platform is demonstrated to recognize handwritten numbers 0-9. The raw data collected by the platform are a sequence of IDs from the touched ICs. The system converts the data into bitmaps and their details are increased by interpolating between neighboring samples using the sequential information of IDs. These images of digits written on the platform can be classified, with enough accuracy for practical use, by deep learning. The recognition system was trained and tested with samples from six volunteers using the platform. The real-time number recognition ability of the ClothFace technology is demonstrated to work successfully with a very low error rate. The overall recognition accuracy of the platform is 94.6% and the accuracy for each digit is between 91.1% and 98.3%. As the solution is fully passive and gets all the needed energy from the external RFID reader, it enables a maintenance-free and cost-effective user interface that can be integrated into clothing and into textiles around us.
