Fraunhofer Center for Assistive Information and Communication Solutions – AICOSDescription:
New technologies are ever more present in people’s lives and their power can be harnessed to promote safety, independence and well-being amongst frail user groups. Wearable sensors, in particular, may play an important role in crucial matters, such as fall prevention or chronic disease management.
The aesthetics of new electronic devices to be worn or carried by the person, along with the quest for miniaturization, have been calling for major efforts from design to approach these challenges. Mobile phone producers, and the more recent wearable tech producers, have invested in creating appealing devices to be part of fashion apparel one is wearing.
This thesis studied and proposed new solutions and configurations for wearable sensors used in several body positions. The student worked amongst a broader team encompassing different disciplines and based his work on a set of physical, ergonomics, psychological and usability constrains that were challenged to produce novel creative solutions. Older adults were considered as the main user group.
Author: Ricardo Peixoto
Type: MSc thesis
Partner: Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade do Porto
Year: 2015
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