Affective haptic research is a rapidly growing field. Today, more smart haptic clothes are being studied and implemented which are aimed to effect its users emotionally. However, they have some limitations. This research intends to improve the existing literature and contribute by involving consumers directly in the design of a smart haptic jacket by adding heat, vibration actuators, and by enhancing portability. In this thesis, we are interested in six basic emotions: love, joy, surprise, anger, sadness, and fear. An online survey was designed and conducted on 92 respondents that gave feedback of what it is expected from an affective haptic jacket. The results of this survey assisted in the general design, and the feedback helped to build a prototype. 86% of the respondents expressed interest in the system and are willing to try it when it is ready. A detailed design architecture is provided along with details on the hardware and software used for the implementation. Finally, the prototype was evaluated on 14 participants using the actual prototype haptic jacket based on a QoE comparison between the absence and the presence of haptic actuation. The proposed system showed improvement over a similar system that is designed for the same purpose.

Affective haptic research is a rapidly growing field. Today, more smart haptic clothes are being studied and implemented which are aimed to effect its users emotionally. However, they have some limitations. This research intends to improve the existing literature and contribute by involving consumers directly in the design of a smart haptic jacket by adding heat, vibration actuators, and by enhancing portability. In this thesis, we are interested in six basic emotions: love, joy, surprise, anger, sadness, and fear. An online survey was designed and conducted on 92 respondents that gave feedback of what it is expected from an affective haptic jacket. The results of this survey assisted in the general design, and the feedback helped to build a prototype. 86% of the respondents expressed interest in the system and are willing to try it when it is ready. A detailed design architecture is provided along with details on the hardware and software used for the implementation. Finally, the prototype was evaluated on 14 participants using the actual prototype haptic jacket based on a QoE comparison between the absence and the presence of haptic actuation. The proposed system showed improvement over a similar system that is designed for the same purpose.

Affective haptic research is a rapidly growing field. Today, more smart haptic clothes are being studied and implemented which are aimed to effect its users emotionally. However, they have some limitations. This research intends to improve the existing literature and contribute by involving consumers directly in the design of a smart haptic jacket by adding heat, vibration actuators, and by enhancing portability. In this thesis, we are interested in six basic emotions: love, joy, surprise, anger, sadness, and fear. An online survey was designed and conducted on 92 respondents that gave feedback of what it is expected from an affective haptic jacket. The results of this survey assisted in the general design, and the feedback helped to build a prototype. 86% of the respondents expressed interest in the system and are willing to try it when it is ready. A detailed design architecture is provided along with details on the hardware and software used for the implementation. Finally, the prototype was evaluated on 14 participants using the actual prototype haptic jacket based on a QoE comparison between the absence and the presence of haptic actuation. The proposed system showed improvement over a similar system that is designed for the same purpose.

Affective haptic research is a rapidly growing field. Today, more smart haptic clothes are being studied and implemented which are aimed to effect its users emotionally. However, they have some limitations. This research intends to improve the existing literature and contribute by involving consumers directly in the design of a smart haptic jacket by adding heat, vibration actuators, and by enhancing portability. In this thesis, we are interested in six basic emotions: love, joy, surprise, anger, sadness, and fear. An online survey was designed and conducted on 92 respondents that gave feedback of what it is expected from an affective haptic jacket. The results of this survey assisted in the general design, and the feedback helped to build a prototype. 86% of the respondents expressed interest in the system and are willing to try it when it is ready. A detailed design architecture is provided along with details on the hardware and software used for the implementation. Finally, the prototype was evaluated on 14 participants using the actual prototype haptic jacket based on a QoE comparison between the absence and the presence of haptic actuation. The proposed system showed improvement over a similar system that is designed for the same purpose.

En los últimos años se han generado avances significativos en la tecnología, esto se puede evidenciar en la modificación de los wearables, los cuales cada vez son más pequeños e imperceptibles [1]. El uso de estos dispositivos es relevante en la creación de ropa inteligente debido a que pueden recopilar información del usuario en tiempo real, siendo utilizados para el monitoreo de signos vitales o una herramienta adicional para mejorar el estilo de vida o entretenimiento. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo presentar un Roadmap de proyectos para el desarrollo de prendas de vestir con tecnología wearable en 4 sectores: entretenimiento, deporte, salud y militar. Para la elaboración del diseño se propone un método de 5 fases y 16 pasos que permite la construcción de un Roadmap de forma simple, considerando las dimensiones: diseño, viabilidad, innovación y rentabilidad. Su aplicación dió como resultado los 11 prototipos mostrados en este proyecto, cada uno con los sensores relacionados en su arquitectura. En total, se consideró la evaluación de 30 especialistas, quienes brindaron una calificación entre alta y muy alta; confirmando y resaltando la probabilidad exitosa de su implementación en los años considerados. / In recent years there have been significant advances in technology, this can be evidenced in the modification of wearables, which are becoming smaller and more imperceptible [1]. The use of these devices is relevant in the creation of smart clothing because they can collect information from the user in real time, being used for monitoring vital signs or an additional tool to improve lifestyle or entertainment. The present work aims to present a Roadmap of projects for the development of clothing with wearable technology in 4 sectors: entertainment, sports, health and military. For the elaboration of the design, a method of 5 phases and 16 steps is proposed that allows the construction of a Roadmap in a simple way, considering the dimensions: design, feasibility, innovation and profitability. Its application resulted in the 11 prototypes shown in this project, each with related sensors in its architecture. In total, the evaluation of 30 specialists was considered, who gave a rating between high and very high; confirming and highlighting the successful probability of its implementation in the years considered. / Trabajo de investigación

Les secouristes, par la nature et le cadre de leurs missions, interviennent en environnement à risque et mettent parfois leur santé en danger. Afin de minimiser ce risque, de nouveaux Equipements de Protection Individuelle (veste, tee-shirt et bottes) ont été conçus par un consortium européen de 23 partenaires réunis autour du programme de recherche ProeTEX. Ces travaux de thèse s’inscrivent dans le cadre de ce projet et ont pour objectif de développer un système de monitoring ambulatoire des paramètres thermiques du pompier qui sera intégré aux vêtements intelligents destinés aux secouristes. L’intérêt de cette intégration est le prépositionnement des capteurs afin de réduire le temps de préparation du secouriste. La surveillance s’opère à deux niveaux : l’interface Homme-environnement et le corps. Afin d’évaluer le risque thermique encouru, les paramètres faisant l’objet d’un suivi sont : la température interne, mesurée depuis le tee-shirt, et la température externe et le flux thermique, mesurés dans la veste. Ces paramètres permettent d’apprécier la contrainte thermique imposée par l’environnement et l’état de santé du pompier. Deux méthodes de mesure des paramètres thermiques dans la veste ont été développées. Le projet a abouti au développement de prototypes fonctionnels dont les performances ont été attestées en centre de validation. Des tests ont été conduits en laboratoire et en conditions extrêmes sur le terrain à la Brigade de Sapeurs-Pompier de Paris et au « International Firefighting, Survival and Rescue at Sea Training Center » de Pavie, Italie, pour démontrer la fonctionnalité des EPI en conditions réelles. / Rescuers, within the framework of their missions, operate in hazardous condition and sometimes put their health at risk. To minimize this risk, new personal protective equipment (jacket, t-shirt and boots) were designed by a 23 European partners’ consortium within the research program ProeTEX. This thesis is part of this project and aims to develop an ambulatory monitoring system for firefighters’ thermal parameters; It will be integrated into smart clothes for rescuers. Monitoring is taking place at two levels: Human-environment interface and body. To evaluate the thermal hazard involved, the parameters being monitored are: internal temperature, measured from the tee-shirt and external temperature and heat flux, in the jacket. These parameters are used to assess heat stress imposed by the environment and the health status of the fire-fighter. Two methods of measurement of thermal parameters in the jacket were developed. The project resulted in the development of functional prototypes whose performances have been vouched in validation center. Tests took place in the laboratory and during field trails in extreme conditions.

Smart Clothes refers to clothes that have been embedded with computer devices. Items of the category can be used to inform an individual about his health. The technology can likewise be used to track an individuals surroundings. There are many possible uses for Smart Clothes. This thesis is based on the idea of creating a Smart Clothes item that can create weather forecasts independently. In order to create such system unique problems have to be solved. One major problem to overcome is realizing what a mobile application a mobile application has to do in a Smart Clothes system that predicts weather to the user. This thesis tries to answer the problem by examining how an existing weather forecast model can be implemented into an application to later display a forecast to a user. The study is built on an inductive approach and has a purpose to explore the necessary steps in developing a mobile application that predicts the weather. Presenting an implemented prototype is the purpose of the thesis. As such, the purpose becomes to create a mobile application that implements a weather forecast model and translates the created weather forecast into a UI suited for a mobile application. The weather forecast model should use atmospheric pressure differences to create a weather forecast. The goal of the thesis is to find out how the purpose can be achieved, how a mobile application should behave in order to assure that the Smart Clothes system can create a weather forecast for the user. A partial goal is to understand how atmospheric pressure should be converted into a weather forecast and how the weather forecast should be translated into a UI. The result is presented in the form of a prototype, an iOS application. The created prototype uses atmospheric pressure differences to create a weather forecast. The weather forecast is shown to the user through a intuitive user interface. The prototype is tested through a user-test and is evaluated through a thorough model with criteria. The evaluation shows that the prototype is easy to use and understand. There are in the same time improvements to be done for the future. Proposals have been given for improvements. The user-test has shown that the interest in the prototype is higher in situations where the user lacks internet connectivity. There is thus, a link between the prototype's usability and internet connectivity. In other words, people find the prototype to be of a big benefit as it can be used without Internet connectivity. / ”Smart Clothes” refererar till klädesplagg som har integrerats med dataenheter. Plagg i kategorin kan användas för att informera individen om hans hälsa. Teknologin kan likväl användas för att spåra individens omgivning. Det finns många möjliga användningsområden för Smart Clothes. Den här uppsatsen baseras på idén att skapa en Smart-klädesplagg som kan skapa väderprognoser självständigt. Uppsatsen försöker lösa problemet om vad en mobil applikation måste göra i ett Smart-klädessystem som förutspår väder för användaren. Studien bygger på en induktiv forskningsinsats och syftar på att utforska faktorer runt utvecklingen av en mobilapplikation, som är ansedd att integreras i klädesplagg. Att presentera en skapad prototyp är uppsatsens syfte. Detta ger att syftet blir att skapa en mobil applikation som implementerar en väderprognos-modell och omvandlar den skapade prognosen till ett användargränssnitt som passar en mobil-applikation. Väderprognos-modellen ska kunna konvertera skillnader i lufttryck till en väderprognos. Målet av uppsatsen är att finna hur syftet kan uppfyllas, hur en mobil-applikation ska agera för att säkerställa att Smart-klädessytemet kan skapa en väderprognos för användaren. Ett delmål är att förstå hur lufttryck ska omvandlas till en väderprognos och hur väderprognosen ska omvandlas till att användargränsnitt. I egenskap av resultat presenteras en prototyp iOS mobilapplikation. Den skapade prototypen använder skillnader i lufttryck för att skapa en väderprognos. Väderprognosen visas vidare till användaren genom ett intuitivt användargränssnitt. Prototypen testas genom ett användartest och utvärderas genom en utarbetad modell med kriterier. Evalueringen visar att den skapade prototypen är lätt att använda och förstå. Samtidigt finns fortfarande förbättringar att göra i framtiden. Rapporten ger förslag till förbättringar. Användartest indikerar att intresset att använda produkten är högre i situationer då användaren saknar internetanslutning. Således finns det en länk mellan produktens användbarhet och internetanslutning. Alltså, personer finner att prototypen är av stor nytta för att den kan användas även utan uppkoppling till internet.

Η αντιμετώπιση των χρόνιων ασθενών αποτελεί σήμερα για τα συστήματα υγείας και κοινωνικής φροντίδας ένα από τα πιο δύσκολα προβλήματα διεθνώς, τόσο από ιατρικής όσο και από κοινωνικό-οικονομικής πλευράς. Για το λόγο αυτό, τα αντίστοιχα συστήματα στις ΗΠΑ και ΕΕ έχουν αποδυθεί τα τελευταία χρόνια σε ένα εντατικό αγώνα για την αναδόμηση (reengineering) της συνολικής αντιμετώπισής τους, με στόχο τη βελτιστοποίηση των παρεχομένων υπηρεσιών και τον εξορθολογισμό του κόστους. Στρατηγικό εργαλείο για τη παροχή των νέων υπηρεσιών αποτελούν οι νέες Τεχνολογίες Πληροφορικής και Επικοινωνιών (ΤΠΕ). Στο πλαίσιο της παρούσας ερευνητικής εργασίας εξετάζεται η αξιοποίηση σύγχρονων και ευρέως διαθέσιμων τεχνολογιών επικοινωνιών (ευρυζωνικότητα, δίκτυα κινητής τηλεφωνίας κ.ά.), σε συνδυασμό με τη χρήση καινοτόμων προϊόντων, όπως αυτά των «ηλεκτρονικών» υφασμάτων (e-Textiles) για την παροχή καινοτόμων υπηρεσιών παρακολούθησης από απόσταση. Η παρούσα διπλωματική είχε σαν στόχο την εφαρμογή και αξιολόγηση ενός προγράμματος πρώιμης εξόδου από νοσοκομείο και κατ’ οίκον νοσηλείας σε χρόνιους αναπνευστικούς ασθενείς στο Νοσοκομείο «Η Σωτηρία» και διεξήχθη στο πλαίσιο του Ευρωπαϊκού Ερευνητικού Προγράμματος ‘HealthWear’. Η μεθοδολογική προσέγγιση έγινε αφενός με την ευρεία βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση αναλόγων παρεμβάσεων και αφετέρου με την αξιολόγηση ενός προγράμματος κλινικής εφαρμογής του σε πραγματικές συνθήκες. Στο πρόγραμμα συμμετείχαν 48 ασθενείς με Χρόνια Αποφρακτική Πνευμονοπάθεια, διαχωρισμένοι τυχαία σε ομάδα ελέγχου (ενδονοσοκομειακή φροντίδα), και ομάδα παρέμβασης (πρώιμη έξοδος και παρακολούθηση με τη χρήση φορετών και φορητών, μη επεμβατικών συσκευών). Παρουσιάζονται αναλυτικά ο σχεδιασμός του συστήματος και της υπηρεσίας, η μεθοδολογία και ο τρόπος παρακολούθησης των ασθενών της ομάδας παρέμβασης καθώς και τα αποτελέσματα της αξιολόγησης. Η εφαρμογή του προγράμματος στην καθ’ ημέρα κλινική πράξη κατέδειξε τη χρήση φορητών και φορετών συστημάτων ως αξιόπιστη εναλλακτική μέθοδο για την πρώιμη έξοδο και συνέχεια της φροντίδας των ασθενών με Χ.Α.Π. Παράλληλα διερευνήθηκαν μελλοντικές προοπτικές εφαρμογών για την εξ αποστάσεως παρακολούθηση κατά τη διάρκεια του ύπνου ή ταυτόχρονα με εκτέλεση άσκησης σε εξωτερικούς χώρους. / Treatment of chronic patients is currently one of the most difficult international issues that health and social care systems need to address, both medically and by socio-economic terms. For this reason, the corresponding systems in the U.S. and EU have engaged the last years a lot of effort, in an intense struggle, for the restructuring (reengineering) of the total care management process, in order to optimize service and streamline costs. Strategic tool for providing new services is Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). In the current study, the usage of modern and widely available communication technologies (broadband internet, mobile telephony, etc.), combined with innovative products, such as the 'electronic' fabrics (e-Textiles), in order to provide advanced remote monitoring services, were thoroughly examined. This thesis aimed to implement and evaluate a program of early hospital discharge, followed by a home hospitalization program, in chronic respiratory patients of ‘Sotiria’ Hospital in the region of Attica - Greece, conducted within the framework of a European Research Project named 'HealthWear'. The methodological approach followed was first to establish an in-depth background for this type of interventions, through a broad, thorough systematic literature review, and secondly to evaluate a clinical trial, in the real everyday life of a public hospital. The program involved 48 patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), separated randomly into control group (traditional care) and intervention group (early discharge and follow up by using wearable, portable, non-invasive devices). A comprehensive presentation of the ICT system used, the clinical protocol of the service and the methodology for the remote monitoring the intervention group patients, are followed by the assessment results of the trial. Our experience from this trial allows the prediction that wearable and wireless systems can be proved as new era’s tools in patients’ remote follow up and personalized care, especially valuable in early discharge, as well as in home based monitoring during sleep and outdoor activities.

Smarta kläder är en kroppsnära teknik som består av kläder som har i sig integrerade/invävda sensorer vilka mäter kroppssignaler, arbetsställningar och rörelser och visar information om eventuella överbelastningar. Syftet i denna studie var att utvärdera prototyp 1 av ett smart arbetsklädersystem genom att utreda användarnas upplevelse (user experience) och användbarhet av prototypen samt prototypens påverkan på testpersonernas arbetsbeteende. En kombinerad studiedesign valdes. Den experimentella studien kompletterades med enkät och intervju. Tolv testpersoner deltog i undersökningen, fördelade lika på tre grupper: en kontrollgrupp och två experimentgrupper. Via tekniska mätningar samlades kinematisk data gällande: handledens vinkelhastighet och tummens tryckkraft; överarmens vinkel för höger- och vänster arm; överarmens vinkelhastighet för höger och vänster arm samt bålens vinkel vid fram- och bakåtböjningar. Signifikanta arbetsbeteendeförändringar kunde ej konstateras, men det förekom stora skillnader i de individuella resultaten i varje grupp. Dock kunde inte något specifikt mönster i arbetsbeteendeförändringar från de olika grupperna urskiljas. Hypotesen att arbetsbeteendeförändringar kan tillskrivas påverkan från prototypen stöddes inte av data. Resultatet från intervju- och enkätundersökning kring användarnas upplevelse och användbarhet visade att prototypen skattades som användarvänlig och användbar i sin helhet. Testpersonerna önskade förändringar i prototypens konstruktion gällande prototypens material och storlek, typ av feedback samt placering av sensorer. Vissa brister i design och utförandet av användartesterna och experimentmätningen konstateras och deras inverkan på studiens validitet och reliabilitet diskuteras. Rekommendationer ges gällande framtida testning av nästa prototyp utifrån de upptäckta bristerna. / Smart clothes are a group of technical aids that consist of clothing that has integrated/built-in sensors that measure body postures and movements and display information about possible physical overload. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prototype 1 of a smart workwear system by investigating its user experience and usability, as well as the impact of the prototype on the test subjects' work behavior. A combined study design was chosen. The experimental study was supplemented with questionnaire and interview. Twelve test subjects split in three equal groups participated in the study: one control group and two experimental groups. Through technical measurements, kinematic data was collected: angular velocity of the wrist and thumb pressure; right and left arm's angle; angular velocity for the right and left arm as well as the torso angle during forward and backward bending. Changes in work behavior were found. However, large differences in the individual results within each group were observed, with no obvious pattern of changes in work behavior between groups. The collected data did not support the hypothesis that work behavior changes can be associated with the impact of the prototype.  The result of analysis of the interviews and questionnaires about user experience and usability showed that the prototype was considered user-friendly and useful in general. Test subjects requested changes in the prototype’s construction regarding the prototype’s material and size, type of feedback and location of sensors.  Some shortcomings are observed in the test design, data collection and also in how the tests were conducted. Their impact on the validity and reliability of the study is discussed; accordingly, recommendations addressing the detected shortcomings are given regarding the future testing of the next prototype.