Probst Freya, Rees Jessica, Aslam Zayna, Mexia Nikitia, Molteni Erika, Matcham Faith, Antonelli Michela, Tinker Anthea, Shi Yu, Ourselin Sebastien, Liu Wei
Department of Engineering, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
JMIR Aging. 2024 Dec 17;7:e57622. doi: 10.2196/57622.
Previous studies have explored how sensor technologies can assist in in the detection, recognition, and prevention of subjective loneliness. These studies have shown a correlation between physiological and behavioral sensor data and the experience of loneliness. However, little research has been conducted on the design requirements from the perspective of older people and stakeholders in technology development. The use of these technologies and infrastructural questions have been insufficiently addressed. Systems generally consist of sensors or software installed in smartphones or homes. However, no studies have attempted to use smart textiles, which are fabrics with integrated electronics.
This study aims to understand the design requirements for a smart textile loneliness monitoring system from the perspectives of older people and stakeholders.
We conducted co-design workshops with 5 users and 6 stakeholders to determine the design requirements for smart textile loneliness monitoring systems. We derived a preliminary product concept of the smart wearable and furniture system. Digital and physical models and a use case were evaluated in a focus group study with older people and stakeholders (n=7).
The results provided insights for designing systems that use smart textiles to monitor loneliness in older people and widen their use. The findings informed the general system, wearables and furniture, materials, sensor positioning, washing, sensor synchronization devices, charging, intervention, and installation and maintenance requirements. This study provided the first insight from a human-centered perspective into smart textile loneliness monitoring systems for older people.
We recommend more research on the intervention that links to the monitored loneliness in a way that addresses different needs to ensure its usefulness and value to people. Future systems must also reflect on questions of identification of system users and the available infrastructure and life circumstances of people. We further found requirements that included user cooperation, compatibility with other worn medical devices, and long-term durability.
以往的研究探讨了传感器技术如何有助于检测、识别和预防主观孤独感。这些研究表明，生理和行为传感器数据与孤独体验之间存在关联。然而，从老年人和技术开发利益相关者的角度对设计要求进行的研究很少。这些技术的使用以及基础设施问题尚未得到充分解决。系统通常由安装在智能手机或家庭中的传感器或软件组成。然而，尚未有研究尝试使用智能纺织品，即集成了电子元件的织物。
本研究旨在从老年人和利益相关者的角度了解智能纺织品孤独监测系统的设计要求。
我们与5名用户和6名利益相关者举办了协同设计研讨会，以确定智能纺织品孤独监测系统的设计要求。我们得出了智能可穿戴设备和家具系统的初步产品概念。在与老年人和利益相关者（n = 7）的焦点小组研究中，对数字模型、物理模型和一个用例进行了评估。
研究结果为设计使用智能纺织品监测老年人孤独感并扩大其应用范围的系统提供了见解。研究结果为通用系统、可穿戴设备和家具、材料、传感器定位、洗涤、传感器同步设备、充电、干预以及安装和维护要求提供了参考。本研究从以人为本的角度首次深入了解了针对老年人的智能纺织品孤独监测系统。
我们建议开展更多关于干预措施的研究，这种干预措施要以满足不同需求的方式与监测到的孤独感相联系，以确保其对人们的实用性和价值。未来的系统还必须考虑系统用户识别问题以及人们可用的基础设施和生活环境。我们还发现了包括用户合作、与其他佩戴式医疗设备的兼容性以及长期耐用性等要求。
