Interactive Textiles

Invisible Touch! – Design and Communication Guidelines for Interactive Digital Textiles Based on Empirical User Acceptance Modeling

philipp — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 17:20:16 +0000

Invisible Touch! – Design and Communication Guidelines for Interactive Digital Textiles Based on Empirical User Acceptance Modeling philipp Thu, 08/20/2020 - 19:20

Abstract

Interactive digital textiles are both light and shadow in regard to users’ perception and technology acceptance. To understand people’s perceived barriers and benefits in regard to interactive digital textiles and to derive empirically founded design and communication guidelines, we conducted an empirical study based on a synthesis of the Unified Theory and Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) and the Smart Textile Technology Acceptance Model (STTAM). In a scenario-based quantitative user study with N = 324 participants, we evaluated the projected acceptance of two exemplary textile products in a between-subject design. The first product addressed wearables in form of a smart jacket and the second product referred to technology augmented living environments in form of a smart armchair. Regression analyses revealed that the combined model (UTAUT2 and STTAM) explained over 80% of the variance of the participants intention to use the smart armchair (80.3%) as well as the smart jacket (84.7%): For the smart armchair, the model dimensions performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, washability, and input modality were decisive, while performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and connectivity were relevant for the smart jacket. We conclude with empirically based communication and design guidelines to increase the acceptance of interactive digital textiles.

Brauner P., Offermann-van Heek J., Ziefle M. (2019) Invisible Touch! – Design and Communication Guidelines for Interactive Digital Textiles Based on Empirical User Acceptance Modeling. In: Bagnara S., Tartaglia R., Albolino S., Alexander T., Fujita Y. (eds) Proceedings of the 20th Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2018). IEA 2018. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 822. Springer, Cham.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96077-7_61

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Smart Interactive Textiles (IntuiTex)

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What is Hip ? – Classifying Adopters and Rejecters of Interactive Digital Textiles in Home Environments

philipp — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 17:15:02 +0000

What is Hip ? – Classifying Adopters and Rejecters of Interactive Digital Textiles in Home Environments philipp Thu, 08/20/2020 - 19:15

Abstract

The omnipresence and familiarity of textiles in combination with the integration of invisible sensors, actuators, and information and communication technology under the term “interactive digital textiles” offer the potential of bridging the gap between age, the aging-population, and latest information and communication technology. Digital textiles are reaching maturity and first technology augmented cloths are becoming commercially available. However, little is known about the acceptance and projected use of digital textiles for/in home environments and whether acceptance is shaped by age, gender, expertise in interacting with technology, or other aspects of user diversity. In a survey with n=136 participants, we identified and quantified factors that influence the adoption and rejection of a smart cushion as example for digital textiles. We found that attitude towards technology and attitude towards automation are decisive for the projected acceptance, while age plays a minor role. In addition, we provide a customer segmentation based on the projected use and provide detailed descriptions of adopters and rejecters as well as their model-based evaluations of the smart interactive cushion. The article concludes with open research questions and strategies for practitioners to leverage smart textile interfaces as basis for many innovative products in the future.

Heek, J. Van, Brauner, P., Zielfe, M.: What is Hip ? – Classifying Adopters and Rejecters of Interactive Digital Textiles in Home Environments. In: Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health. ICT4AWE 2017. Communications in Computer and Information Science. pp. 1–20. Springer, Cham (2018).

DOI

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93644-4_1

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Smart Interactive Textiles (IntuiTex)

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Age, Gender, and Technology Attitude as Factors for Acceptance of Smart Interactive Textiles in Home Environments - Towards a Smart Textile Technology Acceptance Model

philipp — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 16:28:57 +0000

Age, Gender, and Technology Attitude as Factors for Acceptance of Smart Interactive Textiles in Home Environments - Towards a Smart Textile Technology Acceptance Model philipp Thu, 08/20/2020 - 18:28

Abstract

Smart interactive textiles are the next frontier of ubiquitous computing and may serve as novel and accepted interfaces that go beyond conventional human-computer interaction. Modern computer interfaces increase in functionality and potential, shrink in size, and enter our everyday lives. Apart from the technical perspective, it is important to understand if and under which conditions people adopt these technologies and which factors constitute perceived barriers of technology acceptance. In this work we examine people's attitudes towards smart textiles and their relationship to the intention to use these products in their home environment. This article provides a precise modeling of younger and older people in regard to expertise in interacting with technology, their desire to control and automate functions in their home environment, and the evaluation of a smart cushion for controlling the home environment, using the Smart Textile Technology Acceptance Model that is derived from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 model. This model was applied for a specific smart textile product and the evaluation was focused on user-diversity, attitudes, and age. The article concludes with open research questions and guidelines for practitioners to leverage the benefits of smart textile user interfaces.

Brauner, P., Van Heek, J., Ziefle, M.: Age, Gender, and Technology Attitude as Factors for Acceptance of Smart Interactive Textiles in Home Environments. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health (ICT4AWE 2017). pp. 13–24. SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Porto, Portugal (2017).

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Smart Interactive Textiles (IntuiTex)

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Intentions to Use Smart Textiles in AAL Home Environments: Comparing Younger and Older Adults

philipp — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 14:20:57 +0000

Intentions to Use Smart Textiles in AAL Home Environments: Comparing Younger and Older Adults philipp Thu, 08/20/2020 - 16:20

Abstract

The vision of ubiquitous computing is increasingly picking up pace. An increasing number of everyday objects are equipped with smart technology and start to form the Internet of Things. Yet, interacting with these devices is based on conventional surfaces made of glass, metal, or plastic. We believe that textile interaction surfaces will be the next frontier of ubiquitous computing and identified many blank spots in the research landscape. Peoples’ perception and acceptance of smooth and soft interaction surfaces is insufficiently understood. In this paper we present a study in which 90 people of a wide age range evaluated the suitability of smart textiles in different usage scenarios in the home environment. Overall, a solid willingness to use smart textiles as input devices was found, even though there were conditional acceptance criteria which should be given before participants would be willing to buy them. In contrast to many other technology contexts, however, age is not decisive in the evaluation of the usefulness of smart textiles. Younger and older adults seem to have a quite similar evaluation, hinting at a quite generic acceptance pattern.

Ziefle, M., Brauner, P., van Heek, J.: Intentions to Use Smart Textiles in AAL Home Environments: Comparing Younger and Older Adults. In: Salvendy, G. and Zhou, J. (eds.) Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population - Design for Aging, Held as Part of HCI International 2016. pp. 266–276. Springer, Cham (2016).

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39943-0_26

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Smart Interactive Textiles (IntuiTex)

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Gardeene! Textile Controls for the Home Environment

philipp — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 14:15:17 +0000

Gardeene! Textile Controls for the Home Environment philipp Thu, 08/20/2020 - 16:15

Abstract

Textile controls so far, have mostly been envisioned to be integrated to clothing. In our environment, however, much more textile interaction surfaces are available. In this paper, we present a capacitive textile sensor, seamlessly integrated into a motorized curtain. While the basic functionality is simply to open and close the curtain, its design allows a much richer gestural interaction.

Heller, F., Oßmann, L., Al-huda Hamdan, N., Brauner, P., Van Heek, J., Scheulen, K., Möllering, C., Großen, L., Witsch, R., Ziefle, M., Gries, T., Borchers, J.: Gardeene! Textile Controls for the Home Environment. In: Short paper at Mensch und Computer 2016. Gesellschaft für Informatik (2016).

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.18420/muc2016-mci-0239

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An Intuitive Textile Input Controller

philipp — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 14:06:35 +0000

An Intuitive Textile Input Controller philipp Thu, 08/20/2020 - 16:06

Abstract

When thinking of textile interfaces, these are often imagined as being integrated into clothing. While this is the most prominent use of fabric, we present a standalone interface that builds on the natural set of interactions a piece of fabric affords, and that is feasible for industrial production. By integrating stitched patterns made of conductive thread into a square piece of fabric, we are able to sense established connections within this pattern and map these to a model how the cloth is folded. An integrated microcontroller tracks these connections and communicates them as two-dimensional continuous value changes to a host application. We present the technical construction of our prototype, a particular clip- on technique to establish the connection between fabric and electronics, and first insights into recognizing different grip gestures.

Heller, F., Lee, H.-Y. (Kriz), Brauner, P., Gries, T., Ziefle, M., Borchers, J.: An Intuitive Textile Input Controller. In: MuC ’15: Mensch und Computer 2015 – Tagungsband. pp. 263–266. De Gruyter Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, Germany (2015).

Smart Textiles as Intuitive and Ubiquitous User Interfaces for Smart Homes

philipp — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 13:50:14 +0000

Smart Textiles as Intuitive and Ubiquitous User Interfaces for Smart Homes philipp Thu, 08/20/2020 - 15:50

Abstract

Textile user interfaces for smart homes offer novel intuitive input gestures and may lower acceptance barrier for technophobic or elderly people. To understand the users’ requirements of smart textile input devices, an Adaptive Conjoint Analysis with the attributes wearability, functionality, haptic, location, and components was carried out with 100 participants. The attributes were rated with different importances. Users request non-wearable textile input devices with no noticeable electronics for the living room. Gender, but no age effects were identified, as women prefer health applications, whereas men prefer media control. In summary, the device needs to be individually tailored to the user’s requirements to achieve high acceptance.

Hildebrandt, J., Brauner, P., Ziefle, M.: Smart Textiles as Intuitive and Ubiquitous User Interfaces for Smart Homes. In: Zhou, J. and Salvendy, G. (eds.) Human Computer Interaction International - Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population. pp. 423–434. Springer, Switzerland (2015).

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20913-5_39

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Smart Interactive Textiles (IntuiTex)

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Understanding Requirements for Textile Input Devices: Individually-tailored Interfaces Within Home Environments

philipp — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 13:31:40 +0000

Understanding Requirements for Textile Input Devices: Individually-tailored Interfaces Within Home Environments philipp Thu, 08/20/2020 - 15:31

Abstract

In the last few years, an increasing public awareness regarding the consequences of the demographic change can be observed in many countries, which is imposing considerable challenges on future health care systems in the next decades. As a framework of the research presented here we introduce a currently running interdisciplinary research project, in which novel textile input devices are to be developed, iteratively designed, and evaluated. In order to learn about the individual requirements for using smart textiles in a home con- text, we carried out a exploratory questionnaire study in which 72 participants (20-76 y) evaluated perceived benefits and barriers of smart textiles in the home context. Results show a first insight into user experience the general willingness to adopt smart textile input devices. Also, the perceived suitability of functions to be controlled by those novel input devices as well as the reported appropri- ateness of different rooms and device types in which smart input devices could be integrated were collected. Results show, overall, a high willingness of partic- ipants to use smart textiles as input devices.

Ziefle, M., Brauner, P., Heidrich, F., Möllering, C., Lee, H.-Y., Armbrüster, C.: Understanding Requirements for Textile Input Devices: Individually-tailored Interfaces Within Home Environments. In: Proceedings of Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction HCII 2014. pp. 589–600. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Germany (2014).

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07446-7_57

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Smart Interactive Textiles (IntuiTex)

Let’s talk about TEX—Understanding consumer preferences for smart interactive textile products using a conjoint analysis approach

philipp — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 10:06:35 +0000

Let’s talk about TEX—Understanding consumer preferences for smart interactive textile products using a conjoint analysis approach philipp Thu, 08/20/2020 - 12:06

Abstract

Interactive textiles are reaching maturity. First technology augmented textiles in form of clothes and furnitures are becoming commercially available. In contrast to the close link between technological development and innovations, future users’ acceptance and usage of such interactive textiles has not been integrated sufficiently, yet. The current study investigates future users’ consumer behavior and acceptance of interactive textiles using a scenario-based conjoint analysis study, which was presented in an online questionnaire ( n = 324 ). Two prototypical interactive textiles were focused on: a smart jacket and a smart armchair. To assess the textile products, the participants had to choose the preferred product alternative consisting each of the acceptance-relevant factors “connectivity”, “input modality”, “feature range”, “usability”, and “ease of cleaning”and their respective levels. The results revealed that the “ease of cleaning” is the most important decision criterion for both textile devices (even more important for the smart jacket), followed by “feature range”, “connectivity”, and “usability”. In contrast, the “input modality” is perceived as least important. The study also identified user profiles based on the projected consumer behavior (“adopters”, “rejecters”, and “undecided”) for both products. Besides the differences in product evaluation and projected consumer behavior, the user groups are significantly influenced by the individual affinity to textiles (both products) and gender (smart jacket). The findings are used to derive design and communication guidelines referring to interactive textiles in order to incorporate users’ needs, wishes, and requirements into future products.

Offermann-Van Heek, J., Brauner, P., Ziefle, M.: Let’s talk about TEX—Understanding consumer preferences for smart interactive textile products using a conjoint analysis approach. Sensors. 18, (2018).

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3390/s18093152

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Smart Interactive Textiles (IntuiTex)

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