A tool to assess the comfort of wearable computers
Abstract
Wearable computer comfort can be affected by numerous factors, making its assessment based on one value with one scale inappropriate. This paper presents a tool that measures wearable comfort across six dimensions: emotion, attachment, harm, perceived change, movement, and anxiety. The dimensions for these comfort rating scales were specifically developed for wearable equipment assessment by applying multidimensional scaling to a comfort term association matrix developed using the results of groupings of wearable computer comfort terms. Testing the scales on four different types of wearable computer showed that the scales can be used to highlight differences in comfort between different types of technology for different aspects of comfort. An intraclass correlation of .872 suggested that the scales were used with a high level of reliability. A second study showed that modifications made to a wearable computer resulted in improvements in comfort, although they were not significant (p > .05). A potential application for this research is as an aid to designers and researchers for assessing the wearability, in terms of comfort, of wearable computer devices and to determine the effectiveness of any modifications made to the design of a wearable device.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Levels of both emotion and anxiety may be reduced with time and experience as the wearer becomes accustomed to the device.
“Ultimately, levels of both emotion and anxiety may be reduced with time and experience as the wearer becomes accustomed to the device [23].”
From Wearability Assessment of a Wearable System for Parkinson’s Disease Remote Monitoring Based on a Body Area Network of Sensors (2014) · cites this paper as [23]
The compliance assessment used already validated methodologies, specifically the REBA, Borg, and CRS scales in combination with a body map when needed.
“To carry out this compliance assessment different already validated methodologies have been emplaced, specifically the REBA, Borg and CRS scales have been used in combination with a body map when needed.”
From Wearability Assessment of a Wearable System for Parkinson’s Disease Remote Monitoring Based on a Body Area Network of Sensors (2014) · cites this paper as [23]
Feelings of anxiety indicate levels of discomfort arising from concerns about safety and reliability and from feelings of insecurity.
“Feelings of anxiety indicate levels of discomfort arising from concerns about safety and reliability and from feelings of insecurity [23].”
From Wearability Assessment of a Wearable System for Parkinson’s Disease Remote Monitoring Based on a Body Area Network of Sensors (2014) · cites this paper as [23]
The Comfort Rating Scales (CRS) is a tool for comfort assessment of wearable devices that breaks down comfort analysis into six components.
“Knight and Baber developed a tool for the comfort assessment of wearable devices called the CRS [23] which break down the comfort analysis into six different components.”
From Wearability Assessment of a Wearable System for Parkinson’s Disease Remote Monitoring Based on a Body Area Network of Sensors (2014) · cites this paper as [23]
The 0-20 range was considered large enough to elicit a range of responses that could be used for detailed analysis.
“According to Knight and Baber this range was considered large enough to elicit a range of responses that could be used for detailed analysis.”
From Wearability Assessment of a Wearable System for Parkinson’s Disease Remote Monitoring Based on a Body Area Network of Sensors (2014) · cites this paper as [23]
Wearing comfort of wearable devices is decided by the number of wearing devices, device size and weight, and flexibility of the device.
“The wearing comfort575859 of wearable devices is decided by; 1) the number of wearing devices; 2) device’s size and weight; 3) flexibility of the device.”
From A Flexible and Wearable Human Stress Monitoring Patch (2016) · cites this paper as [57]
Cites
Journal of Occupational Medicine
Norman, L. G. (1959) · Occupational and Environmental Medicine · doi:10.1136/oem.16.4.332-a · Cited by 2,324 · see citing works
Gemperle, F., Kasabach, C., Stivoric, J., Bauer, M., & Martin, R. (2002) · International Symposium on Wearable Computers · doi:10.1109/iswc.1998.729537 · Cited by 452 · see citing works
Load carriage using packs: A review of physiological, biomechanical and medical aspects
Knapik, J. J., Harman, E. A., & REYNOLDS, K. L. (1996) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/0003-6870(96)00013-0 · Cited by 426 · see citing works
Aviation, space and environmental medicine
(1983) · Journal of Sound and Vibration · doi:10.1016/0022-460x(83)90522-9 · Cited by 416 · see citing works
Localized muscle fatigue--definiton and measurement.
Chaffin, D. B. (1973) · PubMed · Cited by 330 · see citing works
Work Posture, Workstation Design, and Musculoskeletal Discomfort in a VDT Data Entry Task
Sauter, S. L., Schleifer, L. M., & Knutson, S. J. (1991) · Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society · doi:10.1177/001872089103300203 · Cited by 321 · see citing works
Postural and visual loads at VDT workplaces I. Constrained postures
Hün̈ting, W., & Läubli, T. (1981) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140138108924914 · Cited by 277 · see citing works
The Assessment of Chair Comfort
Shackel, B., CHIDSEY, K. D., & Shipley, P. (1969) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140136908931053 · Cited by 206 · see citing works
Work-related neck and upper limb musculoskeletal disorders
Buckle, P., & Devereux, J. J. (1999) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 174 · see citing works
Comfort of personal protective equipment
Akbar‐Khanzadeh, F., Bisesi, M. S., & Rivas, R. D. (1995) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/0003-6870(95)00017-7 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
96/01038 Standards for thermal comfort. Indoor air temperature standards for the 21st century
(1996) · Fuel and Energy Abstracts · doi:10.1016/0140-6701(96)87138-4 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
Shoulder posture and localized muscle fatigue and discomfort
Wiker, S. F., Chaffin, D. B., & Langolf, G. D. (1989) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140138908966080 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Pain assessment with different intensity scales in response to loading of joint structures
Harms‐Ringdahl, K., Carlsson, A. M., Ekholm, J., Raustorp, A., Svensson, T., & Toresson, H.-G. (1986) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(86)90163-6 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Harms‐Ringdahl, K., & Ekholm, J. (1987) · Clinical Biomechanics · doi:10.1016/0268-0033(87)90146-x · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Effects of notebook computer configuration and task on user biomechanics, productivity, and comfort
Sommerich, C. M., Starr, H., Smith, C. A., et al. (2002) · International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/s0169-8141(02)00075-6 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Harms‐Ringdahl, K., & Ekholm, J. (1986) · Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine · doi:10.2340/16501977198618117126 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Putz-Anderson, V., & Galinsky, T. L. (1993) · International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/0169-8141(93)90051-e · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Development of a commercially successful wearable data collection system
Stein, R., Ferrero, S., Hetfield, M., et al. (2002) · International Symposium on Wearable Computers · doi:10.1109/iswc.1998.729525 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Towards human work: solutions to problems in occupational health and safety
(1992) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/0003-6870(92)90159-s · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Neck muscle loading and fatigue: systematic variation of headgear weight and center-of-gravity.
Phillips, C. A., & Petrofsky, J. S. (1983) · PubMed · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Evaluating contextual information for wearable computing
Bristow, H. W., Baber, C., Cross, J., et al. (2003) · International Symposium on Wearable Computers · doi:10.1109/iswc.2002.1167246 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Self-citationThe need for improved anthropometric methods for the development of helmet systems.
Robinette, K. M., & Whitestone, J. J. (1994) · PubMed · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Towards human work: solutions to problems in occupational health and safety
(1992) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/0003-6870(92)90350-5 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Wearable computers for the fire service and police force: technological and human factors
Haniff, D. J., & Baber, C. (2003) · International Symposium on Wearable Computers · doi:10.1109/iswc.1999.806922 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Self-citationFit Testing as a Helmet Development Tool
Robinette, K. M. (1993) · Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting · doi:10.1177/154193129303700118 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Design and Evaluation of Helmet Systems Using 3D Data
Whitestone, J. J. (1993) · Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting · doi:10.1177/154193129303700117 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Wearable computers and the possible development of musculoskeletal disorders
Knight, J. F., & Baber, C. (2002) · International Symposium on Wearable Computers · doi:10.1109/iswc.2000.888486 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Self-citationPhysiological Indices of Visual Fatigue and Visual Comfort Related to VDT Work.
Saito, S., Taptagaporn, S., Saito, S., et al. (1993) · International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
A Flexible and Wearable Human Stress Monitoring Patch
Yoon, S., Sim, J. K., & Cho, Y.-H. (2016) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep23468 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Cancela, J., Pastorino, M., Tzallas, A., Tsipouras, M., Rigas, G., Arredondo, M., & Fotiadis, D. (2014) · Sensors · doi:10.3390/s140917235 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Review and Reappraisal of Smart Clothing
Cho, G., Lee, S., & Cho, J. (2009) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447310902997744 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Assessing the Wearability of Wearable Computers
Knight, J., Deen-Williams, D., Arvanitis, T., Baber, C., Sotiriou, S., Anastopoulou, S., & Gargalakos, M. (2006) · 2006 10th IEEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers · doi:10.1109/iswc.2006.286347 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Self-citationSupportive home health care technology for older adults: Attitudes and implementation
Charness, N., Best, R., & Evans, J. (2016) · Gerontechnology · doi:10.4017/gt.2016.15.4.006.00 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Acceptability and usability of an ambulatory health monitoring system for use by military personnel
Tharion, W. J., Buller, M. J., Potter, A. W., Karis, A. J., Goetz, V., & Hoyt, R. W. (2013) · IIE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors · doi:10.1080/21577323.2013.838195 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Mähs, M., Pithan, J. S., Bergmann, I., Gabrys, L., Graf, J., Hölzemann, A., Van Laerhoven, K., Otto-Hagemann, S., Popescu, M. L., Schwermann, L., et al. (2022) · Trials · doi:10.1186/s13063-022-06550-z · Cited by 4 · see citing works
- Authors
- Knight, J. F., & Baber, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Birmingham (GB)
- ORCID
- Baber, Chris
- Venue
- Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2005-03
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 77-91
- ISSN
- 0018-7208 (ISSN-L)
- 1547-8181
- OpenAlex
- W2128810251
- Cited by
- 164
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 3.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Usability and User Interface Design
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Interactive and Immersive Displays
- Keywords
- wearable computers, comfort evaluation, emotions, attachment, harm, perceived change, movement, anxiety, wearability
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Attitude to Computers, Equipment Design, Equipment Safety, Female, Humans, Ergonomics, Male, Microcomputers, Personal Satisfaction, Probability, Research Design, Stress, Mechanical, Computers, Handheld
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
