In the project was researched and developed two different areas: exoskeletons and conveying emotions and non-verbal communication using smart clothes.
USE OF EXOSKELETONS IN DIFFERENT JOBS
The functionality and benefits of passive exoskeletons, i.e. body supports, were tested in various tasks with companies and operators in the Tavastia region, Finland. Research results and user experiences were collected from the tests, and what solutions could be used to make exoskeletons more clothing-like in the future, and yet support different body positions in work tasks.
Read an article Exoskeletons – wearable technology for workplaces (only in Finnish), Anni Leisti-Szymzcak, Satu Jumisko-Pyykkö & Kimmo Vänni
Read a blog post use of exoskeletons in nursing work (only in Finnish).
Read a blog post use of exoskeletons as part of nursing work and occupational well-being (only in Finnish)..
See here the test results of the student project on the use of exoskeletons in Valkeakoski's home care (only in Finnish). (picture: Kati Toropainen)
Exploring the User Experiences of a Passive Occupational Exoskeleton in Forestry Tasks, Anni Leisti-Szymczak, Master’s Thesis, Tampere University, 12/2024
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION WITH THE HELP OF SMART CLOTHES IN E-SPORT TEAMS, SPIRITUS LUDI
In the pilot, a prototype of smart wearable was implemented to convey emotions and non-verbal communication. The prototype has been implemented following a user-centered design process. It combines textile materials and an electronics unit integrated into it with different textile structures, which enables the transmission of digital, non-verbal touch messages together with application development.
What if we could send digital "high fives" in a remote team?
Spiritus Ludi is a smart sleeve for sharing of the encouraging touch in remote e-sport teams.
The best performing sport teams express more social touch gestures such as high fives, fist bumps, taps than lower performing teams. In e-sport, the teams even on a professional level train and compete far from each other.
Spiritus Ludi enables touch gestures to remote e-sport teams. It is a smart sleeve which sends and receives touches in real time. When a player taps the sleeve, it will send touch messages to all team members’ sleeves. The sleeve is connected to the app which takes care of the touch communication between the players.
Spiritus Ludi is tested with several e-sport teams, and it elevates connection between the players.
Listen to the HAMK Gaming Academy podcast Smart wearable for e-sport player (only in Finnish).
The smart wearable prototype (Spiritus Ludi) developed in the project was in Dutch Design Week (DDW), 10/2023.
Smart wearables developed at Häme University of Applied Sciences on display at Dutch Design Week, HAMK Smart blog, 11.10.2023.
The Finns developed a smart sleeve: "Ripple strokes the player's arm", (only in Finnish) Mikrobitti, 15.11.2023.
In Häme was invented a sleeve that improves team spirit (only in Finnnish), Ilta-Sanomat, 18.11.2023
Smart textiles and wearables, Key Trends article WGSN, 22.11.2023
Älyvaate e-urheilijalle pelikokemuksen parantamiseksi, Heidi Kerkola, Final Thesis, Häme University of Applied Sciences, 2022
Technology mediated touch in a E-sport team – Design and evaluation of a haptic sleeve, Tittamari Salonen, Master’s Thesis, Tampere University, 6/2024
The Creation and Implementation of a Reliable Low Latency Communication System for Mediated Social Touch in Esports: a Future Wearables Proof of Concept, Brian Scotcher, Final Thesis, Häme University of Applied Sciences, 2024