Exploring opportunities for flexible wearables to support physical training

Stawarz, Katarzyna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-0615, Everitt, Aluna and Bowen, Judy Exploring opportunities for flexible wearables to support physical training. Presented at: ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference (DIS) 2025, Funchal, Madeira, 5-9 July 2025. Proceedings of the 2025 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference. ACM, 10.1145/3715336.3735703

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Abstract

Advances in digital fabrication with flexible and conductive materials are enabling new opportunities for customisable wearables that enhance physical training across various sports through on-body posture and movement monitoring. However, before developing new wearable devices, it is crucial to understand the unique challenges and opportunities of real-world use and the diverse needs of stakeholders such as athletes, trainers, and sports enthusiasts. In this paper, we report results of two co-design workshops conducted with 11 participants representing a range of sports backgrounds and interests to identify challenges and opportunities for flexible wearables. The participants' designs and prototypes highlight the importance of supporting personalised wearable design, addressing varying contexts, and accommodating different skill levels. We propose design considerations for wearable devices that prioritise flexibility, both in their materiality to support a wide range of movement and in their adaptability to accommodate changing conditions and user progression across skill levels.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Computer Science & Informatics
Publisher:	ACM
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	11 May 2025
Date of Acceptance:	8 May 2025
Last Modified:	13 May 2025 13:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/178209

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