Running head: WEARABLE USER INTERFACES

Wearable User Interfaces

Argho Sen
WEARABLE USER INTERFACES 2

Abstract

In today’s world the application of technology as Context Awareness is by far the major

objective of Wearable User Interfaces (WUI). WUI is the latest upcoming technology more user

friendly than the conventional computing devices. Having mobile technology and other complex

algorithms of smart systems as its launching pad, the WUI is targeted to eliminate the obstacles

of obtrusive platforms of the former. A Smartphone acts as a WUI with location variance of the

user. But the major difficulty lies with fact that the user needs to stop his primary activity in

order to use the device. Whereas, a WUI remain embedded with the attire of the user. WUI can

be defined as a system which remains fixed with the outfit of the user and works in moveable

condition without affecting his primary activity but enhances the environment for the user by

Cognitive Effort and Context Awareness. The WUI devices find broad applications in many

fields such as healthcare, sports, fitness, tracking, defense, industrial and safety management

programs. This paper is primarily aimed at analyzing and interpreting the vision, mission and

utility of WUI in healthcare services.

Wearable User Interfaces

The core technical aspects of the WUI can be classified into four major categories. These

are Context Awareness, Cognitive Efforts, Self-configuration and Seamless Embedding in the

clothes or outfit of the user.

Context Awareness means interaction of the system with the environment keeping in

view user activity. Based on information provided by Context Awareness, Cognitive Efforts

provide intelligent functional solutions to the user. For e.g., an intelligent Asthma management

device connected to a companion app tracks the physical condition of the patient and provides

remedial solutions based on GPS location, stored data and auto-search from internet. The Self-
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configuration is yet to develop in a practical sense. It detects the environmental change based on

Context Awareness and configures itself accordingly. The seamless embedding of the WUI

devices is a feature which is developing at a fast pace. The wearable skin-like Cardio-vascular

round- the-clock monitor developed by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and

Northwestern University in Evanston, IL is so small that the monitor is barely visible to the

naked eye.

Wearable Sensors, Monitors and Devices

The implanted Microsystems in a textile worn by the user are Micro Electro-Mechanical

Systems (MEMS). The sensors used in these systems have multiple object-oriented functions

based on the infrastructure of the textile and its functionality. The embedded sensors detect heat,

sound, light and various ambient conditions to provide information to the system based on which

the system performs its logical operation.

Communication of Wearable Healthcare Devices with Medical Base Station.

The wireless wearable ECG monitors, Ulcer sensors, or Diabetes detecting sensors work

on cloud based technology to inform the physicians or the hospitals. The sensors track the

various parameters of the physical condition of the patient and sends the information through a

companion app with Bluetooth technology and cloud based system to the base station PCs.

Management Information System (MIS) of WUI.

The MIS of the WUI is four-part. These are functional textiles, embedded MEMS,

attachable peripheral devices and handy appliances like android phones. Functional textile

provides housing and infrastructure to the embedded MEMS. The embedded MEMS provide

information to the peripheral devices. And these in turn send the data to handy appliances.
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References

Whiteman, H., & Whiteman, H. (2017). Wearable, skin-like device 'monitors cardiovascular,

skin health 24/7'. Medical News Today. Retrieved 18 May 2017, from

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/283022.php

Smart Wearable ECG EKG Monitor - QardioCore. (2017). Qardio. Retrieved 18 May 2017,

from https://www.getqardio.com/qardiocore-wearable-ecg-ekg-monitor-iphone/

(2017). Retrieved 18 May 2017, from

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8480044_Wearable_systems_for_health_care_a

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