Design for ageing well: Improving the quality of life for the ageing population using a technology enabled garment system

Traditionally clothing, textiles and electronics markets have been separate with current technological advances not readily accepted by the older user due to badly designed user-interfaces, poor integration of technology into clothing, mainly combining existing consumer products into branded clothing and advertising targeting the youth market.
Little has been undertaken to address the design requirements of older wearers in terms of human factors such as sizing, fit, thermal regulation, moisture management and the psychological 'feel good factor'.
The aim of this Project is to investigate the application of smart textiles in a functional clothing 'layering system' that promotes self-monitoring of well-being and applications that enhance the everyday life of the active ageing, specifically the 60 - 75 age group focused on walking.
Modern textiles and garment manufacturing techniques will be adopted to address the longer term demands of the active ageing who do not want poor design and uncomfortable assistive devices, perceived to be for the ill, nor clothing designed for the youth market.
The research is driven by a cross-disciplinary team of researchers who will develop and apply a new user centred product design oriented process, driven by end-user needs, for the development of smart clothing and wearable technologies.