Iris Publishers_Journal of Textile Science & Fashion Technology (JTSFT)

Fashion and Health – Utilizing Wearable Technology and Traditional Chinese Medicine to Design Two Wearable Acupressure Prototypes


Abstract

According to Wright and Keith [1], “wearable technology and wearable devices are phrases that describe electronics and computers that are integrated into clothing and other accessories that can be worn comfortably on the body”. Examples of wearable devices include; glasses, watches, headbands, and jewelry. These technologies have also been applied to fashion in relation to sport activities, fitness and even health. For instance, we can see heart rate monitors, personal GPS devices, smart watches or Bluetooth headsets in various markets. From the fashion approach, there are designers who have already incorporated similar forms of technology into cutting edge apparel. In spring/summer 2007, the Turkish born designer Hussein Chalayan, made robotic dresses which stunned the audience [2]. Mower mentioned that Chalayan was “excited by science, fascinated by world politics, and recognized the fact that the way we dress was a reaction to the times we lived in” [3]. In 2000, the brand ‘Levis’ worked with Philips to create a jacket which had special pockets for MP3 players, mobile phones and cables [4]. VHM, a design futures company, contended that this product “was widely considered to be the first commercial wearable electronics garment” [2]. In 2016, Nike worked with Apple to create “Apple Watch Nike+” for runners, which consisted of a functional watchband that was both breathable and sweat-resistant [3]. This article focuses on the combination of fashion and health by utilizing wearable technology and traditional Chinese medicine to design two wearable acupressure prototypes, based on the concept that “fashion can heal”.

Keywords: Wearable technology; Fashion can heal; Traditional Chinese medicine; User-friendly, Health care


Introduction

Peltola wrote, that by approximately 2022 there will be over a billion wearable devices around the world, and many of these devices would be utilized by the healthcare industry to improve the quality of human life [5]. Such information was an inspiration to create fashion technology into this research. David Yeung, the lead researcher and creator of the prototypes, believes that fashion can be empathetic and help create functional purposes, instead of only being confined to the conventional concept of showing one’s beauty or identity. While living in China, David found traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to be interesting, with its long history and thousands of years of development. It was during this time in China, that the idea of “fashion can heal” emerged. In an article by Interesting Engineering, it was noted that the first wearable technology consisted of the 400-year-old abacus rings, used for trade in China and developed in the Qing Dynasty era, between 1644 and 1911 in China [6]. Since that time, computer technology has significantly increased.

Thorp, E. addressed that the first computer was conceived in 1955 [7]. In the summer of 1961, Thorp noted that the first wearable computer was operated for the purpose of a ‘casino’ test in Las Vegas, USA [7]. As time continues to pass, wearable technologies are being developed into different aims and functions, and the integration of health care and wearable technology is one of those developments [7]. Cicek noted, that there were three main categories of wearable technology: wearable health technologies, wearable textile technologies and wearable consumer electronics [8]. However, for this research report, the authors focused on, how wearable technologies can be associated with human health and traditional Chinese medicine to develop two wearable acupressure prototypes. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health mentioned that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) originated in ancient China and has evolved over thousands of years [8]. They also noted that, TCM practitioners used herbal medicines and various mind and body practices, such as acupuncture and tai chi, to treat or prevent health problems [8]. According to Peltola, wearing healthcare devices were received more positively, by a higher number of people [5]. And, based on Collier and Randolph’s, 2015 research, there had been a consistent combination of wearable technology within the fitness and medical industries [5]. The relationship between health and information technology has become more influential with technology becoming more pervasive in healthcare, ranging from individualized self-care and disease management, to improvements in hospital efficiency [5]. The aim of this project was to utilize wearable technology and traditional Chinese medicine to design two wearable acupressure prototypes to give human medical treatment for healing the body and spirit, founded on the idea of “fashion can heal”.

Discussion

In this postmodern era, most consumers work under pressure to quickly adapt to the changing society and growing competitive work fields [9]. Overtime, consumers gradually forget about taking care of themselves and being healthy, either physically or mentally [9]. This type of unhealthy fast-paced energy is known as ‘Qi’ imbalance which weakens the immune system [9]. According to Reninger in ThoughtCo, ‘Qi’ is defined as a life-force, which animates the forms of the world [10]. Reninger also stressed that in Taoist cosmology, the two most fundamental forms of qi are Yinqi and Yang-qi, as they are the primordial feminine and masculine energies to balance life forms [10]. In relation to Yin-qi and Yang-qi, this research examined TCM healing methods and used acupressure as its guide, to develop two user friendly wearable acupressure prototypes. The concept of giving human medical treatment for healing the body and spirit, founded on the idea that “fashion can heal” was the motivation behind incorporating electronic systems into apparel materials (Figure 1). Chen, YW and Wang HH remarked that acupressure was a complementary treatment that used fingers and hands to stimulate acupoints and maintain the balance of energy [9]. By using the two wearable acupressure prototypes, it was expected that the system could regularly help release stress and raise energy levels to fight against illness [11]. Additionally, users could use an electronic system to perform massages rather than by hand or fingers [11].

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