GE1336 Wearable Technology- Proposal

Group 2- AcuMas-D

Acupressure coherent Massage everyDay

 

Chan Man Yi 53555756

Lau Yip Hong 53082278

 

 

1. Title of design
AcuMas-D (Acupressure coherent Massage everyDay)



 2. Concept/ objective

Creating a daily acupuncture-based garment more assessable to public, especially users with hypertension and hypotension problems, with a view to sustain public health whilst combining tripartite of Chinese medicine and Western medicine theories, and advanced wearable technology. AcuMas-D aims at linking our acupuncture points to the acupressure system for medical and health care purpose through the integration of Chinese and Western medicine. This can do good things for users’ regimen, fitness and blood circulation.

 

What have inspired me so far?

Nowadays, people highly rely on ‘Western medicine’ like pills to cure immediate and long-lasted illness. Actually, the rationale behind seems like computer virus attack. Whenever you receive an aggressive virus invasion, you make use of anti- virus software to clean the virus. However, it is only an attack-and-defense relationship, unlike the Chinese medicine’s theories. Instead, the Chinese medicine alike with a traditional proverb “keep something in a rainy day” under the scope of regimen. That is to say, every people can be self-healing and nurture themselves. That’s why we are inspired to create a wearable device of advocating what ancient or contemporary Chinese believed. Subsequently, we sincerely make a wish to this idea can be globalize to foreigners.

Developed over 5,000 years ago in Asia, acupressure involves using fingers to press key healing points on body, which stimulate the body's natural capability to heal itself. Similar to acupuncture, acupressure is a centuries-old practice that falls under the classification of traditional Chinese medicine. Unlike the former, which requires needles, acupressure uses the hands, fingers, elbows, or feet to restore the flow of energy (otherwise known as “qi” or “chi”) and activate the body’s ability to heal itself. Based on the inconvenience of acupuncture, it acts as a stopgap between professional acupuncture and acupressure treatments.
 

Patients can utilize this modern version of the century-old treatment through normal garments equipped with the acupressure buttons, which align with the body's own acupressure points. The instant relief from the acupressure on any aching and affected back, shoulder and arms is vital in providing a drug-free treatment. It provides benefits in aiding with ailments, maintaining body’s condition and serves as preventive therapy. The pellets promote relaxation during stressful situations and energize muscles when fatigue sets in. Since the product is self-administered by the wearer, the so-called “treatment” can be applied as often as needed.
 

Not only applicable in medical treatment, the acupressure clothing can be utilized in health care aspect. Applying pressure on certain acupuncture points can achieve the function of fitness which can suppress appetite to reduce weight. Users with hypertension and hypotension problems can monitor their blood pressure daily at any time in order to monitor the change in their blood pressure level.

3. Research and critiques on related works

 

i) MyChi,
which is being developed by the New York College of Health Professions, is based on the acupuncture concept alike and still at a testing stage. “All athletes look for ways to enhance their performance, whether on the field or tennis court,” says Lisa Pamintuan, president of the New York College of Health Professions.

Drug-Free Relief- main virtue

-          For athletes who want to compete at their peak, the proper management of aches, pain, and injury is vital.

-          For patients who want to relief their pain and employees

The creator is inspired by seeing athletes being used for everything from increased athletic performance to appetite suppression. It aims at helping athletes compete at their best and providing benefits outside of sports, including decreased motion sickness and aid in weight loss and smoking cessation. It is designed for targeting key pressure points in the body for pain relief and performance enhancement. Athletes and non-athletes can benefit from this line of clothing, which equips uniforms, sweatbands, and other gear with strategically positioned “acupressure buttons” to stimulate blood circulation and the immune response.

Whether permanently sewn to clothing or applied in the form of adhesive strips, the pellets can increase energy, decrease stress, relieve headaches, suppress overactive appetites, and relieve nausea and motion sickness, among other benefits, according to Spector. It has been name as “Buttons on sports clothing” or massage therapy.

Retrieved from: http://www.ecouterre.com/mychi-sportswear-uses-acupressure-buttons-to-improve-athletic-performance/

ii) OSIM uDurian
a handheld massager aims to relax or relieve each body parts by holding the massager onto their outer skin. It is invented referring to concepts of multi-point acupressure and resembling the spikes of durian. The key function is to soothe muscle aches and strain which is similar to Mychi.

There are three main features, namely, versatile design for diverse body contours especially various trouble spots, revitalizing multi-point acupressure massage heighten by the protruding nodes, and dual vibration speed for a more effective and intense massage.

Retrieved from:

http://www.osim.com/HK/product/udurian-handheld-massager.aspx?category_id=16229D22-8388-40D2-9539-42C29678C17B

Distinction from the AcuMas-D:

The above projects look quite similar but factual not the same at all. AcuMas-d technically bases on the acupuncture-point to carry treatment. What is similar is the method of massage is acupressure. However, the purposes and the benefits are much broader and deeper, such as blood circulation, mental relieve, weight control, internal organs nurturing and fitness. Further, the flexible design is to let customer choose which parts of body going to be massaged according to their favor.


4. Overview of design

The inner layer of the wearable object is produced with the help of 3D body scanner for determining users’ body shapes and identifying clothes’ sizes. After processing the body scan data, the sizes of cotton garments manufactured fit their measurements and proportions best in order to provide a firm and closest acupressure without deviation from the standard acupuncture points.

Users’ body scan data collected are further manipulated in matching the acupuncture points to Chinese medical chart on acupuncture meridians accurately. The position that acupuncture points placed at are slightly different among people according to their body figures. Therefore, it is difficult for people without acupuncture background to identify certain acu-points accurately. This matching system can improve the reliability and accuracy of the function of this wearable object since a chart of acu-points are printed at the back of the inner part for fixing the position of each button.

The “acupressure” nodes will be place at the back of the inner garments and between the outer and inner layer, in order to provide a firm but comfortable massage on specific acupressure points on users’ head, back and arms. It brings a closer touch and feel of a professional massage to help improving blood circulation, relieving the pain and easing tensed muscles. Better treatment is provided by targeting specific acupressure points responsible for certain purposes accurately. These buttons are permanently sewn to clothing.

The acupressure module of the back, shoulder and abdomen is made in the shape like a waistcoat and that of the arms is made in the shape of sleeve. It is made of plastic. The plastic waistcoat-liked and sleeve-liked module are equipped with acupressure buttons, which align with the body’s own acupressure points, in which the nodes are made of hard-texture plastic and the remaining parts are soft-texture plastic. These two parts of module are permanently sewn onto the inner garments. Each pellet is inserted a motor which arranged in a form of parallel circuit. There are wires connecting the motors and switches. There are four switches controlling four sets of acupuncture points. Two are located at the right and left arms respectively for targeting the massage-related acupuncture points on arms. When flapping on the sleeves, users are receiving massage to their arms. The other one is located on the shoulder for controlling the vibration of pellet at back. The remaining one is located at abdomen for controlling the fitness-related acupuncture points. Each massage section is ended for ten minutes. You have to flap it once again or more if you want for a long duration massage

With AcuMas-D, an individual can send signal by pressing the switch to start the acupressure treatment they need. The motors are driven by the lithium-ion battery and a battery box is installed onto the inner part.

Automatic wrist sphygmomanometer is installed either left or right hand to measure the fluctuation of blood pressure level. Most importantly, the cooperation of massage function and sphygmomanometer can perform a monitoring function of blood pressure, especially for patients who suffering from hypertension and hypotension problems.

The outer layer is used for covering the nodes and its appearance likes a normal garment that to preserve users’ privacy and reduce the others’ awareness of this. Furthermore, the outer and inner layer are connected by zips, which enables users to separate two layers for washing and changing the outer layer into the clothes they like.

The acupressure actuator is permanently installed within inner and outer garment; meanwhile there is a restriction of getting away from water on account of the inner components materials nature, like out of function when the motor gets wet. Indeed, we understand people’ concern of hygienic unwashed clothes. Though the materialistic constraints induce such dilemma, it is resolved by the ‘gifts’ of rapid technology growth. In accordance with LG Styler, it is described as a unique product designed for both washable and dry-cleanable clothes. In other words, it can clean clothes without using water and detergent. As if customers need to wash their inner clothes, we will provide free service in our support centre.

Retrieve from:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/lgs-new-washing-machine-doesnt-use-water-or-detergent/#!zNOed

5. Tentative technology and materials to be used

 

Technology:

i) Acupuncture point theory mixed with acupressure method performed by touch therapy.

ii) 3D- body scanning

iii) Matching system- computing the 3D scan data to match with the acu-point for different customers’ figure

Materials:

i) Signals for operating AcuMas-D come from users and transmitted via conductive wires.

ii) The inner and outer garments are made of cotton.

iii) The wired acupuncture module are made of plastic materials, in
which the pellets consist of hard-texture plastics and flexible plastics
compose the remaining part of the module for easier sewing.

iv) Lithium-ion battery

v) Zip

vi) Motors

vii) Switches

viii) Automatic wrist sphygmomanometer

6. Execution plan

 

1. Collecting users’ body scan
data with the help of 3D body scanner and manufacture suitable garments based
on this.

2. Matching the acupuncture points with users’ body figures and starting to produce the pellets.

3. The position of the pellets are calculated by the computer and acupressure module are produced by 3D printer. Then, fix the acupressure pellets by sewing to the inner garments.

4. Use the zip to stick the inner garment and outer garment as the pellets is fixed in the middle of these two

 

The detailed schedule is drawn as follows:

7. Reference
1. 3D Body Scanner. College of Human Ecology, Cornell University. http://bodyscan.human.cornell.edu/scene0037.html


2. CrunchWear. “MyChi Sportswear uses the magic of acupuncture to keep you fit.””
http://www.crunchwear.com/mychi-sportswear-uses-the-magic-of-acupuncture-to-keep-you-fit/


3. Ecouterre. MyChi Sportswear Uses “Acupressure Buttons” to Boost Athletic Performance.
http://www.ecouterre.com/mychi-sportswear-uses-acupressure-buttons-to-improve-athletic-performance/

4. Fibre2fashion. “Buttons on sports clothing line for acupressure treatment.”
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/apparel-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=114143 

5. Osim:
http://www.osim.com/HK/product/udurian-handheld-massager.aspx?category_id=16229D22-8388-40D2-9539-42C29678C17B


6. Digital Tends. LG’s new washing machine doesn’t use water or detergent
http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/lgs-new-washing-machine-doesnt-use-water-or-detergent/#!zNOed