Search Results (240)

This study addresses the design challenges of daily-use smart glasses by proposing a user-centered design and evaluation framework that integrates the KANO model, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE), and Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC)-assisted concept generation. User requirements were identified through interviews with 20 participants and user journey map analysis, classified using a KANO questionnaire survey with 309 valid responses, weighted through AHP, and used to guide AI-assisted visual generation based on Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) fine-tuning and a ComfyUI workflow. The results show that Functionality and Performance had the highest criterion weight, while multi-scenario mode switching, misoperation recovery, and lightweight structural design were identified as the most critical design attributes. Three design schemes, including a commercial reference product, a conventional 3D-rendered non-AIGC concept, and the proposed AIGC-assisted scheme, were evaluated using FCE. The AIGC-assisted scheme achieved the highest comprehensive score. The study demonstrates that combining quantitative requirement modeling with generative design can support a systematic workflow from user demand identification to design scheme evaluation. The proposed framework provides a practical reference for smart wearable product design and may also inform wearable interface applications in digital cultural heritage and museum interpretation contexts. Full article

Multilingual online reviews combine ordinal ratings, asymmetric positive and negative evidence, sparse attribute occurrence, and substantial cross-country imbalance. This study presents an integrated inferential framework. Signed topic scores are converted to within-country rank intensities, and country-specific cumulative-logit models distinguish positive and negative occurrence baselines from their corresponding intensity contrasts. The two intensity contrasts are then synthesized jointly through a bivariate Bayesian normal-normal random-effects model that retains their within-country covariance. The primary analysis uses all 30,042 reviews observed in the common 2019–2024 window; the complete 85,373-review corpus and repeated country-capped samples are sensitivity analyses. Separating the two occurrence baselines improves summed AIC from 32,347.7 to 32,167.8, while a transformation-by-function comparison shows that natural splines improve AIC and quadratic-weighted agreement. The linear-rank model is retained to provide comparable scalar intensity contrasts. Targeted partial proportional-odds fits substantially improve in-sample AIC in China and Japan but leave repeated-validation performance and all nine average effect directions essentially unchanged. A secondary semantic mapping audit agrees with 30 of 31 topic assignments. Simulation results show generally adequate interval coverage but reduced Kano-state accuracy under small K, sparse occurrence, and proportional-odds violations. The findings therefore support tiered, uncertainty-aware prioritization rather than a deterministic global ranking. Full article

Bio-inspired architectural design increasingly relies on generative artificial intelligence to expand early-stage concept exploration, yet current workflows often suffer from vague requirement definition, subjective proposal selection, and weak connections between user expectations, visual generation, and design evaluation. This study proposes a closed-loop human–AI decision-support framework for biomimetic architectural concept generation. The framework first uses Kansei-oriented requirement analysis and the KANO model to identify and classify stakeholder expectations concerning morphology, structural rationality, environmental integration, cultural narrative, visual novelty, interactivity, and sustainability. On the basis of 282 valid questionnaire responses, the most influential requirement categories are further translated into an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) hierarchy, where expert judgement from a five-member specialist panel is used to derive criterion and sub-criterion weights. These weights are then converted into structured prompts—via a formally specified weight-to-language conversion strategy—to guide a diffusion-based image-generation system toward more targeted biomimetic concepts. Finally, TOPSIS is applied to rank generated design alternatives according to the same weighted criteria, thereby creating a traceable link from requirement discovery to generation and decision-making. Case studies involving eagle-, manta ray-, and cheetah-inspired architectural concepts indicate that the framework improves the explicitness of design objectives, supports more consistent comparison among alternatives, and reduces reliance on purely intuitive aesthetic judgement. An ablation comparison confirms that each stage of the framework contributes incrementally to the quality of final outcomes. This study proposes an integrated workflow that combines requirements modeling, multi-criteria evaluation, and AI-assisted visual design. Full article

Women’s concerns about personal safety significantly affect their use of public spaces, particularly semi-enclosed micro-public environments such as public toilets. Existing studies have not fully clarified how different spatial elements influence women’s perceived safety or how perceived-safety-oriented design priorities should be determined. This study develops and preliminarily examines an evaluation framework for women’s perceived safety in public toilets, which are treated as a highly private type of micro-public space. Grounded in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design theory, the framework integrates visual scenario simulation, the Kano model, and the Best–Worst Method. A total of 257 female participants evaluated simulated spatial scenarios, and 10 experts assessed the relative importance of key indicators. The Kano results show that Facility condition is a must-be requirement; Lighting, Degree of enclosure, Material transparency, Signage clarity, Entrance buffer zone, Surveillance cameras, Hygiene conditions, and Graffiti and advertisements are one-dimensional requirements; and Women’s care area, Auditory conditions, Olfactory conditions, Loitering detection, and Emergency support are attractive requirements. The weighting results identify Degree of enclosure, Facility condition, and Hygiene conditions as the most important indicators. Based on these findings, the study proposes an integrated framework of “evaluation dimensions–demand attributes–relative weights–design priorities” and a design path of “basic guarantee–priority improvement–support enhancement.” The findings provide design guidance for public toilets and a methodological reference for other micro-public spaces, although the specific Kano classifications and weights require contextual recalibration. Full article

As population aging accelerates, providing psychosocial support for adults in the retirement transition has become increasingly important. For this population, a central challenge is adapting to changes in social roles, daily routines, and social relationships, yet existing social robot research has paid insufficient attention to these companionship-related needs. From an embodied cognition perspective, this study developed a needs-driven design pathway for a social companion robot for this population in urban China. Sixteen key needs were identified through user interviews and prioritized through a Kano survey with 184 valid responses from urban community-dwelling adults in the retirement transition. Based on the classification and prioritization results, these needs were synthesized into four design strategies: emotional responsiveness and trust building, social connectedness and sustained engagement, low-burden interaction and daily life support, and safety, health, and privacy protection. Privacy and safety were treated as foundational conditions for product design and practical deployment. The strategies were subsequently mapped to technical features and hardware elements through quality function deployment (QFD), using an expert-panel evaluation procedure and sensitivity analysis to determine module-level configuration priorities. A single-session, laboratory-based concept evaluation was conducted with 50 participants using concept renderings and interaction-flow videos. Concept 3, whose overall configuration emphasized coordinated voice, screen-based visual, and expression/action feedback, received a significantly higher mean participant-level Behavioral Intention (BI) score than Concept 2, which placed greater emphasis on spatial mobility assistance through a mobile wheel module (8.94 ± 0.97 vs. 8.51 ± 1.21; adjusted p = 0.003). These evaluation findings informed the final concept configuration and provided preliminary support for its companionship-oriented multimodal interaction approach. Full article

As urban housing becomes increasingly compact and companion animals become more deeply integrated into domestic life, human–cat cohabitation presents design challenges related to spatial efficiency, furniture wear, maintenance, and everyday coexistence. This study examines shared-interface conflicts in compact apartments and proposes an integrated SOR–Kano–FBS pathway for sustainable human–cat shared furniture design. In-home observations, semi-structured interviews, behavioral path recording, and Kano questionnaires were used to identify high-frequency activity contexts and prioritize user requirements. These requirements were translated through the FBS model into functional objectives, behavioral scripts, and structural strategies. The results indicate that ease of cleaning and maintenance, structural stability and user-perceived safety, and dedicated scratching guidance primarily represent must-be requirements. Movement-path separation, centralized storage, and aesthetic integration function as performance-enhancing requirements, whereas shared yet stratified zoning, elevated observation points, and moderate visual connection improve the cohabitation experience. Two conceptual designs—a human–cat shared living-room sofa system and a foldable work/study system—were developed. Their descriptive comprehensive acceptance indices were 0.802 and 0.794, respectively, while a combined conventional-furniture reference set scored 0.520. Because the reference set represented two conventional activity contexts, these values were used only as diagnostic, user-perception-based evidence and not as inferential proof or a direct ranking between the schemes. The findings suggest that the proposed pathway can support design-level sustainability in compact human–cat cohabitation; however, further validation through physical prototypes, long-term in-home testing, and life-cycle assessment is required. Full article

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) at Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan, requires selective attribute prioritisation under operational and environmental constraints. This study develops a five-stage theoretical–procedural framework that organises participant needs through Schmitt’s experiential modules, classifies asymmetric quality functions using Kano analysis, links attributes to acceptable price and behavioural intention, and compares Kano-derived priorities with an evaluation–outcome priority matrix (EOPM). A quantitatively dominant sequential mixed-method design combined interviews with four operators and one certified coach, field observations, online reviews, and an electronic survey administered from 8 to 24 May 2023 to a purposive convenience sample of participants with prior SUP experience at Sun Moon Lake; 450 of 499 responses were usable (90.1%). Analyses included descriptive statistics, Kano classification, Satisfaction Improvement and Dissatisfaction Reduction Coefficients (SIC/DRC), 5000-resample bootstrap subgroup comparisons, correlation analysis, exploratory factor analysis, multiple regression, and the EOPM. Relaxation (SIC = 0.749) and happiness (SIC = 0.744) produced the largest satisfaction gains, whereas safety (DRC = −0.636) and shower facilities (DRC = −0.607) showed the strongest dissatisfaction sensitivity. Professional coaching (r = 0.349), skill instruction (r = 0.339), and safety (r = 0.331) were the strongest correlates of composite behavioural intention (Cronbach’s α = 0.941). Exploratory factor analysis identified experiential–relational enhancement and operational–competence support; both predicted behavioural intention (β = 0.174 and 0.296, respectively; adjusted R² = 0.182). The EOPM identified safety and skill instruction as strategic strengths, while professional coaching remained an improvement priority, illustrating partial convergence between asymmetric quality and outcome-based prioritisation. The framework supports selective investment in non-negotiable operational foundations and high-leverage experiential enhancements in eco-sensitive sport tourism. Full article

Background/Objectives: As the number of critically ill patients continues to rise, intensive care unit (ICU) nurses bear a heavy nursing workload, within which excretion care is particularly time-consuming and labor-intensive. Although intelligent excreta nursing robots hold the potential to alleviate this burden and improve the quality of care, their widespread application in the ICU setting remains limited. Therefore, systematically analyzing the specific needs of ICU nurses is of profound significance for guiding the research and development of clinically adaptable robotic systems. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted in this study. Kano model-based questionnaires were administered to 401 clinical intensive care unit (ICU) nurses from 83 hospitals in China to analyze requirement attributes, and AHP-based questionnaires were distributed to 102 experts to evaluate the importance of these requirements. Results: Among the 16 s-level need items identified via the Kano model, five were classified as must-be quality attributes, where non-fulfillment significantly reduced satisfaction with the robot; three as one-dimensional quality attributes, demonstrating a positive linear correlation between fulfillment and user satisfaction; six as attractive quality attributes, where fulfillment substantially enhanced satisfaction; and two as indifferent quality attributes, exerting minimal impact on satisfaction. Furthermore, the AHP determined the relative importance weights of the first-level need items (totaling 100%), ranked in descending order as follows: safety assurance (36.89%), high-quality excreta handling function (30.29%), sustainable usage (22.21%), and harmonious human–machine–environment interaction (10.61%). Conclusions: In conclusion, the priority sequence for fulfilling ICU nurses’ requirements regarding intelligent excreta nursing robots dictates that safety assurance must serve as the fundamental prerequisite. This is followed by refining the core technologies for high-quality excreta handling, addressing key demands for sustainable usage and harmonious human–robot interaction, and ultimately accommodating other secondary needs. Full article

Biomimetic wearable devices provide non-invasive physical support for elderly patients with dysphagia. However, most existing assistive products adopt fixed layouts designed through empirical methods and cannot meet differentiated needs in household, social, and medical scenarios. To fill this gap, this study constructed an integrated design framework combining the KANO-EWM-TOPSIS hybrid model and extended FCBS mapping. The KANO model was used to classify functional attributes and exclude mandatory safety indicators from weighting calculations to prevent data dilution. The entropy weight method (EWM) and TOPSIS were then adopted to calculate scenario weights and prioritize core functions. To resolve structural incompatibility in traditional rigid braces, a morphological biomimetic design scheme was proposed. Referring to the anatomical outline of the thyroid cartilage and movement rules of the infrahyoid muscle groups, a high-fidelity 3D digital model of the wearable collar was established. The biomimetic structure replicates the soft tissue compliance of the human neck. It offers adequate physical support without limiting vertical laryngeal displacement during swallowing. Simulated usability tests were conducted with 16 participants, and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE) returned an overall score of 77.91. The digital design balances physiological safety and users’ psychological feelings while reducing obvious medical styling. This study offers a repeatable quantitative process and practical reference for developing human larynx anatomy-based biomimetic wearable rehabilitation devices at the preliminary design stage. Full article

Drought persistence in the Sudan–Sahel transition zone of Northern Nigeria poses a substantial risk to agricultural productivity. This study develops a Hybrid Prophet–Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) architecture to address the existing research gap in near-term predictive capacity for non-stationary hydroclimatic time series. Utilizing Kano State as a case study, the Prophet algorithm was employed to extract deterministic trends from the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI-12) derived from CRU TS v4.09 data (1980–2024), while an integrated LSTM network modeled the stochastic residuals. Diagnostic results indicate a statistically significant trend toward moisture recovery (p < 0.0001). Comparative analysis demonstrated that the hybrid model significantly outperformed standalone baselines, achieving a Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) exceeding 0.87 and a 67.2% reduction in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). Furthermore, the framework accurately simulated hydroclimatic transitions with a directional accuracy exceeding 87%, confirming high predictive reliability. Projections for the 2025–2030 period indicate a continued positive moisture shift of approximately 0.9 SPEI units. These findings underscore the technical necessity of decoupling non-linear noise from deterministic signals to resolve complex drought dynamics. Consequently, the proposed framework serves as a robust tool for near-term climate prediction. Scaling this methodology across diverse agroecological zones is recommended to enhance national drought early warning systems and regional climate resilience strategies. Full article

With rapid population aging in China, the age-friendly upgrading of rural public spaces has become central to both rural revitalization and active aging. Existing evaluation frameworks are constrained by urban-oriented indicators, linear utility assumptions, and static assessments that overlook rural contextual needs. In response to these limitations, this study develops and validates a rural age-friendly public space evaluation system by coupling the Kano model with the Capability Maturity Model (CMM). Evaluation indicators were derived from in-depth interviews with rural older adults through three-level grounded-theory coding. The Kano model was then used to identify demand attributes and Better–Worse coefficients, while indicator weights were determined using an AHP–entropy method adjusted by Kano coefficients. Finally, a Kano–CMM correlation matrix was constructed to generate a five-level maturity evaluation model and applied to Xinan Village, Xiancun Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou. Results identify seven core dimensions: safety and protection; accessibility and mobility continuity; comfort and health friendliness; health and wellness support; social interaction and psychological belonging; environmental sanitation and quality; and maintenance, renewal, and durability. Rural older adults’ needs are dominated by must-be attributes, followed by attractive attributes, whereas one-dimensional attributes are comparatively less prominent. Safety- and accessibility-related indicators show the highest negative risk sensitivity, indicating that rural age-friendly design should prioritize risk reduction over experiential enhancement. The proposed framework moves beyond checklist-based assessment and provides an evidence-based, dynamic, and auditable tool for diagnosing and improving rural age-friendly public spaces. Full article

Background/Objectives: Street and restaurant foods constitute a major component of daily diets in low-resource settings due to their affordability, accessibility, and convenience. However, they are frequently characterised by high sodium content, posing significant public health risks, particularly for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Empirical data on sodium levels in Nigerian street and restaurant foods remain limited. This study assessed the sodium content of commonly consumed street and restaurant foods in Kano and Ogun States and the Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria using a multilevel analytical framework. Methods: A total of 2583 food samples were collected from street vendors and three categories of restaurants (self-service, quick-service, and hotel restaurants) between August and October 2024. Sodium concentration was measured using a validated digital salt meter. In all three states, rice-based dishes were the most commonly available street and restaurant foods. Results: More than half (55.4%) were classified as high-sodium (>600 mg/100 g), while only 4.1% were classified as low-sodium (<120 mg/100 g). Median sodium content was highest in the FCT (720 mg/100 g), followed by Kano (650 mg/100 g) and Ogun (600 mg/100 g). Soups and stews had the highest median sodium levels (1360 mg/100 g), with several traditional dishes exceeding 1000 mg/100 g. Multilevel mixed-effects modelling demonstrated that sodium exposure was driven primarily by food type (p < 0.001) and vendor environment (p = 0.009), rather than geographic location (state effect: p = 0.217), indicating structurally embedded issues with sodium content throughout the Nigerian food system. Conclusions: These findings support multilevel sodium reduction interventions targeting high-sodium food categories, vendor preparation practices, and strengthened surveillance to monitor progress toward World Health Organization population sodium reduction targets. Full article

High-rise glass curtain wall cleaning has long relied on dangerous manual high-altitude operations, which suffer from low efficiency, high labour costs and prominent safety hazards. Existing cleaning robots generally lack a systematic user demand-driven design framework, making it difficult to balance safety, obstacle-crossing capability and maintenance performance. To fill this gap, this study proposes a four-stage integrated sustainable design methodology integrating the KANO model, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and TRIZ. This methodology covers requirement attribute classification, priority weight quantification, demand-technology mapping and engineering conflict resolution, which can assist in sorting out multi-constraint design contradictions for the studied high-altitude cleaning equipment. Applying this methodology, the study develops the modular NetWing curtain wall cleaning drone with a vertically separable structure, retractable obstacle-crossing cleaning arm and quick-release cleaning head, and the feasibility of the conceptual scheme is preliminarily verified through numerical simulation. This work provides a quantifiable and replicable design paradigm for high-altitude service equipment, and the proposed solution can effectively reduce occupational risks and support the sustainable development of the facade cleaning industry. Full article

Existing Kansei-oriented product design studies often rely on simplified styling–color associations or weighted matching of perceptual imagery, making it difficult to capture users’ multi-affective requirements. To address this limitation, this study proposes a product form innovation design method based on a multi-domain coupling network model and establishes a mapping framework from target Kansei images to design solutions. Taking electric mopeds as a case study, the KJ method, k-means clustering, fuzzy Kano analysis, probabilistic hesitant fuzzy entropy weighting, and game-theoretic weighting were employed to identify the target Kansei image. Product form was then decomposed into styling, color, and material domains, and a multi-domain coupling network was constructed based on a form-element co-occurrence matrix. Through topological analysis and the LH-index, 14 key form elements associated with the target image were identified. Quantification Theory Type I was subsequently applied to establish the mapping relationship between form elements and Kansei images, while the Bee Evolutionary Genetic Algorithm (BEGA) was used to generate optimal design solutions. The results indicate that “elegance” is the dominant Kansei image for electric mopeds. The proposed model achieved strong predictive performance (R² = 0.923), and the optimized design obtained an 85% user recognition rate, showing high consistency across multiple validation methods. The proposed framework effectively reveals the coupling effects of styling, color, and material and provides a systematic approach for data-driven product form innovation. Full article

Urbanization in Northern Nigeria has accelerated the adoption of modern architectural forms that often neglect climatic responsiveness and indigenous cultural values. This study examines how vernacular architectural principles can be integrated into contemporary urban development to enhance climate resilience. Focusing on Sokoto, Katsina, and Kano, the research adopts a mixed-methods approach combining field measurements, simulation modeling, structured interviews, and policy analysis. Findings indicate that traditional Hausa architecture achieves indoor temperature reductions of 4–6 °C compared to ambient outdoor conditions. This is primarily due to courtyard configurations, high thermal mass, and passive ventilation strategies associated with the architecture. Life-cycle assessment reveals that vernacular materials exhibit 60–75% lower embodied energy than modern buildings. Despite these advantages, policy frameworks inadequately support their integration. This study proposes an integrative model combining vernacular strategies with modern technologies and policy reforms. The findings contribute to sustainable urban design discourse and align with global sustainability goals. Full article