Effects of Variations in the Tragus Expansion Angle on Users’ Comfort for In-ear Wearables

Hao Fan, Mengcheng Wang, Xiao Zhao, Yihui Ren, Chen Chen, Yunjie Dou, Jinlei Shi, Dengkai Chen, Carisa Harris-Adamson, Chunlei Chai

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

Tragus expansion angle (TEA) is an angular variable that quantifies the degree of outward expansion of the tragus cartilage induced by in-ear wearables worn in the human ear. However, the TEA cannot be measured directly, and the mechanism that explains how expansion variations affect users’ comfort experience is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to establish a quantitative relationship between variations in the tragus expansion angle and users’ comfort experience. TEA was measured on 400 healthy participants and normalized using a measuring device (ATMC prototype) and Tragus Expansion Index (TEI). Our results show that the comfort range across variations in TEA was similar for both sexes, yet compared to females, males could tolerate larger variations both in TEA and TEI. A quantitative relationship was established using TEI values, (dis)comfort ratings and GaussAmp function, which can be employed for ergonomic design purposes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)877-883
Number of pages7
JournalProceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Volume67
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Event67th International Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, HFES 2023 - Columbia, United States
Duration: 23 Oct 202327 Oct 2023

Keywords

  • 3D anthropometry
  • ear canal
  • ergonomic design
  • human ear
  • in-ear wearables
  • tragus expansion angle
  • users’ comfort

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