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

doi:10.1177/21695067231192616

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

School of Mechanical Engineering

Institute of Modern Industrial Design
Southeast University, Nanjing
Northwestern Polytechnical University Xian
Xi'an University of Technology
University of California at Berkeley
Xi'an Mingde Institute of Technology
University of California at San Francisco

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

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 language	English
Pages (from-to)	877-883
Number of pages	7
Journal	Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Volume	67
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/21695067231192616
State	Published - 2023
Event	67th International Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, HFES 2023 - Columbia, United States Duration: 23 Oct 2023 → 27 Oct 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

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

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10.1177/21695067231192616

Cite this

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title = "Effects of Variations in the Tragus Expansion Angle on Users{\textquoteright} Comfort for In-ear Wearables",

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{\textquoteright} 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{\textquoteright} 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.",

keywords = "3D anthropometry, ear canal, ergonomic design, human ear, in-ear wearables, tragus expansion angle, users{\textquoteright} comfort",

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

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.; 67th International Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, HFES 2023 ; Conference date: 23-10-2023 Through 27-10-2023",

year = "2023",

doi = "10.1177/21695067231192616",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of Variations in the Tragus Expansion Angle on Users’ Comfort for In-ear Wearables

AU - Fan, Hao

AU - Wang, Mengcheng

AU - Zhao, Xiao

AU - Ren, Yihui

AU - Chen, Chen

AU - Dou, Yunjie

AU - Shi, Jinlei

AU - Chen, Dengkai

AU - Harris-Adamson, Carisa

AU - Chai, Chunlei

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - 3D anthropometry

KW - ear canal

KW - ergonomic design

KW - human ear

KW - in-ear wearables

KW - tragus expansion angle

KW - users’ comfort

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85190955574

U2 - 10.1177/21695067231192616

DO - 10.1177/21695067231192616

M3 - 会议文章

AN - SCOPUS:85190955574

SN - 1071-1813

VL - 67

SP - 877

EP - 883

JO - Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

JF - Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

IS - 1

T2 - 67th International Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, HFES 2023

Y2 - 23 October 2023 through 27 October 2023

ER -

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

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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