Please scroll down for the English version - UNNC students win international awards for “smart slippers” designed for the elderly.
随着中国老龄化进程的加速，对独居老人、空巢老人这一群体的关怀与护理成了一项社会性议题。尤其在新冠疫情传播的当下，如何为独居老人进行远程的健康监护就更成了一个挑战。宁波诺丁汉大学工业设计专业的师生所设计的一双兼具高科技和实用性的拖鞋，就为解决这一问题提供了切实可行的方案。
近日，这款由宁诺大四学生袁孟豪、王彦哲在导师Martijn ten Bhömer博士带领下所设计的“智能拖鞋”斩获了国际鞋履设计界最高水准大赛——全球鞋类设计奖（Global Footwear Awards)的三个奖项：总冠军、社会影响力大奖和医疗类鞋履大奖。
一个可穿戴的
智能健康监测设备
这双看似由普通布料制作的露趾拖鞋外型极简，乍一看普普通通，其实内有乾坤。以袁孟豪和王彦哲的话来说，它是对物联网技术的应用，是一种“可穿戴科技”。
袁孟豪和王彦哲把独居老人作为产品的目标用户。在设计开始之前，他们先针对独居老人的生活状态和老年人鞋类市场进行了一系列调研，从而明确了独居老人群体最需要的鞋类功能。考虑到老年群体高发糖尿病足、痛风等疾病，他们因此设计了一双可以感测脚部压力、进行实时健康监测的智能拖鞋。
这双智能拖鞋的鞋面和鞋底都可以感知压力的分布与改变。在鞋面制作上，他们采用了一种具备压力感应功能的导电织物，并将其用3D编织技术编织而成。鞋底则暗藏了一个芯片盒，用以收集、处理健康监测数据，并传导至系统，方便用户在手机应用界面实时查看。为保障芯片的续航能力，这双高科技拖鞋的鞋底还具备无线充电功能——当老人上床睡觉时，智能拖鞋就会在充电板上自动充电。
考虑到穿脱的方便性，这款拖鞋采用了可以调节松紧的魔术贴来适应足部疾病患者的不同脚型。“我们在拖鞋的后半部分设计了一个提手，既可以踩下去当拖鞋穿，也可以提上当‘一脚蹬’，穿着出门买菜也十分方便，”两位同学介绍说。”拖鞋穿久了如果需要清洗，也可以直接把上半部分丢进洗衣机，不用再去专门清洗鞋子的店铺。”
这款智能拖鞋是宁诺工业设计系学生为独居老人设计的远程健康监测体系的一个部分。在Martijn博士的带领下，还有两组学生团队分别负责设计可感知压力变化的坐垫和手机应用，三者形成一个完整的产品生态。
一个由暑期科研项目
演变而来的国际大奖
袁孟豪和王彦哲自2020年大二暑假开始参与这个科研项目，至今已经快两年了。
由于是与上海圣东尼公司合作开展的项目，袁孟豪和王彦哲在设计过程中多次前往上海，向公司研发团队进行项目汇报，再与技术人员沟通具体的生产环节。从最初确立设计方案，到出样品，再到测试和产品迭代，两位同学说，他们得到了很多专业人士的帮助，也积累了设计生产交接的实际经验。
在宁诺，像袁孟豪和王彦哲参与的这类面向本科生的科研机会有很多。仅2021年暑假，就有400名学生参与到100余个科研项目中。这些项目往往由学术老师牵头，与业界知名企业进行深入合作，使学生能够参与到真正产业化的科研项目中，帮助他们探索研究兴趣、提升科研技能。
“通过搭建暑期科研这个平台，宁诺为在校生创造了一个与来自不同学科、不同年级的师生交流科研技能、积累项目经验的机会。” 工业设计专业王欣慰老师说：“历年来，从这些项目中还诞生了不少学术论文和国家专利。”
这个针对独居老人的健康监测项目由当时任宁诺工业设计专业助理教授的Martijn博士发起，宁诺提供种子基金，并在开发过程中获得了来自行业伙伴的广泛帮助。除了针织机械行业的领军企业上海圣东尼公司下属的材料体验中心，Eva x Carola工作室和位于英国的智能织物研发企业Footfalls and Heartbeats也为这款智能拖鞋的打造提供了技术支持。
王彦哲（左二）、Martijn博士（左三）、袁孟豪（右三）
据Martijn博士说，项目成果收获了合作企业的一致好评，他也对智能拖鞋的产业化前景很有信心。“所有的合作方都对这个项目的产业化很感兴趣，”Martijn博士说：“虽然这个设计本身是研究导向的，但我们愿意将它往产业化的方向继续推进。”
目前，智能拖鞋项目已经获得了风险投资基金的关注。
UNNC students win international awards for “smart slippers” designed for the elderly
In China’s rapidly aging society, healthcare and nursing of the elderly living alone have become an increasingly significant social issue, especially due to the added impact of Covid-19. To provide a plausible solution to this problem, staff and students of University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) designed a type of slippers that are not only comfortable to wear but also provide a feasible and personalised healthcare solution for the elderly.
This pair of “Smart Slippers”, designed by Menghao Yuan and Yanzhe Wang under the supervision of Dr Martijn ten Bhömer, was awarded the Overall Winner in Special Awards, Winner in Social Impact, and Winner in Medical Footwear of Global Footwear Awards (GFA), an influential award that recognises the efforts of talented footwear designers around the world.
According to Menghao and Yanzhe, the “Smart Slipper” may look simple, but it is in fact a well-thought-out design and is an application of Internet of Things technology. Focusing on the elderly living alone as the target users of the product, they conducted a series of research on the living conditions of the elderly living alone and the footwear market for the elderly to clarify the most needed shoe function.
They subsequently developed a pair of smart slippers which can sense foot pressure and carry out real-time health monitoring. Beginning with the material used for the vamp, Menghao and Yanzhe used a kind of conductive fabric with pressure sensing functions and wove it with 3D knitting technology. A chip box is then inserted in the sole to collect and process health monitoring data which is then transmitted in real-time to a mobile phone application. The slippers also utilise a Velcro tape which makes them adjustable and easy to put on.
“We added a handle so that they can function as both slippers and a pair of normal shoes,” introduced Menghao and Yanzhe.
The slipper design is part of a health monitoring system that monitors the status of elderly people. There are two other student teams working on the development of pressure-sensing cushions and a cell phone application with the guidance of Dr ten Bhömer.
From the initial design scheme, to the production of samples, testing and adjusting, Menghao and Yanzhe have received the help of many professionals such as experts from the industry partner of the programme Santoni Company Shanghai, and have accumulated practical experience in design and production handover.
At UNNC, there are abundant scientific research opportunities available for undergraduate students like Menghao and Yanzhe. During the summer break of 2021, about 400 students participated in over 100 scientific research projects. These projects are often led by UNNC academic staff who carry out in-depth cooperation with well-known enterprises in the industry, allowing students to participate in truly industrialised scientific research projects and helping them explore research interests and improve research skills.
“By establishing a platform for summer scientific research, UNNC has created an opportunity for students to exchange scientific research skills with staff and students from different disciplines and year groups as well as to accumulate project experience," said Dr Wang Xinwei, Assistant Professor in Product Design & Manufacture. "Over the years, numerous excellent academic papers and national patents have been developed from these projects.”
The “Smart Slippers” project was initiated by Dr ten Bhömer, the then Assistant Professor in Product Design & Manufacture at UNNC, and has been highly praised by industry partners. He stated he is quite confident in the industrialisation prospects of the smart slippers. “Although the design itself is research-oriented, we hope to continue to promote its industrialisation process.” The project has already attracted attention from venture capital funds.
文字来源 | Chuchu Lou, Elena Yang
图片来源 | Martijn ten Bhömer
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