Towards Effective Wearable Design: 20 Key Factors for Monitoring Physiological Health in Animals

Siguín, Marta (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Casas, Roberto (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Casas, Oscar ; Blanco, Teresa (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Robust physiological biosensing in animals is valuable for improving health monitoring and advancing animal welfare. However, the design of wearable devices for this purpose faces significant challenges affecting measurement accuracy and user acceptance. These include insufficient adaptation to the specific characteristics of the animal user, limitations in measurement methods, and a lack of standardised documentation regarding usage conditions. This study presents the 20-Factors Framework, a comprehensive framework based on 20 critical factors for designing and evaluating biosensing wearables for continuous physiological monitoring in animals, with a focus on dogs and cats. Developed through a systematic literature review and real-world project participation, the framework is structured using the 5Ws+1H Method (Who, Why, What, When, Where, How), enabling the identification of design gaps and the analysis of interactions between key factors shaping both the physical and functional aspects of these systems. To validate its applicability, a case study on thermal stress monitoring in cats illustrates how these factors can be practically integrated, reinforcing the framework’s relevance for research and industry applications. The findings underscore the importance of considering Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) through Animal-Centred Design (ACD) to ensure that biosensing technologies are aligned with the needs of the animal user—maximising precision, functionality, and acceptability. This work establishes a solid foundation for future research and innovation in biosensing wearables, offering opportunities for implementation across different species and environments while promoting stricter standards in engineering applications.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.106001

Año: 2025

Publicado en: Results in Engineering 27 (2025), 106001 [30 pp.]
ISSN: 2590-1230

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/T27-23R

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Tecnología Electrónica (Dpto. Ingeniería Electrón.Com.)
Área (Departamento): Área Expresión Gráfica en Ing. (Dpto. Ingeniería Diseño Fabri.)