Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution, focuses on intelligent and smart manufacturing. This article investigates a smart design performance measurement approach, which can be utilized to support performance measurement implementation during a collaborative design process. First, we develop a smart product design framework with Industry 4.0 enabling technologies to support key design stages in an iterative fashion. Second, based on this framework, we propose a smart design performance measurement approach to potentially support a smart product design project management via its performance management. Third, we adapt our existing design performance measurement, for a traditional design environment into a smart design environment at its early stage to test its feasibility. This approach features integration of a flexible performance measurement setup, a multi-feedback design performance measurement mechanism and a multiple design performance measurement results presentation which allows the design performance measurement approach to produce flexible and customized operations by connecting design performance measurement with the stage-based design objectives, balancing design performance measurement feedbacks through interoperability between collaborative design team members and providing real-time design performance measurement results to guide design activities. An empirical industrial evaluation case study indicates that the proposed design performance measurement approach can support design team members in improving their collaborative design performance.

This article presents non-representational theory as a methodological approach to illuminate the lived experiences of older people’s everyday mobilities using the example of travel to and from the supermarket. Previous studies have explored older people’s everyday mobilities and highlighted a number of challenges, but few studies address specific journeys, such as grocery shopping, and none empirically engage with non-representational theory. In this article we draw on a qualitative research study with participants over the age of 65 living in the UK as we investigate their journeys to and from the supermarket. We present three vignettes/personas of individuals with differing needs and experiences and find that their grocery shopping journeys are not just about procuring food but also sociomaterial events that both affect, and are affected by, bodily capabilities and mental wellbeing. We conclude with some recommendations for designing older people’s local travel experiences and argue for non-representational theory as a method for accessing the socio-material world in which everyday mobilities play out.

This work presents the design and test of an e-textile based functional electrical stimulation system for post-stroke upper limb rehabilitation. The prototype was tested on five stroke survivors to assess stimulation comfort, the stimulation intensity required to achieve hand opening, and ease of use. Wrist extension was measured using two inertial measurement units. The wearable e-textile prototype achieved similar stimulation comfort compared to high-quality hydrogel electrodes with a score difference of between 0 and 1. The stimulation intensity to achieve full hand opening was the same for the hydrogel electrodes and the e-textiles for all five participants. A second design based on a knitted sleeve has been assessed in terms of usability. Additional new designs have been proposed to improve the usability.

The digital realm has witnessed the rise of various search modalities, among which the Image-Based Conversational Search System stands out. This research delves into the design, implementation, and evaluation of this specific system, juxtaposing it against its text-based and mixed counterparts. A diverse participant cohort ensures a broad evaluation spectrum. Advanced tools facilitate emotion analysis, capturing user sentiments during interactions, while structured feedback sessions offer qualitative insights. Results indicate that while the text-based system minimizes user confusion, the image-based system presents challenges in direct information interpretation. However, the mixed system achieves the highest engagement, suggesting an optimal blend of visual and textual information. Notably, the potential of these systems, especially the image-based modality, to assist individuals with intellectual disabilities is highlighted. The study concludes that the Image-Based Conversational Search System, though challenging in some aspects, holds promise, especially when integrated into a mixed system, offering both clarity and engagement.