AbstractsWomens Studies

In this graduation assignment a smart textile is designed. In order to do so, first the context is researched: What is there already? What technologies are there? What applications are there currently? What requirements are there? Next, an ideation phase took place to come up with directions for the smart textile. A few ideas were selected out of all the sketches and were developed into small concepts, of which one is chosen. To design a smart piece of clothing which cools down women having a hot flash is the final concept. The development of this concept consist of several researches as well. Literature about the menopause is read and a menopause consulent is visited. Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the body stops producing estrogen and the body has to find a whole new hormonal balance. It starts around the age of 45 and can take up to 10 years time. Next to hot flashes a lot of other symptoms are explained. Four women are asked to share experiences in a user interview. The applied technology in this smart textile is the Peltier-effect. When an electronic current is applied to a Peltier-device, one side of the device turns cold, while the other side turns hot. Tests are done to measure which voltage applied to the Peltier-device will lead to which temperatures. Peltier-devices stacked on top of each other and Peltier-devices next to each other applied with pulses of current are configurations that are possible as well, in order to create the most efficient cooling effect. Next to this, a simple prototype is build, to test the feeling of the Peltier-devices on the skin of the women. The results of both tests were combined and a conclusion could be made: The Peltier-devices would be double stacked and a voltage of 4,5 V would be applied. As a last phase the final prototype was build. Step by step is explained how this final design was established. All the aspects and its decisions are explained. For example: what components are used to make a working circuit, what code is use? In what way the aesthetics and the interaction of the final design are developed? After finishing this final design it was evaluated, again with the participants from the previous user tests. Final recommendations are made to specify what needs to be done to take this product to the next step, such as: The Peltier devices need to be researched, the behavior of the bodies temperature during a hot flash needs to be researched, the power supply need to be developed and the product needs to be developed into being water resistant.