Designing for Technology Research: Case Study of Wearable Devices for Assistive Technology

Abstract

Prototyping in industrial design (ID) has been framed as a step toward product commercialisation. In assistive technology (AT) research, however, prototypes function as research instruments that must support experimental variability, interdisciplinary collaboration, and longitudinal investigation under resource constraints. Existing prototyping approaches, largely derived from commercial and design research contexts, often fail to address the methodological demands of AT research, where customisation must coexist with experimental standardisation, and where prototype failure potentially compromises both data validity and engagement with users. This paper proposes a systematic, AT research-oriented prototyping methodology designed for academic settings. Drawing on practice-based design research conducted at an interdisciplinary academic AT laboratory, the study introduces three design principles: (i) research-centricity, (ii) systematic modularity, and (iii) contextual adaptability, following a five-stage prototyping framework. It structures the progression from research framing and modular planning to iterative deployment, validation, and reuse, positioning prototypes as a stable and adaptable tool. The methodology was practised through two wearable assistive devices developed within the same laboratory. The first case demonstrated the modularity, mid-fidelity prototypes that support controlled gait quantification research over extended periods, while the second illustrates methodological scalability in addressing more complex experimental scenarios related to freezing of gait. These two cases demonstrate reductions in iteration time and cost, component reuse, and reliability across diverse experimental conditions. Aligning prototyping decisions with research objectives and human factors considerations, this work contributes a transferable methodological approach that allows rigorous, efficient, and interdisciplinary AT research within constrained academic environments.

Keywords: Assistive Technology, Modular Prototyping, Prototyping Methodology, Experimental Designs

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007759