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A positive user experience is crucial for enhancing user adherence throughout the utilization of lumbar-support-assistive devices (LSAD). However, there is a lack of research for optimal user experience with LSAD in the existing literature. Therefore, this study aims to explore how patients with lower-back pain use LSAD and assess their satisfaction and overall experience. Based on this, we aim to provide design improvement recommendations for LSAD to researchers in the relevant field. Through in-depth interviews with 14 LSAD users, key themes were identified using reflexive thematic analysis. The results indicate that participants were "somewhat satisfied" with the overall experience with their LSAD. The key factors influencing the LSAD-wearing experience were: (1) key design challenges in improving LSAD (stability, fit and, comfort), (2) providing necessary assistance (potential barriers and prompts), and (3) individualizing needs and balance of design (aesthetics, dimensions, safety, and cleanliness). All participants reported that poor stability, fit, and comfort of LSAD were the main reasons for an adverse experience. It is worth noting that users may encounter potential barriers when initially using LSAD. Furthermore, younger participants perceived pressure related to appearance and expressed concerns about the exposure of their health privacy during social interactions involving the LSAD. Based on these findings, we have proposed a set of comprehensive LSAD design-improvement recommendations, which serve as a foundational reference for future improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fusion of emerging technologies with industrial design has catalyzed a fundamental shift in the aesthetics, user experiences, and service frameworks of products in the Industry 4.0 era. Simultaneously, this convergence has heightened the demands placed on the technological integration competencies of designers. Consequently, there exists a necessity to articulate a precise developmental trajectory for proficiency in industrial design that incorporates these novel technologies. This study initiates with a bibliometric analysis to quantify the scholarly literature relevant to this research domain. Subsequently, leveraging the insights from this analysis, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 experts spanning the United States, Europe, South Korea, and China. Our conclusions show the following: (1) Co-word analysis and cluster analysis techniques are applied to identify 80 technologies and four technological clusters that demonstrate strong associations with industrial design in the Industry 4.0 era. (2) Employing coding techniques and thematic analysis, four distinct skill domains emerge for technology-integrated industrial design: Industrial Design Skills, Industrial Design Knowledge, Ethical Considerations in Industrial Design, and Industrial Design Industry Insight. Furthermore, a limitation that affects these competencies is identified. (3) A recommended methodology for assessing these competencies is proposed. This study represented an expansion upon existing industrial design competencies. The empirical data generated herein serves as a valuable resource for practitioners and educators within the field of industrial design. Furthermore, it provides a theoretical groundwork for future models addressing technology-infused industrial design capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promising replacement for widely studied photocatalysis, piezocatalysis is capable of realizing organic dye degradation, water splitting, medical therapy, and many other functions by harvesting mechanical vibration energy in the surroundings. In this study, we demonstrate the excellent piezocatalytic effect of hydrothermally synthesized Bi0.5(Na1−xKx)0.5TiO3 (BNKT) nanoparticles through both degradations of dyes and hydrogen evolution. A high kinetic rate constant k of 0.065 min−1 for the degradation of rhodamine B dye was obtained from the BNKT nanoparticles with a tetragonal-rich morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) composition, overperforming the counterparts with a rhombohedral-rich MPB composition and a single tetragonal phase. The BNKT nanoparticles possessing a tetragonal-rich MPB composition yield the most pronounced piezoelectric effect among the studied compositions, albeit better band alignment with the redox potential levels in rhombohedral-rich MPB nanoparticles, thus confirming the critical role of a strong piezoresponse in promoting the piezocatalytic activities. Our work will not only shed some light on understanding the dominant mechanism of piezocatalysis, but also uncover additional degrees of freedom, namely phase ratio within a phase boundary region, to further enhance the piezocatalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]