Keywords: medical device design, human-computer interaction, wearable devices, physical activity, kinesiology, sedentarism, open-source design
Role: PhD in Design
Supervised by: Dr. Scott Mitchell (primary), Professor Soumitri Vardarajan, Dr. Caroline Francis, Professor Neale Cohen
Host: School of Design, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Funded by: Department of Education, Australian Government. Research Training Program (DOI: doi.org/10.82133/C42F-K220)
Collaborators: Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute & Functional Materials and Microsystems Group, School of Engineering, RMIT University
Abstract
Increasing levels of physical inactivity across all age groups is a growing public health problem. Evidence suggests that the recommended level of activity intensity and volume can feel unattainable for some individuals, and discourage participation. However, the World Health Organization now endorses the phrase “every move counts towards better health”. While clinicians may encourage movement of all forms in their lifestyle prescriptions, systems of measuring and quantifying non-specific body movements have scarcely been used for monitoring free living physical activity (PA). If every movement counts, how can we count every movement?
This practice-based PhD investigates the design, development and evaluation of a wearable device-based service system for monitoring PA in sedentary lifestyles. The system includes a novel measurement system for quantifying full body movement, a method of recording real-time ecological momentary assessments of the activities and a system for clinically evaluating the data. The research delves into the investigation of an unmet need in the clinical monitoring of PA, the iterative design of the PA measure, the iterative design of the wearable device and its interactions, as well as clinician evaluation of the proposed service system.
The project contributes to knowledge in design innovation for health, wearable interactions for PA monitoring, and design methods in wearable medical device development. Through the research and practice, the project also comments on avenues to explore open-source hardware design for medical devices, and patient ownership of health data.
Mode of examination
This practice-based PhD in Design was examined in a tripartite model of dissemination that involved a dissertation, an exhibition of the practice, and a one-hour presentation of the research followed by one hour of questions, comments and critical appraisal by two independent examiners. The examiners were given four weeks to evaluate the dissertation, followed by an in-person engagement with the practice through an exhibition and presentation of the research. The examiners then received another two weeks to compile the recommendations and outcomes of the examination based on evaluations of all three modes of dissemination.
The sections below provide a list of publications developed through the project followed by photographs of the exhibition and presentation.
Publications
Arun Kumar, P., Brakenridge, C., Nagaraja, V., & Mitchell, S. (2026). Measuring Movement: Reframing Physical Activity Monitoring For Sedentary Lifestyles, A Narrative Review. https://doi.org/10.51224/SportRxiv.944
Arun Kumar, P. (2026). MOVE – An Alternative Approach to Monitoring Physical Activity for Highly Sedentary Lifestyles (Version 1, p. 151985009 Bytes) [RMIT University]. https://doi.org/10.25439/RMT.33014210
OpenDesign (2024). activPAL 3c Teardown (guide). iFixit. https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/activPAL+3c+Teardown/170046
OpenDesign (2023). ActiGraph GT3X+ Teardown (guide). iFixit. https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/ActiGraph+GT3X-plus+Teardown/166217
OpenDesign (2023). activPAL 3 Teardown (guide). iFixit. https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/ActivPAL+3+Teardown/166182
Presentation and exhibition
