Analysis of the auricles and auricular shape types for ear-related wearables: A study of mainland Chinese sample aged 15–79

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wang, Mengcheng^{a; b; c} | Fan, Hao^{a; b; c; *} | Yu, Suihuai^{a; b} | Wang, Long^{a; b} | Chu, Jianjie^{a; b} | Tang, Xing^{a; b} | Li, Wenhua^{a; b} | Zhao, Xiao^d | Zhang, Shuai^{a; b; e} | Chen, Dengkai^{a; b; c}

Affiliations: [a] Key Laboratory of Industrial Design and Ergonomics, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Xi’an, China | [b] Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Design, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China | [c] School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA | [d] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA | [e] School of Art and Design, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, China

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Hao Fan, Department of Industrial Design, Northwestern Polytechnical University, No. 127, Youyi Road (West), Beilin District, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China; School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; 1301 South 46th Street, Bldg. 163, Richmond 94804, CA, USA. E-mail: laycc@sina.com.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Comprehension of the complex shape of the auricle and how it differs in terms of factors such as sex, age, and side have become an imperative aspect of the fabrication and service delivery of products that are natural, functional, and healthy for users. OBJECTIVE:This study was aimed at providing a clear understanding of the anthropometric characteristics based on age, sex, size, and side and shape type of the auricles of mainland Chinese samples. METHODS:Casting and 3D scanning were employed to obtain eighteen auricular measurement variables from 1120 subjects (aged 15–79). Examination of sex-related and bilateral differences were conducted. Furthermore, factor analysis was employed to establish the factors associated with the variations in auricular shape. Also, hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to classify the auricular shapes of individuals. RESULTS:The auricular inclination angle, conchal depth and tragal height did not exhibit any specific trend across the age groups. No significant bilateral difference was observed in both genders. The auricular shapes were classified into five types according to six major factors. CONCLUSIONS:It was observed that measurement variables of the Chinese auricles changed continuously with age, with most of the linear variables exhibiting a steady increase. The apparent strong association between the auricular types and age groups indicate that a person’s auricular shape may change with age.

Keywords: Ergonomic design, anthropometric analysis, shape characterization, occupational health

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210799

Journal: Work, vol. 73, no. 1, pp. 335-352, 2022