The analysis of the system “human–clothing–environment” with application in the design of functional adaptive products

Abstract

Increasing the life quality for persons with disabilities represents an important problem for the whole society, locally and even globally. This group of people is the most vulnerable and the less protected, as they are limited in movements, actions and independence. Those require constant support, a lot of familial and social care, and a period to adapt, in order to begin a new life. This study presents the results of the research based on the interaction of several elements, that define the system: "persons with amputated inferior limbsfunctional clothing-environment", achieving by that a database, that would eventually allow the solving of the main problem: social reintegration of this group. The aim of this study consists in determining the most important factors that describe each element of the above-mentioned system. The interaction of these factors allow us to identify several problems: disability problems, social-economic breaches, psychologic barriers, recovery processes, problems that concern the creation and the exploitation of multifunctional clothing, etc. Functional clothing is designed to ensure the needs for the potential customers with disabilities. Also, following the studies were established the factors that have a negative influence on social integration and personal rehabilitation. These appear as a list of restrictions related to the environment in which the person with locomotor disabilities lives.