Wearable Bio-sensors and Non-invasive Health Monitoring Design
SCOPE:
With the rapid advancement of precision medicine and the paradigm shift toward proactive health management, wearable devices have evolved from simple digital accessories into a form of “digital skin” integrated with the human physiological system. Despite this progress, existing monitoring technologies continue to face critical challenges, including limited biocompatibility, pronounced wearing traces, insufficient aesthetic integration, and user psychological resistance.
This Special Issue aims to explore the deep interdisciplinary convergence between materials science and industrial design. We seek contributions that move beyond improving the accuracy of physiological signal acquisition, and instead address the holistic integration of technology and the human body. In particular, we emphasize Invisible Design and Seamless Interaction as conceptual and methodological frameworks for eliminating both physical and psychological boundaries between device and user.
We encourage research that reconfigures hardware architectures through topological logic, and that leverages flexible electronics and smart textiles to develop health monitoring solutions that harmonize functionality with artistic expression.
TOPICS:
We welcome submissions including, but not limited to, the following categories: Original Research Articles, Review Papers, and Case Studies:
l Flexible Electronics and Biocompatible Materials: Research on epidermal electronics for long-term monitoring, self-healing materials, and breathable sensor systems that enhance durability, comfort, and physiological compatibility.
l Smart Textiles and Fiber Electronics: Integration of electronic components with textile engineering processes to enable multimodal physiological monitoring through garments and wearable fabrics.
l Non-invasive Sensing Technologies: Microfluidic chip design and non-invasive detection strategies based on sweat, interstitial fluid, bioimpedance, or related physiological markers.
l User Experience (UX) and Wearability Psychology: Quantitative comfort evaluation systems, strategies to mitigate social stigma associated with long-term device use, and design methodologies addressing behavioral acceptance.
l Age-friendly and Special Population Design: Development of unobtrusive monitoring devices tailored for older adults, individuals with chronic conditions, or other vulnerable populations.
l Self-powered and Low-power Systems: Applications of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), flexible photovoltaic cells, and energy-efficient system architectures in wearable health monitoring design.
l Data Aesthetics and Visualization: Artistic and perceptually informed feedback mechanisms for health data, and their impact on user engagement and behavioral intervention.
IMPORTANT DATES
l Manuscript submission deadline: September 29, 2026
l Notification of acceptance: November 30, 2026
l Submission of final revised paper: January 5, 2027
l Publication of special issue (tentative): January 15, 2027
MAIN GUEST EDITOR:
Ying Fangtian, Zhejiang University
GUEST EDITORS:
Yao Cheng, Executive Dean of International School of Design, Ningbo Innovation Center, Zhejiang University
Xue Mengru, Assistant Professor, Ningbo Global Innovation Center, Zhejiang University
Cao Xianghui, Professor, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology
