The different demands of the smart clothing functions among three types of hikers

The previous studies suggested that the technologies of smart clothing can enrich hiking experience, decrease obstructions, and ensure the hiking safety. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to define the different demands of smart clothing among hikers. The study collected 360 subjects from hikers on urban tails, suburban trails, and the mountaineering association in Taipei. Each group selected 120 subjects. The study investigated three dimensions which were demographic variables, hiking experience, and the demands of the smart clothing functions. The study characterized 33 functions from the hiking handbooks, the context of hiking training courses and the web sites from hiking associations. The 6 of 33 functions to fulfill the high-level demands for enrich hiking experience, included communication, information sharing, interpretation, entertainments, deodorization, and hiking data recordings. The 27 of 33 functions were to monitor physical conditions and to ensure the safety. The results from this study showed that the characteristics of the population of hikers were male, 42-year- old (average age), working for service industry and without any professional hiking certificate. The results from this study showed that the 3 important functions were monitoring pulse, heart rate, and the rate of respiration per minute. Based on demographic variables and hiking experience variables, the study applied the cluster analysis to classify hikers into three groups, which are young and less experiencing hikers (YL), elder and frequently using the hiking trails near the urban areas hikers (EU), and "elder and frequently using the mountaineering trails hikers (EM)." The significant differences among the three types of hikers were the demands of monitoring muscular fitness, monitoring flexibility and providing deodorization. From the discriminant analysis, the CAN equation was CAN = -0.732*the demand of monitoring muscular fitness +0.396 *the demand of providing GPS information +0.352 *the demand of deodorization +0.23.The results showed 68.8% of original grouped cases correctly classified. The EM group had higher demands on monitoring physical conditions. The EF group had higher demands on hiking information. The YL group showed the demand on enriching hiking information. For the further applications, the study suggested that the functions of the smart clothing for EF group should emphasis on improving healthily lifestyle, for the EM group should assist them to achieve their interests and self-improvements and for the YL group should help them to increase their abilities to deal with the hiking situations.