» posted on 8:34pm - March 28 2009 | posted by xcom

found this on a site and thought it may interest some.



Studying the female form

Math could lead to sexier lingerie, safer labcoats


Researchers in Japan have turned to mathematics to build a computerized 3D model of the female trunk that could help lingerie and other clothes designers make more sensuous, comfortable, and better fitting product ranges.

According to Kensuke Nakamura of Kyoto Institute of Technology and Takao Kurokawa of Osaka University, identifying body shape components is critical for designing close-fitting products, whether underwear, everyday clothes, or safety garments.

However, conventional body measurements, photographic images, and silhouette do not provide complete three-dimensional data with which modern designers could work to improve their products and tailor specific ranges to particular body shapes. The study might also have implications for research into body image disorders and ergonomics.

Now, Nakamura and Kurokawa have developed a technique that allows them to extract a woman's body shape components from 3D data and then ties this to a classification of trunk shapes.

The team took a close look at the bodies of 560 Japanese women aged from 19 to 63 years using laser metrology to map "control points" at specific sites on the women's trunks. They could then fit this data to a generic 3D trunk model in the computer and fit the control points to it to build up a database of body shapes.

They then applied statistical analysis to the data employing principal component analysis and cluster analysis to classify trunk characteristics into five different types. Each depends on slimness or otherwise, breast size and angle, neck type, and shoulder slope. They obtained five classes of body shape which they say represent the majority of trunk shape among Japanese women.

The researchers say their analysis will be helpful in producing clothes that fit better for size and shape, and in improving practical functional clothes used for body adjustment and posture improvement.

They point out that it would be possible to classify body shape into more classes, but having too many variations on the same clothing theme would raise costs to the consumer. One size fits all is inadequate, but a bespoke lab coat is probably an inappropriate extreme.

"We expect that the method will be applied to various customer groups and the results will be reflected in clothes design instead of the seat-of-the-pants approach of designers," the researchers conclude.

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» posted by: xcom · date: 3:49am - April 18 2009	rated: N/A
yeah I know i'm waiting to see that one in the paper myself. ~~~~~~~~~~ _X/
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» posted by: Lev · date: 8:33pm - April 16 2009	rated: N/A
I wonder who's job it was to photograph or film 560 Japanese women. That sounds like a real tough job. ~~~~~~~~~~ "In a soldier's stance, I aimed my hand, at the mongrel dogs who teach, fearing not I'd become my enemy, in the instant that I preach. My existence led by confusion boats, mutiny from stern to bow. Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now." - Bob Dylan [ creating worlds ] www.sikosoft.com
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» posted by: xcom · date: 9:37am - April 02 2009	rated: N/A
that would be great... except in certain places like at work when you get your bedsheets stuck in fryers or caught in machinery. It would be really comfy though! ~~~~~~~~~~ _X/
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» posted by: TuLzie · date: 4:42am - April 02 2009	rated: N/A
Interesting, now if only we can just wear some type of toga drapery clothing i think that would just be more comfortable. Just throw the bedsheets on and off you go. ~~~~~~~~~~ "we are our own devil, we are our own devil.... and we''ll make this world our hell"
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