title: A new system for the analysis of thermal judgments: multipoint measurements of skin temperatures and temperature-related sensations and their joint visualization.
abstract: We report a new system for monitoring sensations of many body parts as well as comprehensively showing the distribution of overall skin temperature (T(sk)) and temperature-related sensations. The system consists of a console with 52 levers to report temperature-related sensations and software that facilitates the visualization of the distribution of T(sk) and temperature-related sensations by displaying them on a model of the human body. The system's utility was demonstrated with a physiological experiment involving three males and three females. They were exposed to step changes of ambient temperature from 23 degrees C to 33 degrees C. We measured T(sk) at 50 points, and the subjects concurrently provided estimates of local temperature sensation and thermal comfort/discomfort at 25 loci. This system greatly facilitates the perception and analysis of spatial relationships and differences in temperature and sensation in various areas of the body.
authors.affiliation: Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. m.nakamura@suou.waseda.jp
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Esaki
authors.forename: Tamae
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoda
authors.forename: Saki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yasuhara
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagashima
authors.forename: Larry I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Crawshaw
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanosue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007596:Joints / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D012984:Software; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000502:physiology*