Beyond the Pocket: A Large-Scale International Study on User Preferences on Bodily Placements of Commercial Wearables

Abstract: As wearable technologies continue to evolve-becoming smaller, more powerful, and more deeply embedded in daily life-their integration into diverse user contexts raises critical design challenges. There remains a notable gap in large-scale empirical data on where users actually wear or carry these devices throughout the day, systematically examining user preferences for wearable placement across varied contexts and routines. In this work, we conducted a questionnaire in several countries aimed at capturing real-world habits related to wearable device placement. The results from n = 320 participants reveal how wearable usage patterns shift depending on time of day and context. We propose a set of practical, user-centered guidelines for sensor placement and discuss how they align or diverge from assumptions seen in existing ISWC work. This study contributes to ongoing efforts within the community to design more inclusive, adaptable, and context-aware wearable systems.