It’s a typical scene played out routinely by family members experiencing physical limitations. Consider the following scenario: A 15-year-old girl with scoliosis visits her orthopedic doctor monthly to check her alignment. Despite wearing braces, trying physical therapy, and taking various medications, her condition remains unresolved.

There is a glimmer of hope, though. Her mother has been impressed with the technological advancements in her daughter’s recent appointments. The doctor uses 3D printing to create a customized brace with sensors monitoring spinal pressures. Still, the teen finds some misalignments and discomfort with the material.

The family has found that AI can assist, but not completely solve her scoliosis. The development of 3D printing and virtual mirrors in retail shows potential to enhance the overall consumer experience. Still, more training is needed for these technologies to match the effectiveness of physically trying on items.

The challenge AI brings to the retail industry

When a consumer tries on a garment, their mind typically focuses on two main questions: “Does this look good?” and “Does it fit?” Virtual mirrors can help answer the first question by showing how the outfit might look. However, they fall short in providing an exact fit because AI try-ons present only a model of the product, not the actual item.

Many retailers have adopted phone apps that allow consumers to virtually try on outfits using their phones. However, consumers don’t realize these apps can’t capture all of their unique details, instead relying on synthetic models. Customers need to be aware of this limitation to avoid false expectations.

Due to growing awareness of this lack of interactivity in virtual try-ons, consumers are insisting on enhanced standards and training for retailers to use 3D printing effectively. Retailers need to incorporate different apparel programs that customize different materials and fit. Most scans are done in a single posture, which is insufficient. Retailers should enhance standards around the model, use 3D design for portion control, and employ specialized equipment.

Additionally, we are seeing a gap in accurately defining posture in virtual mirrors. Many people think posture as a pose to stand out, but Physiopedia defines posture as the way in which we hold our bodies. Posture involves alignment, tilt, rotation, and symmetry. When an avatar is modeling clothes based on a scan, it may not capture elements such as rolled-back shoulders, locked knees, tilted backs, or higher hips. This can be a concern for individuals with alignment issues, like the teen with scoliosis.

Developing solutions for AI in the retail industry

AI technology in virtual try-ons doesn’t understand your specific style or fit preferences.  However, AI can be trained to generate models for different body types and adapt customizations to meet individual preferences better.

To address this, more modified and parametric clothing designs could be developed. These designs would allow for greater customization and a better fit for various body shapes and sizes. Making clothing and technology more practical will make it more applicable to consumers and eliminate waste. For instance, apparel companies have created flame-resistant bras to accommodate the safety and comfort of female firefighters, demonstrating how tailored designs can meet specific needs.

Additionally, the use of knitting in clothing production presents a significant opportunity. Knitted garments can stretch more, providing a better fit and greater comfort, and they can help minimize waste by reducing the need for multiple sizes and cuts.

Benefits of incorporating AI training and standards in retail

Incorporating more training and standards into retail AI offers several key benefits, including enhanced personalization for tailored recommendations and improved inventory management that helps retailers predict demand more accurately and minimize waste. AI-driven insights and personalized experiences can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty while limiting routine tasks, which can also reduce costs.

TotalRetail states that AI-related inventory management solutions can reduce inventory levels by 30 percent. These advancements create a more personalized and sustainable shopping experience, ensuring customers get the fit and style they desire while minimizing environmental impact.

Navigating next steps

Technology experts working through the guidance of IEEE Standards Association are focused on providing AI developers with the tools to enable the next generation of virtual retail experiences and other use cases, which may include:

• Identifying and classifying types of 3D body processing technologies
• Identifying and classifying use cases of 3D body processing
• Understanding gaps in existing nascent standards and recommended practices as 3D body processing spreads beyond first adopters
• Establishing needs and proposing PARs for new standards and best practices for 3D body processing and adjacent technologies (like 2D augmented reality)
• Reviewing guides and recommendations for consuming or using body measurements to better understand the benefits and limitations of this type of data

The IEEE Standards Association Standards Group for 3D Body Processing is dedicated to bringing together diverse stakeholders from across technology, retail, research, and standards development to build thought leadership around 3D body processing technology standards in areas such as 3D capture, processing, storage, sharing, and (augmented) representation. The IEEE Standards Association provides a variety of white papers and videos on their website. To learn more and get connected, visit their website: https://standards.ieee.org/industry-connections/3d/bodyprocessing/

Carol McDonald (Gneiss Concept) has 30 years in Manufacturing Engineering and is a Chair of IEEE P3141, 3D Body Processing Standards group. Andrey Golub (Else Corp) has expertise in design automation and AI-driven engineering. Emma Scott is a Developer in engineered fit practice to drive apparel design (Intelligent Shaping).  Katy Schildmeyer (KS Apparel Design) is a Consultant in 3D Fit standards and avatar creation.