A portable headset has been developed to analyze breathing gases and establish the energetic workload of physically active workers. This proof-of-concept study aimed to investigate the following: (1) the validity of the headset compared to indirect calorimetry using a mouth mask; (2) the validity of the headset compared to the validity of oxygen consumption (V̇O2) estimated on the basis of heart rate; (3) the influence of wind on validity; and (4) user experiences of the headset. Fifteen subjects performed a submaximal cycling test twice, once with the headset, and once with a mouth mask and heartrate monitor. Concurrent validity of the headset was analyzed using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Across all phases, a good correlation between the headset and mouth mask was observed for V̇O2, carbon dioxide production (V̇CO2) and exhaled volume (V̇E) (ICC≥0.72). The headset tended to underestimate V̇O2, V̇CO2 and V̇E at low intensities and to overestimate it at higher intensities. The headset was more valid for estimating V̇O2 (ICC = 0.39) than estimates based on heart rate (ICC = 0.11) (n = 7). Wind flow caused an overestimation (md ≥ 18.4 ± 16.9%) and lowered the correlation of V̇O2 between the headset and the mouth mask to a moderate level (ICC = 0.48). The subjects preferred the headset over the mouth mask because it was more comfortable, did not hinder communication and had lower breathing resistance. The headset appears to be useable for monitoring development of the energetic workloads of physically active workers, being more valid than heart rate monitoring and more practical than indirect calorimetry with a mouth mask. Proof-of-concept was confirmed. Another design step and further validation studies are needed before implementation in the workplace.

已经开发出一种便携式耳机来分析呼吸气体并确定体力活动工人的精力充沛的工作量。这项概念验证研究旨在调查以下内容：(1) 与使用口罩的间接量热法相比，耳机的有效性；(2) 耳机的有效性与基于心率估计的耗氧量（V̇O2）的有效性相比；(3)风对效度的影响；(4) 耳机的用户体验。15 名受试者进行了两次次极量循环测试，一次使用耳机，一次使用口罩和心率监测器。使用类内相关系数 (ICC) 分析耳机的并发有效性。在所有阶段中，观察到耳机和口罩之间的 V̇O2 具有良好的相关性，二氧化碳产生量 (V̇CO2) 和呼出气量 (V̇E) (ICC≥0.72)。耳机在低强度时往往会低估 V̇O2、V̇CO2 和 V̇E，而在较高强度时会高估它。与基于心率 (ICC = 0.11) (n = 7) 的估计值相比，耳机对 V̇O2 (ICC = 0.39) 的估计更有效。风流导致高估 (md ≥ 18.4 ± 16.9%) 并将耳机和口罩之间 V̇O2 的相关性降低到中等水平 (ICC = 0.48)。与口罩相比，受试者更喜欢头戴式耳机，因为它更舒适、不妨碍交流并且呼吸阻力更低。该耳机似乎可用于监测体力活动工人的高强度工作量的发展，比心率监测更有效，比带口罩的间接量热法更实用。概念验证得到确认。在工作场所实施之前，需要另一个设计步骤和进一步的验证研究。