Little published research exists about car seat supports. The objective of the experimental study reported is apprehending the levels at which selected design factors better contribute to the side support's utility. Three seat designs were manipulated: the cover's friction properties, the distance between the opposing side supports and the side support's size at the hip-lower torso level. Four subjects with similar body widths evaluated the test seats in a standard driving task. Pressure prints were taken with varying lateral acceleration levels. Video recording of the driving task aimed at characterizing shoulder and hip displacements. The seats were rated for comfort, support egress/ingress characteristics and seat preference. The setting of recommendations for future studies followed the theorizing of the reasons for inconsistency and low level of association of the individual data. Subjective impressions from performing driving evaluations are confronted with the assumptions and hypotheses underlying the experimental design, resulting in strong agreement. Practical design advises are outlined and design concepts with future study highlighted. A deeper understanding of how the seat provides lateral support is attained, with the building of the problem understanding along the process, a typical pilot study outcome. The frame work and findings presented may serve as a basis for further evaluating the car seat and side support. Considerations of the methodological process are presented, with relevance given to having found sense despite the inconclusive results due to a revised understanding of the problem.
A pilot evaluation of car seat side support: Leading to a redefinition of the problem
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics ; 24 , 2 ; 201-210
1999
10 Seiten, 5 Bilder, 1 Tabelle
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
A pilot evaluation of car seat side support
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1997
|New technologies constantly leading to redefinition of network-centric operations
Online Contents | 2008