Whole-body Comfort Research Articles

Analysis of partial-body and whole-body static sitting comfort

The whole-body comfort sensation was moderately to highly correlated with local body part comfort sensation in both sitting and driving, in order to understand what exact relationship exists between them, the seating comfort evaluations under the stimulus of four body parts (i.e. backs, waist, hips and thighs) were carried out for 15 subjects separately, subjective ratings on both partial-body and whole-body comfort are derived under different conditions. Impact factor (IF) of the partial-body comfort to whole-body comfort is calculated by the linear regression method, and the main variables are obtained by the stepwise regression algorithm. The most significant local body part in influencing whole body comfort is found at the region of hips, followed by backs, waist and hips. With impact factor analysis on partial body comfort, the results show that the local comfort feeling of waist is most potential to be influenced by other body parts, while the comfort sensitivity of thighs is the lowest.

Age-related difference in perceptual responses and interface pressure requirements for driver seat design

Due to typical physiological changes with age, older individuals are likely to have different perceptual responses to and different needs for driver–seat interface design. To assess this, a study was conducted in which a total of 22 younger and older participants completed six short-term driving sessions. Three subjective ratings (comfort, discomfort and overall) were obtained, along with 36 driver–seat interface pressure measures, and were used to assess differences and similarities between the two age groups. For both age groups, localised comfort ratings were more effective at distinguishing between driver seats and workspaces. Older individuals appeared to be less sensitive to discomfort than younger individuals. Across age groups, two distinct processes were used in determining whole-body comfort and discomfort perceptions based on localised comfort/discomfort perceptions. Whole-body discomfort levels were largely affected by lower back discomfort in the younger group versus upper back discomfort in the older group. Four specific pressure measures at several body regions differed between the age groups, suggesting distinct contract pressure requirements and loading patterns among these groups.