• Title/Summary/Keyword: Human comfort

Search Result 597, Processing Time 0.034 seconds

Influence of the Midsole Hardness on Shock Absorption along the Human Body during Running (달리기 중 신발 중저의 경도가 인체를 따라 흡수되는 충격에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Yong-Ku;Kim, Yoon-Hyuk
    • Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
    • /
    • v.31 no.1
    • /
    • pp.33-39
    • /
    • 2010
  • During running, the human body experiences repeated impact force between the foot and the ground. The impact force is highly associated with injury of the lower extremity, comfort and running performance. Therefore, shoemakers have developed shoes with various midsole properties to prevent the injury of lower extremity, improve the comfort and enhance the running performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate influence of midsole hardness on shock absorption along the human body during running. Thirty two expert runners consented to participate in the study and ran at a constant speed with three different pairs of shoes with soft, medium and hard midsole respectively. Using accelerometers we measured the shock absorption from shoe heel to cervical vertebral column. In conclusion, at the shoe heel, shock was the greatest with the hard midsole. However because most shock was absorbed between shoe heel and the knee, notable influence of midsole was not detected upper knee. At shoe heel, regardless of midsole hardness, the shock of younger female was the greatest. The authors expect to apply this result for providing a guideline for utilizing proper midsole hardness for manufacturing age and gender-specific shoe.

Consumers' needs and purchase intention of high functional sportswear according to sport participation motivations (스포츠 참여 동기에 따른 고기능성 스포츠웨어의 요구 및 구매의도)

  • Kim, Yongsook
    • Korean Journal of Human Ecology
    • /
    • v.22 no.1
    • /
    • pp.141-155
    • /
    • 2013
  • The purpose of this study is to identify consumers' needs and purchase intention of high-functional sportswear according to sports participation motivations. Internet survey was done for data collection and the subjects were 300 consumers in their 20-39's who participated in sport activities at least once a week. Factors of sport participation motivations were ostentation, social interaction, self development, mental health, and physical health. Consumers were segmented into the motivation retard group, the multi-purpose pursuit group, the health pursuit group, and the extrinsic motivation pursuit group. And factors of consumers' needs for high-functional sportswear were practicality and comfort function, body protection and physical function, and skin protection and health function. The multi-purpose pursuit group showed strong needs for active and comfort, body protection and physical function, and skin protection and health function but the motivation retard group showed the lowest needs for high functional sportswear. Purchase experiences of high-functional sportswear, accomplishment, and duration period of sport activity affected positively on the purchase intention of high-functional sportswear.

Subjective Responses to Thermal Stress for the Outdoor Performance of Smart Clothes

  • Kwon, JuYoun;Parsons, Ken
    • Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
    • /
    • v.36 no.3
    • /
    • pp.169-181
    • /
    • 2017
  • Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the influence of outdoor weather conditions on subjective responses during physical activity. Background: The largest difference between indoor and outdoor conditions is the existence of the sun. The heat load from the sun has an influence on the heat gain of the human body and the intense degree of solar radiation affected thermal comfort. Method: Thirty eight people were exposed to a range of climatic conditions in the UK. Weather in England does not have extremely hot and cold temperature, and the current study was conducted under warm (summer and autumn) and cool (spring and summer) climates. Measurements of the climate included air temperature, radiant temperature (including solar load), humidity and wind around the subjects. Subjective responses were taken and physiological measurements included internal body temperature, heart rate and sweat loss. Results: This study was conducted under four kinds of environmental conditions and the environmental measurement was performed in September, December, March, and June. The values for sensation, comfort, preference, and pleasantness about four conditions were from 'neutral' to 'warm', from 'not uncomfortable' to 'slightly comfortable', from 'slightly cooler' to 'slightly warmer', and from 'neither pleasant nor unpleasant' and 'slightly unpleasant', respectively. All subjective responses showed differences depending on air temperature and wind speed, and had correlations with air temperature and wind speed (p<0.05). However, subjective responses showed no differences depending on the radiant temperature. The combined effects of environmental parameters were showed on some subjective responses. The combined effects of air temperature and radiant temperature on thermal sensation and pleasantness were significant. The combined effects of metabolic rate with air temperature, wind speed and solar radiation respectively have influences on some subjective responses. In the case of the relationships among subjective responses, thermal sensation had significant correlations with all subjective responses. The largest relationship was shown between preference and thermal sensation but acceptance showed the lowest relationship with the other subjective responses. Conclusion: The ranges of air temperature, radiant temperature, wind speed and solar radiation were $6.7^{\circ}C$ to $24.7^{\circ}C$, $17.9^{\circ}C$ to $56.6^{\circ}C$, $0.84ms^{-1}$ to $2.4ms^{-1}$, and $123Wm^{-2}$ to $876Wm^{-2}$ respectively. Each of air temperature and wind speed had significant relationships with subjective responses. The combined effects of environmental parameters on subjective responses were shown. Each radiant temperature and solar radiation did not show any relationships with subjective responses but the combinations of each radiant temperature and solar radiation with other environmental parameters had influences on subjective responses. The combinations of metabolic rate with air temperature, wind speed and solar radiation respectively have influences on subjective responses although metabolic rate alone hardly made influences on them. There were also significant relationships among subjective responses, and pleasantness generally showed relatively high relationships with comfort, preference, acceptance and satisfaction. Application: Subjective responses might be utilized to predict thermal stress of human and the application products reflecting human subjective responses might apply to the different fields such as fashion technology, wearable devices, and environmental design considering human's response etc.

Effects for the Thermal Comfort Index Improvement of Park Woodlands and Lawns in Summer (여름철 공원 수림지와 잔디밭의 온열쾌적지수 개선 효과)

  • Ryu, Nam-Hyong;Lee, Chun-Seok
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
    • /
    • v.42 no.6
    • /
    • pp.21-30
    • /
    • 2014
  • The purpose of this study was to evaluate human thermal comfort in summer by the type of greenery in parks and to explore planning solutions to supply a comfortable thermal environment in parks. The research was conducted in three different land cover types: a park with multi-wide-canopied trees(WOODLAND), park with grass(LAWN) and park with pavement(PAV) as reference sites in Hamyang-Gun SangrimPark. Field measurements of air temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity, short-wave and long-wave radiation from six directions(east, west, north, south, upward and downward) were carried out in the summer of 2014(August 21-23 and 29-30). Mean Radiant Temperature($T_{mrt}$) absorbed by a human-biometeorological reference person was estimated from integral radiation and the calculation of angular factors. The thermal comfort index PET was calculated by Rayman software, UTCI, OUT_SET$^*$ were calculated using the UTCI Calculator and the Thermal Comfort Calculator of Richard DeDear. The results showed that the WOODLAND has the maximum cooling effect during daytime, reduced air temperatures/$T_{mrt}$ by up to $5.9^{\circ}C/35^{\circ}C$ compared to PAV and lowered heat stress values despite increasing relative humidity values and decreasing wind velocity. While the LAWN had very slight cooling effects during daytime, reduced air temperatures/$T_{mrt}$ by up to $0.9^{\circ}C/3^{\circ}C$ compared to PAV, the improvement effects of the thermal comfort index was very slight. However, during nighttime the microclimatic and radiant conditions of WOODLAND, LAWN, and PAV were similar owing to the absence of solar radiation, reduction of wind velocity and an increase in relative humidity. Because the shading and evapotranspiration effects of the WOODLAND were much greater than the evapotranspiration effects of the LAWN, it can be said that the solutions for supplying comfortable thermal environment in parks are to amplify the green volumes rather than green areas. This study was undertaken to evaluate the human thermal comfort in summer of WOODLAND/LAWN parks and to determine the improvement effects of thermal comfort index. These results can contribute to the provision better thermal comfort for park users during park planning.

Human Thermal Sensation and Comfort of Beach Areas in Summer - Woljeong-ri Beach, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province - (여름철 해변지역의 인간 열환경지수 및 열쾌적성 - 제주특별자치도 제주시 구좌읍 월정리 해변 -)

  • Park, Sookuk;Sin, Jihwan;Jo, Sangman;Hyun, Cheolji;Kang, Hoon
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
    • /
    • v.44 no.4
    • /
    • pp.100-108
    • /
    • 2016
  • The climatic index for tourism(CIT) has recently been advanced, which includes complete human energy balance models such as physiological equivalent temperature(PET) and universal thermal climate index(UTCI). This study investigated human thermal sensation and comfort at Woljung-ri Beach, Jeju, Republic of Korea, in spring and summer 2015 for landscape planning and design in beach areas. Microclimatic data measurements and human thermal sensation/comfort surveys from ISO 10551 were conducted together. There were 869 adults that participated. As a result, perceptual and thermal preference that consider only physiological aspects had high coefficients of determination($r^2$) with PET in linear regression analyses: 92.8% and 87.6%, respectively. However, affective evaluation, personal acceptability and personal tolerance, which consider both physiological and psychological aspects, had low $r^2s$: 60.0%, 21.1% and 46.4%, respectively. However, the correlations between them and PET were all significant at the 0.01 level. The neutral PET range in perceptual for human thermal sensation was $25{\sim}27^{\circ}C$, but a PET range less or equal to 20% dissatisfaction, which was recommended by ASHRAE Standard 55, could not be achieved in perceptual. Only PET ranges in affective evaluation and personal tolerance affected by both aspects were qualified for the recommendation as $21{\sim}32^{\circ}C$ and $17{\sim}37^{\circ}C$, respectively. Therefore, the PET range of $21{\sim}32^{\circ}C$ is recommended to be used for the human thermal comfort zone of beach areas in landscape planning and design as well as tourism and recreational planning. PET heat stress level ranges on the beach were $2{\sim}5^{\circ}C$ higher than those in inland urban areas of the Republic of Korea. Also, they were similar to high results of tropical areas such as Taiwan and Nigeria, and higher than those of western and middle Europe and Tel Aviv, Israel.

감성공학 기반기술 연구기획

  • 김철중;박세진
    • Proceedings of the Korean Operations and Management Science Society Conference
    • /
    • 1996.04a
    • /
    • pp.450-453
    • /
    • 1996
  • Human sensibility ergonomics is the technology of measuring human sensibility, applying informaiton to the design of products, systems, and environments for convenient, comfort, and safe human use, and pleasuring human life. This study introduce the research contents and strategy on the human sensibility ergonomics project, which started as one of the national research projects of Korea. The objective of the project is to construct the basis of application technology for human-centered products and environments design in order to enhance the competitive power of the products and the quality of human life. The project consists of three main parts, that is, development of fundamental technology for human sensibility, development of simulator for measurement and evaluation of human sensibility, and development of application technology for products and environments. Total research funds is 70million dollars for 7 years.

  • PDF

Analysis of Ventilating Seat Comfort Temperature for Improving the Thermal Comfort inside Vehicles (자동차 실내 열쾌적성 개선을 위한 통풍시트의 쾌적온도 분석)

  • In, Chung-Kyo;Kwak, Seung-Hyun;Kim, Chang-Hoon;Kim, Kyu-Beom;Jo, Hyung-Seok;Seo, Sang-hyeok;Myung, Tae-Sik;Min, Byung-Chan
    • Science of Emotion and Sensibility
    • /
    • v.23 no.4
    • /
    • pp.33-40
    • /
    • 2020
  • As the number of automobile registrations increases and luxury expectations grow, consumers are increasingly interested in indoor environment of vehicles. Therefore, manufacturers have an increasing interest in improving the indoor comfort as well as automobile performance. Research on indoor automobile comfort can help manufacturers increase driver satisfaction and reduce driver stress and discomfort, thereby reducing the risk of traffic accidents. Using electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements, we investigated the change in comfort and comfortable temperature according to the ventilating seat temperature change for both men and women. Results showed that the sensation of comfort was statistically significantly higher at 25℃ than at 28℃. Secondly, there was no statistically significant difference in temperature-based comfort feeling between male and female subjects. In the future, if the correlation between the driver's comfort feeling and the change in ventilating seat temperature is analyzed, it is possible to reduce traffic accidents caused by human error and reduce the electric energy consumption of the automobile.

A Study on Symbolism of Chairs in the Viewpoint of Human Essential Desires (인간의 본질적 욕구의 관점에서의 본 의자의 상징성에 관한연구)

  • Min, Chan-Hong;Yoon, Young
    • Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
    • /
    • no.17
    • /
    • pp.37-44
    • /
    • 1998
  • Chair is one of objects which are closely connected with human body and is a symbol which represents human essence and culture. Symbolism embodies the meaning of expression through transfering the immaterial structure to tangible form. Therefore chair embodies the essential internal desires of human by means of its symbolic representation. In order to understand the essential human desires included in the symbolism of chair it is necessary to consider these desires with respect to cultural and historical context. in this study four essential internal desires of human are investigated through the symbolic representation of chair that is the desires on human psychological comfort authority freedom and eroticism. The purpose of this study is to emphasize the necessity of the design approach based on the understanding of essential internal desires of human which is pursued from the object by user.

  • PDF

Numerical Analysis on the Initial Cool-down Performance Inside an Automobile for the Evaluation of Passenger's Thermal Comfort (차량 내부 탑승자의 쾌적성 평가를 위한 초기 냉방운전 성능에 대한 수치해석적 연구)

  • Kim, Yoon-Kee;Yang, Jang-Sik;Baek, Je-Hyun;Kim, Kyung-Chun;Ji, Ho-Seong
    • Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
    • /
    • v.18 no.5
    • /
    • pp.115-123
    • /
    • 2010
  • Cool-down performance after soaking is important because it affects passenger's thermal comfort. The cooling capacity of HVAC system determines initial cool down performance in most cases, the performance is also affected by location, and shape of panel vent, indoor seat arrangement. Therefore, optimal indoor designs are required in developing a new car. In this paper, initial cool down performance is predicted by CFD(computational fluid dynamics) analysis. Experimental time-averaging temperature data are used as inlet boundary condition. For more reliable analysis, real vehicle model and human FE model are used in grid generation procedure. Thermal and aerodynamic characteristics on re-circulation cool vent mode are investigated using CFX 12.0. Thermal comfort represented by PMV(predicted mean vote) is evaluated using acquired numerical data. Temperature and velocity fields show that flow in passenger's compartment after soaking is considerably unstable at the view point of thermodynamics. Volume-averaged temperature is decreased exponentially during overall cool down process. However, temperature monitored at different 16 spots in CFX-Solver shows local variation in head, chest, knee, foot. The cooling speed at the head and chest nearby panel vent are relatively faster than at the knee and foot. Horizontal temperature contour shows asymmetric distribution because of the location of exhaust vent. By evaluating the passenger's thermal comfort, slowest cooling region is found at the driver's seat.

A Study on the Relationship between Structural Characteristics of Cotton Fabrics and their Cool-and-Warm Felling (I) - at $65\%$ Relative Humidity- (면직물의 구성특성과 냉온감과의 상관성에 관한 연구( I ) -상대습도 $65\%$하에서-)

  • Chang Jee Hye
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
    • /
    • v.14 no.2
    • /
    • pp.152-163
    • /
    • 1990
  • The purpose of this study is to experimentally analyze the relationship between structural characteristics of cotton fabrics and their cool-and-warm felling in order to develop more comfortable fabrics. Comfort in textile products has been emphasized as consumers preferred performance to fashion of clothing. Thermal comfort of clothing is a basic parameter of the comfort sensation which is usually represented by the cool-and-warm feeling felt by human skin. Cloo-and-warm feeling is perceived by the heat flux which transfers heat energy stored in an object to skin. We feel warm (cool) if the temperature of nerve extremity in skin ascends (descends). As cool-and-warm feeling determines the comfort sensation of clothing, it is important to develop new comfort fabrics. Although considerable works have been made on the body, clothing, and environment, there has been no research study on the structural characteristics of fabrics and their cool and warm feeling. Cool-and-warm feeling is closely related to the transient heat transfer property. This research study used the cotton fabrics manufactured in Korea as sample and measured $q_{max}$ value with thermal property measuring instrument (Thermo-Labo II type). $q_{max}$ values estimated by polynomial regression equation were compared with those observed in this study. This study also identified the structural parameters of cotton fabrics for a specific range of $q_{max}$ values. The findings of this study can be summarized as follows: 1) As the thickness, porosity and air permeability of cotton fabrics increase, $q_{max}$ value decreases. 2) As the fabric count and over factor of cotton fabrics increase, $q_{max}$ value also increases. 3) $q_{max}$ values have been estimated by simple and polynomial regression equations developed in this study. Regression curves which have been plotted by polynomial regression equations also provided with the range of structural parameters for a specific range of $q_{max}$ values of cotton fabrics. This study would be significant in that it has identified the structural Parameters for the cool-and-warm feeling of cotton fabric at $65\%$ relative humidity.

  • PDF