• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.215-227
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Korea's Honam express train's first- and second-class seat discomfort by using pressure measurement, subjective discomfort rating, and physical compatibility. Background: Over the years, the demand for an express train service is continually increasing. A comfortable ride is important to achieving passenger satisfaction. A train seat plays a significant role in fulfilling passenger seating comfort. With this in view, a field survey and pressure measurements were performed on the selected train seat. Method: The pressure ratio at the body-seat interface (thigh and buttock regions) was measured by the pressure mat system. The interface pressure ratio was calculated and compared. The subjective discomfort rating scale was used to evaluate the subjects' overall feeling. The dimensions of train seats were analysed according to the anthropometric and demographic characteristics of the population data from Size Korea. Results: The results highlighted that the interface pressure ratio was greater while participants sat on the second-class seat than the first-class seat in the left- and right-side thigh regions. Also the pressure ratio was greater for the participants in the 1st~25th percentile height groups (149.8~160.8cm). The subjects rated higher discomfort for the second-class seat than the first-class seat. The physical compatibility results showed that the second-class seat's breadth was inadequate for the 95th and 99th percentile male. Conclusion: Overall, interface pressure measurement, subjective discomfort score and physical compatibility results showed that the second-class seat was more uncomfortable for the passengers than the first-class seat. Application: The adopted methodologies could be used to measure the seating comfort of the train seats.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2011

A driver interacts directly with the car seat at all times. There are ergonomic characteristics that have to be followed to produce comfortable seats. However, most of previous researches focused on either static or dynamic condition only. In addition, research on car seat development is critically lacking although Malaysia herself manufactures its own car. Hence, this paper integrates objective measurements and subjective evaluation to predict seat discomfort. The objective measurements consider both static and dynamic conditions. Steven's psychophysics power law has been used in which after expansion; ${\psi}\;=\;a+b{\varphi}_s^{\alpha}+c{\varphi}_v^{\beta}$ where ${\psi}$ is discomfort sensation, ${\varphi}_s^{\alpha}$ is static modality with exponent ${\alpha}$ and ${\varphi}_v^{\beta}$ is dynamic modality with exponent ${\beta}$. The subjects in this study were local and the cars used were Malaysian made compact car. Static objective measurement was the seat pressure distribution measurement. The experiment was carried out on the driver's seat in a real car with the engine turned off. Meanwhile, the dynamic objective measurement was carried out in a moving car on real roads. During pressure distribution and vibration transmissibility experiments, subjects were requested to evaluate their discomfort levels using vehicle seat discomfort survey questionnaire together with body map diagram. From subjective evaluations, seat pressure and vibration dose values exponent for static modality ${\alpha}$ = 1.51 and exponent for dynamic modality ${\beta}$ = 1.24 were produced. The curves produced from the $E_{q.s}$ showed better $R_{-sq}$ values (99%) when both static and dynamic modalities were considered together as compared to Eq. with single modality only (static or dynamic only R-Sq = 95%). In conclusion, car seat discomfort prediction gives better result when seat development considered both static and dynamic modalities; and using ergonomic approach.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.626-631
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• 2002

A modified equation for the evaluation of discomfort of a seated human body exposed to differential vibration at the seat and the floor was proposed in this paper. Through the review and analysis of the preceding studies, effect of phase difference between the seat and the floor vibration on discomfort were quantitatively identified. The phase effect was shown to be governed by not only phase difference between the two vibrations but both their frequency and the magnitude, which means the present equation for the evaluation of perceptual amount of vibration provided by ISO 2631-1 should be modified. The proposed equation was developed such that the correction function was multiplied to the present equation. The correction function consisted of three parts, each of them represented the effect by phase difference, frequency and vibration magnitude on discomfort respectively.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.100-110
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• 1999

The objectives of this study are twofold: (1) to evaluate the cockpit of three Korean air force fighters such as F-4, F-5, and F-16 in an ergonomic perspective and (2) to measure the musculoskeletal discomfort of the fighter pilots. For the study, 369 air force pilots from 7 squadrons were surveyed. The study shows that the cockpit design of F-16 is superior to the others. However, F-4 is the worst among them. Statistical analyses reveal that the seat in the cockpit raised the most complaints, regardless of types of fighter planes. The main problems with the seat included inappropriate designs of the backrest angle, seat cushioning, and parachute harness. Also frequently cited are various control switches, control stick, rudder pedal, and the throttle. That these items lack human integration is found in remote positions and improper dimensions. The implications of these findings are discussed. The self-reported musculoskeletal complaints show that the main discomfort is on the back and neck. Also, the buttocks, shoulders, and the legs/knees are common sites of discomfort. A stepwise regression analysis shows that the back discomfort, is mainly caused by the use of the seat, rudder pedal, control stick, and switches. A Spearman rank correlation coefficient test also reveals that job dissatisfaction of the pilots is related to the complaints with the cockpit and musculoskeletal discomfort. These findings suggest that more comprehensive studies for cockpit design in the aspects of functional anthropometry of Korean pilots are needed to reduce the musculoskeletal discomfort.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.13-24
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• 1994

The objectives of this study are twofold : (1) to investigate musculoskeletal discomfort for sedentary workers in offices ane (2) to revise the Korean Standard for the design of office chairs in order to reduce or eliminate the physical discomfort or the office workers. Two hundred seventy-one office workers from nineteen different companies companies were selected to evaluate the musculoskeletal discomfort and indibidual features of chair design. A statistical analysis of the survey rebealed that the office currently being used had two major deficiencies such as insufficient adjustability and inappropriate design specifications in ergonomic sense. A stepwise regression analysis showed that the deficiencies on the musculoskeletal discomfort of the workers. Based on the ergonomic design pronciples, was debeloped to revise the Korean Standard for the design specifications of office chairs. An application of the methodology was made amend the design specifications of the four factors such as seat pan height, seat pan width, and seat pan inclunation. Their effects were evident in the musculoskeletal discomfort of the workers.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2009

Subjective evaluation has always been regarded as a branch of social science research. Hence, in scientific and especially engineering points of view, its development is always taken for granted despite the importance of its effects on the design and development decisions. In the past, at least two automotive seat survey questionnaires have been developed with high statistical validity and reliability. Nonetheless, both were not local while subjective perception very much depends on demographic background factors. It is felt that since vehicle seat comfort is an important aspect in a seat design, a local sense should be put into the survey that is used as the subjective tool. The proposed vehicle seat discomfort survey questionnaire was developed in dual languages; English and Malay. Malay language is the national language of Malaysia, where the survey was tested. Beside inputs from literatures, key informant interviews helped in establishing the appropriate terms used as survey items. Three experimental runs on two different seats by 22 paid subjects showed that the developed questionnaire is reliable and valid. Furthermore, criterion validity analysis on the survey and previously developed survey showed significant correlation at 0.01 significance level.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.444-449
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• 2001

The purpose of the work is to improve comfort of a car seat, especially dynamic comfort which affects driver's discomfort during the long time driving. Definition of dynamic comfort was made before the investigation of which parameter affects seat comfort. In order to optimize design parameters so as to maximize seat comfort as well as to know the cause of discomfort, benchmarking on a target vehicle and competitive vehicles was performed, which showed both the vibration transmission characteristics and the compression set due to dynamic loading should be reduced. As a solution ball rebounds was increased by about 10％ of the original foam, which showed reduction of S.E.A.T. value by 10％ and of compression set by 60％.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.212-219
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• 2017

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a major problem for office workers. Individuals adopting poor postures during prolonged sitting have a considerably increased risk of experiencing LBP. This study aimed to investigate seat pressure distribution characteristics, i.e., average pressure, peak pressure ratio, frequency of postural shift, and body perceived discomfort (BPD), during 1 hour of sitting among office workers with and without chronic LBP. Methods: Forty-six participants (chronic LBP = 23, control = 23) typed a standardized text passage at a computer work station for an hour. A seat pressure mat device was used to collect the seat pressure distribution data. Body discomfort was assessed using the Body Perceived Discomfort scale. Results: Office workers with chronic LBP sat significantly more asymmetrically than their healthy counterparts. During 1-hour sitting, all workers appeared to assume slumped sitting postures after 20 minutes of sitting. Healthy workers had significantly more frequent postural shifts than chronic LBP workers during prolonged sitting. Conclusion: Different sitting characteristics between healthy and chronic LBP participants during 1 hour of sitting were found, including symmetry of sitting posture and frequency of postural shift. Further research should examine the roles of these sitting characteristics on the development of LBP.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.535-541
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• 2012

The three-down one-up method which is commonly used in the field of psychophysics is employed in this study that is to reveal how much magnitude of vibration makes discomfort in passenger vehicle on idle condition. Thirteen taxi drivers were invited for subject of the experiment where they evaluated the controlled vibrations on rigid seat in terms of idle vibration on passenger vehicle at frequency range from 15 Hz to 40 Hz. As the result, vibration of 100~105 dB is marginal range to make discomfort on passenger seat. Frequency dependency of the discomfort was found at the frequency range, which is the higher frequency the lower discomfort with the same magnitude of vibration. The frequency dependency found here was compared with ISO 2631-1 that is more sensitive at the frequency range.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to understand motion characteristics of older drivers during reaching seat belt compared to young drivers and to provide design guidelines in order to reduce discomfort for the elderly. The whole body kinematics of each subject was captured using 12-camera motion analysis system. Subjective ratings on discomfort levels were obtained simultaneously using a questionnaire. This paper first presents the result of motion characteristics of elderly drivers' reach motion to seat belt. Compared to young drivers, older drivers performed seat belt reach motions less efficiently and moved slower due to mostly the movement error. Older drivers also made use of reduced joint range of motion in cervical left rotation, lumbar left rotation and right shoulder adduction, which can be explained by their reduced active range of motions (AROMs). To compensate for their reduced joint range of motion, older drivers rotated pelvis more.