A conceptual design for a reclining car seat based on spinal curvature: Creating a prototype to validate the working principle of a reclining car seat for p5 to p95 car seat users

The automotive industry is looking at improving their new cars in different ways. Comfortability is a hot topic since it is dependent on so many aspects. The entire interior of the car influences how comfortable the end user is. Furthermore, autonomous vehicles are rising. That means that people have a lot of time to do other things while...

Recruiting participants for ergonomic research using self-reported stature and body mass

BACKGROUND: A valid distribution of key anthropometric parameters among participants is often a perquisite of ergonomics research. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we investigated the accuracy of self-reported stature and body mass of the population in the Netherlands. METHODS: Data from 4 experiments was synthesized where in each experiment,...

Head and facial dimensions of Chilean workers for design purposes and the differences with other populations

BACKGROUND: An appropriate match between a product and its end-users requires anthropometric data, which show variations among different countries. Proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) fit is key for safety and comfort. Chile had no head and facial anthropometric data available in order to design face/head PPE. OBJECTIVE: To describe...

Aircraft Interior Requirements for a Good Sleep

Sleeping in long haul flights is difficult. There is noise, an upright sitting position and neighbors and crew disturb the sleep. However, there is not much information available for designers on the most important factors next to the seat that could improve the sleep quality. In this paper a co-creation session and a survey among 109...

Applied anthropometry for common industrial settings design: Working and ideal manual handling heights

Anthropometry has been used extensively for designing safe and sustainable products and workplaces. However, it is common that designers need straightforward guidelines and dimensions, which they often lack, for specific design situations. Anthropometric data are usually presented in tables that summarize percentile values, separated by...

Level of match between facial dimensions of Chilean workers and respirator fit test panels proposed by LANL and NIOSH

The facial fit of respirators is crucial for determining how effectively respirators may protect users from exposure to airborne contaminants, when their use is required in the workplace. In the Chilean market, all the respirators available have been designed and manufactured using foreign regulations. The aim of this research was to...

The effect of aircraft seat pitch on comfort

This study explores the relationship between seat pitch and comfort, and the influencing factors, like space experience and anthropometric measurements. Two hundred ninety-four participants experienced economy class seats in a Boeing 737 with 28-inch, 30-inch, 32-inch and 34-inch seat pitches. Anthropometric measurements of the participants...

Design of a scalable tremor suppression brace for Essential Tremor patients

This report presents a design proposal for a product that will suppress the tremor of patients diagnosed with Essential Tremor (ET). People suffering from ET are restricted in their ability to function in everyday life, due to a constraint of performing delicate movements. Simple tasks, such as drinking and eating are a great challenge for...

A 3D Anthropometric Approach for Designing a Sizing System for Tight Fitting Garments

The purpose of this study is to investigate a new approach in creating sizing systems of wetsuits for the surfing industry. A good sizing system focusses on the balance between fit, comfort and functionality. The research provided a theoretical framework that assesses the natural body shape variations within a given user population. The focus is...

Design for plus size people

Obesity is a growing issue in western societies with consequences for the field of human centered design. Most anthropometric data sources assume the data follow the Gaussian distribution, with population data symmetrically distributed above and below the mean value. This assumption is often true in length measurements like body heights, but...

A review of the methodology and applications of anthropometry in ergonomics and product design

Anthropometry is a key element of ergonomic studies for addressing the problem of fitting the tasks/products to user characteristics, but there is a gap between anthropometric data and their application for designing ergonomic products and environments. This research was conducted to review the literature on the methodology and applications of...

3D scan to product design: Methods, techniques, and cases

3D scanning technology has derived great opportunities for ergonomic product designs. This paper is aimed to introduce various research cases and methods based on 3D scanning have conducted by an ergonomics laboratory in South Korea. Sizing systems and representative 3D models developed on anthropometric measurements and 3D scan images with...

Developing a multifunctioning Digital Human Model

Executive Summary This graduation project has initiated by Dr. Johan Molenbroek. There is a need for a better fitting Digital Human Model for the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). This project has been carried out by an IPD student with an affection for modelling and ergonomics. Research Before the start of this project,...