TY - JOUR PY - 1999// TI - A pilot evaluation of car seat side support: Leading to a redefinition of the problem JO - International journal of industrial ergonomics A1 - Coelho, DA A1 - Dahlman, S. SP - 201 EP - 210 VL - 24 IS - 2 N2 - Little published research exists about car seat side supports. The objective of the experimental study, here reported, is apprehending the levels at which selected design factors better contribute to the side support's utility. Three seat design factors 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 characterising 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 theorising of the reasons for the inconsistency and low level of association of the individual data. The authors' 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 worth 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.Relevance to industryThe framework and findings presented may serve as a basis for further evaluating the car seat side support. Considerations of the methodological process are presented, with relevance given to having found sense despite the inconclusive results, due to a revised problem understanding.

LA - SN - 0169-8141 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -