AN INTEGRATED HUMAN FACTORS APPROACH TO DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF THE DRIVER WORKSPACE AND INTERFACE: DRIVER PERCEPTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND OBJECTIVE MEASURES

An ergonomic driver workspace and interface design is essential to ensure a healthier and comfortable driving experience in terms of driver perceptions, postures, and interface pressures. Developing more effective methods for driver-side interior design and evaluation, hence, requires thorough investigation of: 1) which perceptual responses are more relevant to ensuring ergonomic quality of a design, 2) the interrelationships among perceptual responses and objective measures, and 3) whether current assumptions regarding driver behaviors, and tools for specifying these behaviors, are valid for the design and evaluation. Existing studies, however, have rarely addressed these topics comprehensively, and often have been conducted with unsubstantiated assumptions. In contrast, this work sought to address these topics in a way that jointly considers characteristics of driver perceptions, behaviors, and objective measures to develop an improved design and evaluation methodology for driver workspace and interface, and that can also investigate the validity of implicit assumptions regarding perceptual relevance and drivers’ behaviors. The first part of this work investigated drivers’ perceptions in relation to driver workspace design and evaluation. Specifically, it examined the efficacy of several perceptual ratings, when used for evaluating automobile interface design. Results showed that comfort ratings were more effective at distinguishing among interface designs, in contrast to the current common practice of using discomfort ratings for designing and evaluating interface designs. Two distinct decision processes to relate local to global perceptions were also identified (i.e., global comfort as an average of local comforts, and global discomfort predominantly influenced by maximal local discomforts). These findings were observed consistently across age and cultural groups. In

[1]  Gavriel Salvendy,et al.  Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics , 2005 .

[2]  Mark S. Sanders,et al.  Human Factors in Engineering and Design , 1957 .

[3]  Karel Brookhuis,et al.  Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics Methods , 2009 .

[4]  M C Gameiro da Silva,et al.  Measurements of comfort in vehicles , 2002 .

[5]  Se Jin Park,et al.  Comfortable driving postures for Koreans , 2000 .

[6]  Zoran Filipi,et al.  Simulation Study of a Series Hydraulic Hybrid Propulsion System for a Light Truck , 2007 .

[7]  D. Harrison,et al.  Sitting biomechanics, part II: optimal car driver's seat and optimal driver's spinal model. , 2000, Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics.

[8]  J B Carter,et al.  Musculoskeletal problems in VDT work: a review. , 1994, Ergonomics.

[9]  M J Arrowsmith.  The Design and Development of the XJ40 Seating System , 1986 .

[10]  M. Tulder.  Chapter 1 , 2006, European Spine Journal.

[11]  J. W. Leenslag,et al.  Recent advances in the development and characterisation of automotive comfort seating foams , 1997 .

[12]  E E Grandjean,et al.  SITTING POSTURE OF CAR DRIVERS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF ERGONOMICS , 1980 .

[13]  R Ortengren,et al.  Lumbar disc pressure and myoelectric back muscle activity during sitting. IV. Studies on a car driver's seat. , 1974, Scandinavian journal of rehabilitation medicine.

[14]  J. J. Keegan,et al.  Alterations of the lumbar curve related to posture and seating. , 1953, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[15]  Nadine M. Dunk,et al.  Gender-based differences in postural responses to seated exposures. , 2005, Clinical biomechanics.

[16]  S. Karjalainen.  Gender differences in thermal comfort and use of thermostats in everyday thermal environments , 2007 .

[17]  P Branton,et al.  Backshapes of seated persons--how close can the interface be designed? , 1984, Applied ergonomics.

[18]  W Karwowski,et al.  The effects of neutral posture deviations on perceived joint discomfort ratings in sitting and standing postures. , 1993, Ergonomics.

[19]  P. Donati,et al.  SURVEY OF TECHNICAL PREVENTATIVE MEASURES TO REDUCE WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION EFFECTS WHEN DESIGNING MOBILE MACHINERY , 2002 .

[20]  David N. Hogg,et al.  Development of a situation awareness measure to evaluate advanced alarm systems in nuclear power plant control rooms , 1995 .

[21]  D. H. Robbins.  Study of seatback contours for optimum seat design. Final report , 1986 .

[22]  JoAnne K. Gronley,et al.  Use of cluster analysis for gait pattern classification of patients in the early and late recovery phases following stroke. , 2003, Gait & posture.

[23]  Don B. Chaffin,et al.  Toward memory-based human motion simulation: development and validation of a motion modification algorithm , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics - Part A: Systems and Humans.

[24]  Mike Kolich,et al.  A conceptual framework proposed to formalize the scientific investigation of automobile seat comfort. , 2008, Applied ergonomics.

[25]  Peter A. Hancock,et al.  Hedonomics: The Power of Positive and Pleasurable Ergonomics , 2005 .

[26]  D A Fraser,et al.  Elderly drivers and new road transport technology , 1993 .

[27]  B T Fay,et al.  What is interface pressure? , 2000, Proceedings of the 22nd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (Cat. No.00CH37143).

[28]  S. Simon,et al.  Myoelectric Analysis of the Paraspinal Musculature in Relation to Automobile Driving , 1986, Spine.

[29]  Paul R. Yarnold,et al.  Reading and understanding MORE multivariate statistics. , 2000 .

[30]  Mike Kolich,et al.  Predicting automobile seat comfort using a neural network , 2004 .

[31]  U. Trutschel,et al.  Circadian alertness simulator for fatigue risk assessment in transportation: application to reduce frequency and severity of truck accidents. , 2004, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[32]  Waldemar Karwowski,et al.  Ranking systems for evaluation of joint and joint motion stressfulness based on perceived discomforts. , 2003, Applied ergonomics.

[33]  Hiroaki Yoshida,et al.  Driver's Fatigue Evaluation During Long Term Driving for Automotive Seat Development , 2002 .

[34]  Della Summers,et al.  Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English , 1995 .

[35]  N. Bradburn.  The structure of psychological well-being , 1969 .

[36]  Martin Helander.  Forget about ergonomics in chair design? Focus on aesthetics and comfort! , 2003, Ergonomics.

[37]  J.F.A.M. van Hoof,et al.  A seat sensitivity study on vertical vibrations and seat pressure distributions using numerical models , 2004 .

[38]  L. Pastò,et al.  Response to thermal stress and personality , 2003, Physiology & Behavior.

[39]  Mica R. Endsley,et al.  Design and Evaluation for Situation Awareness Enhancement , 1988 .

[40]  A. Vansant,et al.  Qualitative assessment of the backswing in older adult throwing. , 1991, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[41]  E N Corlett,et al.  A technique for assessing postural discomfort. , 1976, Ergonomics.

[42]  M G Helander,et al.  Effects of two types of chairs on stature change and comfort for individuals with healthy and herniated discs. , 1994, Ergonomics.

[43]  R Rebiffé.  [Seat of the driver: it's adaptation to functional and anthropometric requirements]. , 1969, Ergonomics.

[44]  Ramon C. Littell,et al.  Regression Using JMP , 2003 .

[45]  Colin G. Drury,et al.  Identifying Factors of Comfort and Discomfort in Sitting , 1996, Hum. Factors.

[46]  P. Warr.  Well-being and the workplace. , 1999 .

[47]  Matthew P. Reed,et al.  Methods for Measuring and Representing Automobile Occupant Posture , 1999 .

[49]  Kevin P. Weinfurt.  Multivariate analysis of variance. , 1995 .

[50]  Waldemar Karwowski,et al.  Joint angles of isocomfort for female subjects based on the psychophysical scaling of static standing postures , 2004, Ergonomics.

[51]  M. Kolich,et al.  Reliability and validity of a long term survey for automobile seat comfort , 2004 .

[52]  Matthew P. Reed,et al.  Distribution of Automobile Trip Durations for Studies of Seat Comfort , 1996 .

[53]  Don B. Chaffin.  Human Motion Simulation for Vehicle and Workplace Design , 2007 .

[54]  J. Faraway.  Regression analysis for a functional response , 1997 .

[55]  David M. Andrews,et al.  Development and evaluation of the Automotive Seating Discomfort Questionnaire (ASDQ) , 2006 .

[56]  Louis Tijerina,et al.  AN ANALYSIS OF DRIVING ACCIDENT NARRATIVES AS A MEANS OF DETERMINING PROBLEMS CAUSED BY IN-VEHICLE VISUAL ALLOCATION AND VISUAL WORKLOAD , 1996 .

[57]  Richard Kammann,et al.  Affectometer 2: A scale to measure current level of general happiness , 1983 .

[58]  Chris Baber,et al.  Subjective evaluation of usability , 2002, Ergonomics.

[59]  Judy Pearsall,et al.  The Concise Oxford Dictionary , 1999 .

[60]  R. Goossens,et al.  Stability of sitting postures: the influence of degrees of freedom , 2006, Ergonomics.

[61]  W Karwowski,et al.  The boundaries for joint angles of isocomfort for sitting and standing males based on perceived comfort of static joint postures , 2001, Ergonomics.

[62]  Colin Corbridge.  Vibration in vehicles : its effect on comfort , 1987 .

[63]  Claire C. Gordon,et al.  2012 Anthropometric Survey of U.S. Army Personnel: Methods and Summary Statistics , 2014 .

[64]  Waneen Wyrick Spirduso,et al.  Physical dimensions of aging , 1995 .

[65]  D B Chaffin,et al.  Improving digital human modelling for proactive ergonomics in design , 2005, Ergonomics.

[66]  M J Griffin,et al.  Factors affecting static seat cushion comfort , 2001, Ergonomics.

[67]  Larry Hatcher,et al.  JMP for Basic Univariate and Multivariate Statistics: A Step-by-step Guide , 2005 .

[68]  Devender Singh,et al.  Identifying alternative movement techniques from existing motion data : An empirical performance evaluation , 2004 .

[69]  S. M. Taboun,et al.  The effect of microadjustment on low back comfort in the context of automotive seating , 2002 .

[70]  M J Griffin,et al.  Qualitative models of seat discomfort including static and dynamic factors , 2000, Ergonomics.

[71]  G. Borg.  Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. , 1982, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[72]  Wen-Hsin Hsu,et al.  Physical discomfort among visual display terminal users in a semiconductor manufacturing company: a study of prevalence and relation to psychosocial and physical/ergonomic factors. , 2003, AIHA journal : a journal for the science of occupational and environmental health and safety.

[73]  B. Neugarten,et al.  The measurement of life satisfaction. , 1961, Journal of gerontology.

[74]  Giuseppe Andreoni,et al.  Method for the analysis of posture and interface pressure of car drivers. , 2002, Applied ergonomics.

[75]  Thomas R. Waters,et al.  Musculoskeletal Discomfort Surveys Used at NIOSH , 2005 .

[76]  D. Kahneman,et al.  Well-being : the foundations of hedonic psychology , 1999 .

[77]  J C Jones,et al.  Methods and results of seating research. , 1969, Ergonomics.

[78]  Paul Procter,et al.  Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English , 1978 .

[79]  Tomas Engström,et al.  Annie, a Tool for Integrating Ergonomics in the Design of Car Interiors , 1999 .

[80]  D Ng,et al.  Evaluation of an intelligent seat system. , 1995, Applied ergonomics.

[81]  Heiner Bubb,et al.  Interior layout design of passenger vehicles with RAMSIS , 2005 .

[82]  Jack P Callaghan,et al.  Effects of prolonged sitting on the passive flexion stiffness of the in vivo lumbar spine. , 2005, The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society.

[83]  K C Parsons,et al.  Environmental ergonomics: a review of principles, methods and models. , 2000, Applied ergonomics.

[84]  H M Reynolds.  AUTOMOTIVE ERGONOMICS. CHAPTER 5. AUTOMOTIVE SEAT DESIGN FOR SITTING COMFORT , 1993 .

[85]  Julio Abascal,et al.  Inclusive Design Guidelines for HCI , 2001 .

[86]  Yoshiyuki Matsuoka,et al.  Study of Comfortable Sitting Posture , 1988 .

[87]  Ramaratnam R Bishu,et al.  Seating comfort and its relationship to spinal profile: A pilot study , 1991 .

[88]  D A Johnson,et al.  Analysis of possible lower lumbar strains caused by the structural properties of automobile seats: a review of some recent technical literature. , 2001, Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics.

[89]  Diane E. Gyi.  Driver discomfort : prevalence, prediction and prevention. , 1996 .

[90]  J. Horne,et al.  Sleep related vehicle accidents , 1995, BMJ.

[91]  I. Lauder,et al.  Age effects in kyphosis and lordosis in adults. , 1974, Annals of human biology.

[92]  M. Griffin,et al.  Quantitative prediction of overall seat discomfort , 2000, Ergonomics.

[93]  David B. Learner,et al.  AN ANALYSIS OF SOME FACTORS INFLUENCING SEAT COMFORT , 1960 .

[94]  Don B. Chaffin,et al.  Stature, Age, and Gender Effects on Reach Motion Postures , 2000, Hum. Factors.

[95]  P A Fenety,et al.  In-chair movement: validity, reliability and implications for measuring sitting discomfort. , 2000, Applied ergonomics.

[96]  Tülin Gündüz Cengiz,et al.  An on-the-road experiment into the thermal comfort of car seats. , 2007, Applied ergonomics.

[97]  B Rajput,et al.  The inadequate effect of automobile seating on foot posture and callus development , 2007, Ergonomics.

[98]  Eiichi Yasuda,et al.  Evaluation of riding comfort: From the viewpoint of interaction of human body and seat for static, dynamic, long time driving , 2000 .

[99]  Masaaki Katsumata,et al.  Evaluation of Seating Comfort , 1982 .

[100]  D Cohen.  An objective measure of seat comfort. , 1998, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[101]  M. H. Pope,et al.  A REVIEW OF THE BIOMECHANICS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF WORKING POSTURES (IT ISN'T ALWAYS VIBRATION WHICH IS TO BLAME!) , 1998 .

[102]  K. Motamedi.  The quality of American life , 1976 .

[103]  R. Cartwright,et al.  Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine, 3rd ed. , 2001 .

[104]  P. Bobko,et al.  Moderated regression analysis and Likert scales: too coarse for comfort. , 1992, The Journal of applied psychology.

[105]  Roland Akselsson,et al.  Preferred car driving posture using 3-D information , 2006 .

[106]  M. Dijkers,et al.  Hip joint center location from palpable bony landmarks--a cadaver study. , 1995, Journal of biomechanics.

[107]  A.J.K. Oudenhuijzen,et al.  The relationship between seat pressure and comfort , 2003 .

[108]  Robert P. Hubbard,et al.  THE USE OF ELECTROMYOGRAPHY FOR SEAT ASSESSMENT AND COMFORT EVALUATION , 1995 .

[109]  Brian Everitt,et al.  Cluster analysis , 1974 .

[110]  T. Levitt.  EXPLOIT THE PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE , 1965 .

[111]  A. Wisner,et al.  METHODS OF IMPROVING WORK-PLACE LAYOUT , 1963 .

[112]  J. Temming.  A New Method to Assess the Summer Suitability of Car Seats , 1993 .

[113]  Albert Weichenrieder,et al.  The Best Function for the Seat of a Passenger Car , 1985 .

[114]  Colin G. Drury,et al.  AN ERGONOMIC EVALUATION OF OFFICE CHAIRS , 1987 .

[115]  Mathias Kölsch,et al.  An Objective Measure for Postural Comfort , 2003 .

[116]  R VonStroh.  Computer vision syndrome. , 1993 .

[117]  Stephen Pheasant,et al.  Ergonomics, Work and Health , 1991, Macmillan Education UK.

[118]  Michael A. Humphreys,et al.  Quantifying occupant comfort: are combined indices of the indoor environment practicable? , 2005 .

[119]  J. Brooks,et al.  REVIEW: From nociception to pain perception: imaging the spinal and supraspinal pathways , 2005, Journal of anatomy.

[120]  J D Troup,et al.  Driver's back pain and its prevention. A review of the postural, vibratory and muscular factors, together with the problem of transmitted road-shock. , 1978, Applied ergonomics.

[121]  D E Gyi,et al.  Interface pressure and the prediction of car seat discomfort. , 1999, Applied ergonomics.

[122]  Matthew P. Reed,et al.  The HUMOSIM Ergonomics Framework: A New Approach to Digital Human Simulation for Ergonomic Analysis , 2006 .

[123]  M. Makhsous,et al.  Reducing whole-body vibration and musculoskeletal injury with a new car seat design , 2005, Ergonomics.

[124]  A Grieco,et al.  Sitting posture: an old problem and a new one. , 1986, Ergonomics.

[125]  Mark S. Sanders,et al.  Human factors in engineering and design, 6th ed. , 1987 .

[126]  G. R. Blair,et al.  Investigating Psychometric and Body Pressure Distribution Responses to Automotive Seating Comfort , 2000 .

[127]  Carol A. C. Flannagan,et al.  DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPROVED DRIVER EYE POSITION MODEL , 1998 .

[128]  Michael J. Griffin,et al.  Handbook of Human Vibration , 1990 .

[129]  Carryl L. Baldwin.  Designing in-vehicle technologies for older drivers: Application of sensory-cognitive interaction theory , 2002 .

[130]  A F Fazio,et al.  A concurrent validational study of the NCHS General Well-Being Schedule. , 1977, Vital and health statistics. Series 2, Data evaluation and methods research.

[131]  Maximizing Comfort and Function: Positioning Intervention , 2005 .

[132]  Wenqi Shen,et al.  Validity and reliability of rating scales for seated pressure discomfort , 1997 .

[133]  Eui Seung Jung,et al.  Human reach posture prediction based on psychophysical discomfort , 1996 .

[134]  B. Shackel,et al.  The assessment of chair comfort. , 1969, Ergonomics.

[135]  Fereydoun Aghazadeh,et al.  Risk Factors and their Interactions in VDT Workstation Systems , 1996 .

[136]  Yong-San Yoon,et al.  Biomechanical model of human on seat with backrest for evaluating ride quality , 2001 .

[137]  B. Åkerblom.  Standing and sitting posture , 1948 .

[138]  H Broman,et al.  Mounting of the transducers in measurement of segmental motion of the spine. , 1986, Journal of biomechanics.

[139]  D. Dinges,et al.  Circadian Rhythms in Fatigue, Alertness and Performance , 2002 .

[140]  R.H.M. Goossens,et al.  New ergonomic guidelines for laparoscopic instruments , 2001, Minimally invasive therapy & allied technologies : MITAT : official journal of the Society for Minimally Invasive Therapy.

[141]  Barry H. Kantowitz,et al.  Human Factors and Ergonomics in Motor Vehicle Transportation , 2006 .

[142]  W J Burger,et al.  ACCIDENT AND NEAR ACCIDENT CAUSATION: THE CONTRIBUTION OF AUTOMOBILE DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS , 1977 .

[143]  J. Jay Keegan.  The Medical Problem of Lumbar Spine Flattening in Automobile Seats , 1964 .

[144]  Joy Higgs,et al.  Seeking the optimal posture of the seated lumbar spine , 2001 .

[145]  Santokh Singh,et al.  Discomfort, Pressure Distribution and Safety in Operator's Seat-A Critical Review , 2003 .

[146]  G. Andersson,et al.  The Influence of Backrest Inclination and Lumbar Support on Lumbar Lordosis , 1979, Spine.

[147]  Leon Straker,et al.  The effect of shoulder posture on performance, discomfort and muscle fatigue whilst working on a visual display unit , 1997 .

[148]  M G Helander,et al.  Field studies of comfort and discomfort in sitting. , 1997, Ergonomics.

[149]  J. Annett.  Subjective rating scales: science or art? , 2002, Ergonomics.

[150]  Robin Burgess-Limerick.  Squat, stoop, or something in between? , 1999 .

[151]  Giuseppe Andreoni,et al.  A Methodological Approach for the Analysis of the Car Driver's Posture , 1999 .

[152]  Xudong Zhang,et al.  Simulating reach motions , 1999 .

[153]  Wilfrid Taylor Dempster,et al.  THE ANTHROPOMETRY OF BODY ACTION , 1955 .

[154]  Carol A. C. Flannagan,et al.  Effects of Vehicle Interior Geometry and Anthropometric Variables on Automobile Driving Posture , 2000, Hum. Factors.

[155]  Karim Abdel-Malek,et al.  A new digital human environment and assessment of vehicle interior design , 2007, Comput. Aided Des..

[156]  Maurice Bonney,et al.  Computer aided ergonomics design of automobiles , 1993 .

[157]  J. Kelsey,et al.  Driving of motor vehicles as a risk factor for acute herniated lumbar intervertebral disc. , 1975, American journal of epidemiology.

[158]  Carol A. C. Flannagan,et al.  A Statistical Method for Predicting Automobile Driving Posture , 2002, Hum. Factors.

[159]  L. Evans.  Older driver involvement in fatal and severe traffic crashes. , 1988, Journal of gerontology.

[160]  M. de Looze,et al.  Please Scroll down for Article Ergonomics Sitting Comfort and Discomfort and the Relationships with Objective Measures Sitting Comfort and Discomfort and the Relationships with Objective Measures , 2022 .

[161]  A Genaidy,et al.  Ranking of static non-neutral postures around the joints of the upper extremity and the spine. , 1995, Ergonomics.

[162]  S. Habsburg,et al.  What Really Connects in Seating Comfort?-Studies of Correlates of Static Seat Comfort , 1977 .

[163]  João Manuel R. S. Tavares,et al.  Human movement tracking and analysis with Kalman filtering and global optimization techniques , 2005 .

[164]  Lawrence W. Schneider,et al.  Survey of driver seating discomfort and related factors , 1989 .

[165]  L. Richards,et al.  ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PASSENGER COMFORT , 1980 .

[166]  K. Kolcaba,et al.  Practical application of comfort theory in the perianesthesia setting. , 2004, Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses.

[167]  D. H. Robbins,et al.  Development of anthropometrically based design specifications for an advanced adult anthropomorphic dummy family, volume 1 , 1983 .

[168]  Mehdi Ahmadian,et al.  EVALUATION OF AN ALTERNATIVE SEATING TECHNOLOGY FOR TRUCK SEATS , 2003 .

[169]  F. Thomas Eggemeier,et al.  Subjective Workload Assessment Technique , 1982 .

[170]  F Hawkins.  Ergonomic aspects of crew seats in transport aircraft. , 1974, Aerospace medicine.

[171]  Paul R. Yarnold,et al.  Reading and Understanding Multivariate Statistics , 1995 .

[172]  A F Williams,et al.  Young driver risk factors: successful and unsuccessful approaches for dealing with them and an agenda for the future , 2006, Injury Prevention.

[173]  W. Diebschlag,et al.  Recommendation for Ergonomic and Climatic Physiological Vehicle Seat Design , 1989 .

[174]  P. Branton.  Behaviour, body mechanics and discomfort. , 1969, Ergonomics.

[175]  M. Heliövaara,et al.  Occupation and risk of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc or sciatica leading to hospitalization. , 1987, Journal of chronic diseases.

[176]  L L Ricci,et al.  REVIEW OF SELECTED LITERATURE RELATED TO SEATING DISCOMFORT. SPECIAL REPORT , 1990 .

[177]  M Kolich,et al.  Ergonomics modelling and evaluation of automobile seat comfort , 2004, Ergonomics.

[178]  Saeid Motavalli,et al.  Measurement of seating comfort , 1993 .

[179]  Michael J. Griffin,et al.  Subjective response to combined noise and vibration: summation and interaction effects , 1990 .

[180]  S. Hart,et al.  Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): Results of Empirical and Theoretical Research , 1988 .

[181]  G. Borg.  Psychophysical scaling with applications in physical work and the perception of exertion. , 1990, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[182]  Matthew P. Reed,et al.  Survey of Auto Seat Design Recommendations for Improved Comfort , 1994 .