Predicting passenger seat comfort and discomfort on the basis of human, context and seat characteristics: a literature review

The premise of this work is to address aircraft seat comfort. This thesis presents the development of an automatic morphing backrest used to reduce pressure experienced by the passenger from the seat. Uncomfortable, high surface pressure zones on the backrest can be alleviated by decentralizing the occupant’s weight. The improved pressure distribution is intended to decrease discomfort during flight while taking different comfort/discomfort models into consideration. Pressure distribution data from the embedded sensor mat is used to compute the seat’s cushion deflection and corresponding backrest contour caused by the passenger’s weight. The surfaces of interest - the passenger’s back and the seat, are modelled and discretized. The discretized surface contact pressure is integrated into the hyperelastic contact model to determine the loading profile. From this, the current pressure distribution and the cushion’s surface change are computed and used in the control system to create the corresponding actuation of the surface.

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A multifactorial approach to specify comfortable rail seats

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-208017 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 68 (s1) ◽

pp. S197-S208

Author(s):

Jordan Smith ◽

Stephen Phillips ◽

Nic Bowler ◽

Harry Conway ◽

Levent Caglar

Keyword(s):

Customer Experience ◽

Assessment Method ◽

Seat Height ◽

Assessment Scores ◽

Passenger Seat ◽

Seat Comfort ◽

Rail Industry ◽

Multifactorial Approach ◽

Validation Testing ◽

Moderate Positive Correlation

BACKGROUND: A robust rail seat comfort assessment can inform the GB rail industry when procuring new seats and identify areas for comfort improvement in the refurbishment of existing seats, improving the customer experience. OBJECTIVE: To take a multifactorial approach to measuring comfort and to create a robust seat comfort assessment method for the GB rail industry. METHODS: Seat comfort assessment scores were developed by identifying seat dimensions (e.g. Seat height, seat width, seat depth), seat pad thickness and hardness requirements, seat accessories and seat attractiveness components. Scores for each seat feature were verified by conducting a fitting trial and asking 7 participants to rank dimensions through a range of adjustment. The combined scoring of features was verified by asking 14 participants to rank seats in three configurations (<minimum comfort; minimum comfort;>minimum comfort). The seat comfort dimensions scores were then validated by ranking seven existing rail seats using the assessment method and comparing the ranks with subjective comfort ranks of 12 participants. RESULTS: The validation testing resulted in a moderate positive correlation, indicating an alignment between the seat comfort assessment method and subjective comfort scores. CONCLUSIONS: A multifactorial seat comfort assessment has been shown to be a good indicator of passenger seat comfort.

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Pressure sensing and control of an aircraft passenger seat

10.32920/ryerson.14657127.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gabriel H. Campos

Keyword(s):

Control System ◽

Pressure Distribution ◽

High Surface ◽

Distribution Data ◽

Pressure Sensing ◽

Surface Change ◽

Passenger Seat ◽

Seat Comfort ◽

And Control ◽

High Surface Pressure

The premise of this work is to address aircraft seat comfort. This thesis presents the development of an automatic morphing backrest used to reduce pressure experienced by the passenger from the seat. Uncomfortable, high surface pressure zones on the backrest can be alleviated by decentralizing the occupant’s weight. The improved pressure distribution is intended to decrease discomfort during flight while taking different comfort/discomfort models into consideration. Pressure distribution data from the embedded sensor mat is used to compute the seat’s cushion deflection and corresponding backrest contour caused by the passenger’s weight. The surfaces of interest - the passenger’s back and the seat, are modelled and discretized. The discretized surface contact pressure is integrated into the hyperelastic contact model to determine the loading profile. From this, the current pressure distribution and the cushion’s surface change are computed and used in the control system to create the corresponding actuation of the surface.

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Numerical Modeling of Air-Based Bus Seat

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.663.610 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 663 ◽

pp. 610-613

Author(s):

Chee Fai Tan ◽

K.F. Liew ◽

S.N. Khalil ◽

M.R. Said ◽

W. Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physiological Stress ◽

Pressure Change ◽

Subjective Feeling ◽

Change Rate ◽

Cell Height ◽

Passenger Seat ◽

Seat Comfort ◽

Air Cushion ◽

Noise Vibration ◽

Seating Discomfort

Travel with long hours will create discomfort feeling for passenger especially express bus passenger. Long hour travel will create physiological stress on passenger. It may due to seat space limitation, noise, vibration, seat hardness as well as seat comfort. Seat comfort is a subjective feeling that related to psychological aspect of passenger. In this project, the bus passenger seat is integrated with air-based and gel-based material. In Malaysia, most of the express coaches are using polyurethane foam based cushion in the seat padding. This type of the seat padding may cause a bus passenger who sit for long journey will feel uncomfortable and fatigue. There are two main causes which lead to seating discomfort which is vibration and pressure distribution on the seat. The new design a bus passenger seat is using air-based cushion to improve the seating comfort. The air-based seat was validated by using MatLab SimuLINK software. In the model validation process, the parameters of air cell height gave effect on the pressure change rate of air cushion model. The comfortable level of the air cushion could be improved by reducing the pressure change rate and cell height.

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Effect of Computerized Auditory Training on Speech Perception of Adults With Hearing Impairment

Perspectives on Aural Rehabilitation and Its Instrumentation ◽

10.1044/arri20.3.91 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 91-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Rachel Pizarek ◽

Valeriy Shafiro ◽

Patricia McCarthy

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Speech Perception ◽

Literature Review ◽

Low Cost ◽

Experimental Designs ◽

Auditory Training ◽

Hearing Impairments ◽

Communicative Disorders ◽

And Training

Computerized auditory training (CAT) is a convenient, low-cost approach to improving communication of individuals with hearing loss or other communicative disorders. A number of CAT programs are being marketed to patients and audiologists. The present literature review is an examination of evidence for the effectiveness of CAT in improving speech perception in adults with hearing impairments. Six current CAT programs, used in 9 published studies, were reviewed. In all 9 studies, some benefit of CAT for speech perception was demonstrated. Although these results are encouraging, the overall quality of available evidence remains low, and many programs currently on the market have not yet been evaluated. Thus, caution is needed when selecting CAT programs for specific patients. It is hoped that future researchers will (a) examine a greater number of CAT programs using more rigorous experimental designs, (b) determine which program features and training regimens are most effective, and (c) indicate which patients may benefit from CAT the most.

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Taking Care of Children After Traumatic Brain Injury

Perspectives on School-Based Issues ◽

10.1044/sbi13.3.79 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 79-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Julie Haarbauer-Krupa

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Literature Review ◽

School Setting ◽

Leadership Role ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

Educational Information ◽

Taking Care

AbstractPurpose: The purpose of this article is to inform speech-language pathologists in the schools about issues related to the care of children with traumatic brain injury.Method: Literature review of characteristics, outcomes and issues related to the needs serving children.Results: Due to acquired changes in cognition, children with traumatic brain injury have unique needs in a school setting.Conclusions: Speech-Language Pathologists in the school can take a leadership role with taking care of children after a traumatic brain injury and coordination of medical and educational information.

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