SwiVR-Car-Seat

Autonomous vehicles provide new input modalities to improve interaction with in-vehicle information systems. However, due to the road and driving conditions, the user input can be perturbed, resulting in reduced interaction quality. One challenge is assessing the vehicle motion effects on the interaction without an expensive high-fidelity simulator or a real vehicle. This work presents SwiVR-Car-Seat, a low-cost swivel seat to simulate vehicle motion using rotation. In an exploratory user study (N=18), participants sat in a virtual autonomous vehicle and performed interaction tasks using the input modalities touch, gesture, gaze, or speech. Results show that the simulation increased the perceived realism of vehicle motion in virtual reality and the feeling of presence. Task performance was not influenced uniformly across modalities; gesture and gaze were negatively affected while there was little impact on touch and speech. The findings can advise automotive user interface design to mitigate the adverse effects of vehicle motion on the interaction.

Car seat impact on driver’s sitting behavior and perceived discomfort during prolonged real driving on varied road types

Prolonged driving under real conditions can entail discomfort linked to driving posture, seat design features, and road properties like whole-body vibrations (WBV). This study evaluated the effect of three different seats (S1 = soft; S2 = firm; S3 = soft with suspension system) on driver’s sitting behavior and perceived discomfort on different road types in real driving conditions. Twenty-one participants drove the same 195 km itinerary alternating highway, city, country, and mountain segments. Throughout the driving sessions, Contact Pressure (CP), Contact Surface (CS), Seat Pressure Distribution Percentage (SPD%) and Repositioning Movements (RM) were recorded via two pressure mats installed on seat cushion and backrest. Moreover every 20 minutes, participants rated their whole-body and local discomfort. While the same increase in whole-body discomfort with driving time was observed for all three seats, S3 limited local perceived discomfort, especially in buttocks, thighs, neck, and upper back. The pressure profiles of the three seats were similar for CP, CS and RM on the backrest but differed on the seat cushion. The soft seats (S1 & S3) showed better pressure distribution, with lower SPD% than the firm seat (S2). All three showed highest CP and CS under the thighs. Road type also affected both CP and CS of all three seats, with significant differences appearing between early city, highway and country segments. In the light of these results, automotive manufacturers could enhance seat design for reduced driver discomfort by combining a soft seat cushion to reduce pressure peaks, a firm backrest to support the trunk, and a suspension system to minimize vibrations.

Countermarketing About Fruit Drinks, Alone or With Water Promotion: A 2019 Randomized Controlled Trial in Latinx Parents

Objectives. To test whether fruit drink countermarketing messages alone or combined with water promotion messages reduce Latinx parents’ purchases of fruit drinks for children aged 0 to 5 years. Methods. We performed a 3-arm randomized controlled online trial enrolling 1628 Latinx parents in the United States during October and November 2019. We assessed the effect of culturally tailored fruit drink countermarketing messages (fruit drink‒only group), countermarketing and water promotion messages combined (combination group), or car-seat safety messages (control) delivered via Facebook groups for 6 weeks on parental beverage choices from a simulated online store. Results. The proportion of parents choosing fruit drinks decreased by 13.7 percentage points in the fruit drink‒only group (95% confidence interval [CI] = −20.0, −7.4; P < .001) and by 19.2 percentage points in the combination group (95% CI = −25.0, −13.4; P < .001) relative to control. Water selection increased in both groups. Conclusions. Fruit drink countermarketing messages, alone or combined with water promotion messages, significantly decreased parental selection of fruit drinks and increased water selection for their children. Public Health Implications. Countermarketing social media messages may be an effective and low-cost intervention for reducing parents’ fruit drink purchases for their children. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print October 28, 2021:e1–e11. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306488 )

A Systematic Literature Review on the Importance of Anthropometric Data Toward the Malaysian Population Productivity and Quality of Life

Anthropometric data is widely used in various applications such as manufacturing, healthcare, forensics, and medical treatments. In addition, the data can be applied to design ergonomic tools, equipment, clothing, and footwear to ensure that the products, facilities, and services fit the users. This paper aims to analyze the existing literature on the importance of anthropometric data on the Malaysian population's productivity and quality of life and look into any further research that needs improvement. Guided by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses), through Scopus and Web of Science databases, 15 related studies were identified. The review managed to extract six applications of anthropometric data and its seven perceived benefits. Data applications were classified into furniture, clothing and footwear, car seat, fitting and fixture, forensic investigation, and safety products. The benefits were grouped into easy to use, fit, well-being, welfare, safety, work efficiency, and identity verification by using thematic analysis. The review also highlighted the methodological issues related to the number of samples, locations coverage for a survey and the financial support in conducting research. Finally, several recommendations were drawn, including the importance of anthropometric database development at the end of this paper for reference by future scholars.

Development of the Car Seat through a Wider Range of Active Elements Implementation

Car seats represent a constructive - functional system including a variety of elements, assembled on a specific frame, among those the main components are the seat pan, the seat backrest, and the seat headrest. In order to improve the comfort of the driver and passengers, as well vehicle general safety, the car seats are under of intensive research and implementation of advanced developments.Thus, through of variety of sensors integrated into the seat, some important parameters are analysed for keeping the drivers alert and comfortable while driving semi-autonomous or autonomous cars. For adjustment of the seat linear and angular positions, a special system has been implemented, comprising electric, electronic, and pneumatic elements. Also, seat micro-adjustments are possible through the action of specific actuators. The car seat design and manufacture take into consideration a diverse array of data, based on a large range of parameters to face the diversity of drivers requirements. The present paper is advancing a conceptual development of car complex seat, integrating a number of active elements, with multiple possible adjustments. The new seat model is designed to satisfy a larger diversity of people both in terms of comfort and safety.