University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Transportation Research Institute
Abstract
Technical Report FinalA laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that discomfort in long-duration sitting is associated with more frequent posture changes. Two nominally identical production automobile driver seats were obtained for testing and one was
modified in ways that were expected to increase discomfort. Twenty-four men and women with a wide range of age and
body size sat in each of the seats for one hour on two different days while watching videos and completing a discomfort
questionnaire every five minutes. Posture was monitored using a video, pressure sensors in the seats, and a Microsoft Kinect
depth sensor. A variety of posture change metrics were computed from each data source. The modified seat produced
significantly higher discomfort ratings. However, no difference in movement frequency was observed between the seats, and
no relationship between maximum discomfort and movement frequency was observed.Magna Seatinghttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153990/1/UMTRI-2020-1.pd
