Title
Improving car passengers' comfort and experience by supporting the use of handheld devices
Author
van Veen, S.A.T.
Hiemstra-van Mastrigt, S.
Kamp, I.
Vink, P.
Publication year
2014
Abstract
Background: There is a demand for interiors to support other activities in a car than controlling the vehicle. Currently, this is the case for the car passengers and-in the future-autonomous driving cars will also facilitate drivers to perform other activities. One of these activities is working with handheld devices. Objective: Previous research shows that people experience problems when using handheld devices in a moving vehicle and the use of handheld devices generally causes unwanted neck flexion [Young et al. 2012; Sin and Zu 2011; Gold et al. 2011]. In this study, armrests are designed to support the arms when using handheld devices in a driving car in order to decrease neck flexion. Methods: Neck flexion was measured by attaching markers on the C7 and tragus. Discomfort was indicated on a body map on a scale 1-10. User experience was evaluated in a semi-structured interview. Results: Neck flexion is significantly decreased by the support of the armrests and approaches a neutral position. Furthermore, overall comfort and comfort in the neck region specifically are significantly increased. Subjects appreciate the body posture facilitated by the armrests and 9 out of 10 prefer using handheld devices with the armrests compared to using handheld devices without the armrests. CONLUSION: More efforts are needed to develop the mock-up into an established product, but the angles and dimensions presented in this study could serve as guidelines.
Subject
Resilient Organisations
SP - Sustainable Productivity and Employability
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Work and Employment
Workplace
Healthy Living
Armrests
Car seat
Discomfort
Neck flexion
User experience
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:09db3739-0a95-4edd-a12c-5f0bc228567a
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3233/wor-131716
TNO identifier
517644
ISSN
1051-9815
Source
Work, 49 (2), 215-223
Document type
article