A general verview of approaches to the assessment of comfort relevant to design of office furniture is presented. These approaches include physiological/anatomical, subjective, postural, and performance-based measures. Pertinent literature from other fields is included.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Akerblom, B.. Standing and sitting posture. Stockholm, Sweden: A. B. Nordiske Bokhandeln, 1948.
2.
Akerblom, B.Chairs and sitting. In W. F. Floyd and A. T. Welford, (Eds.) Symposium on human factors in equipment design. Proceedings of the Ergonomics Research Society. London: H. F. Lewis & Co.1954.
3.
Andersson, B. J. G.The load on the lumbar spine in sitting postures. In D. J. Oborne and J. A. Levis, (Eds.) Human factors in transport research. New York: Academic Press, 1980.
4.
Andersson, B. J. G., and Ortengren, R.Lumbar disc pressure and myoelectric back muscle activity during sitting. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine,1974, 6, 115–121. (a)
5.
Andersson, B. J. G., and Ortengren, R.Myoelectric back muscle activity during sitting. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 1974, 3, 73–90. (b)
6.
Ayoub, M. M., and Halcomb, C. G.improved console design: Annotated bibliography, integration of the literature, accommodation model and seated operator reach profiles (Report No. TP-76-J). Point Magu, CA: Pacific Missile Test Center, December, 1976.
7.
Barkla, D. M.Chair angles, duration of sitting and comfort ratings. Ergonomics, 1964, 7, 297–304,
8.
Branton, P.Behaviour, body mechanics, and discomfort. in E. Grandjean (Ed.) Sitting posture. London: Taylor and Francis, 1969.
9.
Branton, P. Ergonomic research contributions to design of a passenger environment. Paper presented to the Passenger Environment Conference sponsored by the institution of Mechanical Engineers, London, March, 1972.
10.
Branton, P., and Grayson, G.An evaluation of train seats by observation of sitting behavior. Ergonomics, 1967,10, 35–51.
11.
Burandt, V., and Grandjean, E.Sitting habits of office employees. Ergonomics, 1963, 6, 217–228.
12.
Canadian Labour Congress. Towards a more humanized technology: Exploring the impact of video display terminals on the health and working conditions of Canadian office workers. Ottawa, Canada: Education and Studies Centre, 1982.
13.
Chisvin, S. G. Video display terminals: An ergonomic evaluation of work station and operating postures. Unpublished thesis, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada, 1983.
14.
Corlett, E. N., and Bishop, R. P.A technique for assessing postural discomfort. Ergonomics, 1976, 19, 175–182.
15.
Corlett, E. N., and Eklund, J. A. E.The measurement of spinal loads arising from working seats. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 27th Annual Meeting. Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors Society, 1983, 786–789.
16.
Dainoff, M. J., Fraser, L., and Taylor, B. J.Visual, musculoskeletal, and performance differences between good and poor VOT workstations: Preliminary findings. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, October, 1982.
17.
Diebschlag, W., and Muller-Limmroth, W.Physiological requirements of car seats: Some results of experimental studies. In D.J. Oborne and J.A. Levis (Eds.) Human factors in transport research. New York: Academic Press, 1980.
18.
Drury, C. G., and Coury, B. G.A methodology for chair evaluation. Applied Ergonomics,1982, 13, 195–202.
19.
Duncan, J., and Fergusen, D.Keyboard operating posture and symptoms in operating. Ergonomics, 1974, 17, 651–661.
20.
Finnegan, L. M. Relation of certain mechanical factors of writing activity to visual performance and occlusion. Unpublished thesis, University of Texas, Dallas, 1945.
21.
Floyd, W. F., and Roberts, D. F.Anatomical and physiological principles in chair and table design. Ergonomics, 1958, 2, 1–16.
22.
Floyd, W. F., and Ward, J. S. Posture of school children and office workers. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress on Ergonomics, Dortmund, 1964,351-360.
23.
Floyd, W. F., and Ward, J. S.Anthropometric and physiological considerations in school, office, and factory seating. In E. Grandjean (Ed.) Sitting posture. London: Taylor and Francis, 1969.
24.
Grandjean, E.Ergonomics of VDTs: Review of present knowledge. In E. Grandjean and E. Vigliani (Eds.) Ergonomic aspects of visual display terminals. Proceedings from the International Workshop. London: Taylor and Francis, 1980,3–12. (a)
25.
Grandjean, E.Sitting posture of car drivers from the point of view of ergonomics. In D. J. Oborne and J. A. Levis (Eds.) Human factors in transport research. New York: Academic Press, 1980. (b)
26.
Grandjean, E., Hunting, W., and Piderman, M.A field study of preferred settings of an adjustable VDT workstation and their effects on body posture and subjective feelings. Zurich: Department of Hygiene and Ergonomics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 1982.
27.
Grandjean, E., Hunting, W., Wotzka, G., and Scharer, R.An ergonomic investigation of multipurpose chairs. Human Factors, 1973, 15, 247–255.
28.
Habsburg, S., and Mittendorf, L.What really connects in seating comfort? Studies of correlates of static seat comfort (Report No. 770247). Detroit: Society of Automotive Engineers, 1978.
29.
Habsburg, S., and Mittendorf, L.Calibrating comfort: Systematic studies of human responses to seating. In D. J. Oborne and T. A. Levis (Eds.) Human factors in transport research. New York: Academic Press, 1980.
30.
Hall, M. A. W.Back pain and car seat comfort. Applied Ergonomics,1972, 15,82–91.
31.
Harmon, D. B.The co-ordinated classroom. Grand Rapids, MI: American Seating Company, 1951.
32.
Hein-Sorensen, O., Elfstrom, G., and Nachemson, A.Disc pressure measurements in para- and tetraplegic patients. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine,1979,11, 1–11.
33.
Hertzberg, H. T. E.Annotated bibliography of applied physical anthropology in human engineering (Report No. WADC-TR-56-30). Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: Aero-Medical Library, 1958.
34.
Hertzberg, H. T. E.The human buttocks in sitting: Pressures, patterns, and palliatives (Report No. 720005). Detroit: Society of Automotive Engineers. 1972.
35.
Hunting, W., Laubli, T., and Grandjean, E.Constrained postures of VDU operators. In E. Grandjean and E. Vigliani (Eds.) Ergonomic aspects of visual display terminals. Proceedings of the International Workshop. London: Taylor and Francis, 1980.
36.
Jones, F. P., Gray, F. E., Hanson, J. A., and Shoop, J. D.Neck-muscle tension and the postural image. Ergonomics, 1961,4,133–142.
37.
Jones, J. C.Methods and results of seating research. In E. Grandjean (Ed.) Sitting posture. London: Taylor and Francis, 1969.
38.
Jurgens, H. W.Body movements of the driver in relation to sitting conditions in the car: A methodological study. In D. J. Obome and J. A. Levis (Eds.) Human factors in transport research. New York: Academic Press, 1980.
39.
Kadefors, R.Application of electromyography in ergonomics: New vistas. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 1978,10, 127–133.
40.
Karvonen, M. J., Koskela, A., and Noro, L.Preliminary report on the sitting postures of school children. Ergonomics,1962, 5, 471–477.
41.
Keegan, J. J.Alterations of the lumbar curve related to posture and seating. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 1953, 35-A(3), 589–603.
42.
Keegan, J. J.Evaluation and improvement of seats. Industrial Medicine and Surgery, 1962, 31, 471–477.
43.
Kohara, J., and Sugi, T.Development of biomechanical manikins for measuring seat comfort. Report No. 720006 Detroit: Society of Automotive Engineers, 1978.
44.
Kroemer, K. H. E., andRobinette, J. C.Ergonomics in the design of office furniture: A review of European literature (AMRL-TR-68-80). Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories, 1968.
45.
Langdon, F. J.The design of card punches and the seating of operators.Ergonomics, 1965, 8, 61–68.
46.
Laville, A.Postural reactions related to activities on VDU. In E. Grandjean and E. Vigliani, (Eds.) Ergonomic aspects of visual display terminals. Proceedings of the International Workshop. London: Taylor and Francis, 1980.
47.
Lay, W. E., and Fisher, L. C.Riding comfort and cushions. SAE Journal, 1940, 47, 483–496.
48.
Le Carpentier, E. G.Easy chair dimensions for comfort—A subjective approach. In E Grandjean (Ed.) Sitting posture. London: Taylor and Francis, 1969.
49.
Louis Harris and Associates, Inc.The Steelcase national study of office environments, No. II. Grand Rapids, MI: Steelcase, 1980.
50.
Lundervold, A.Electromyographic investigations during typewriting. Ergonomics, 1958, 1, 226–233.
51.
Mandai, A. C.The correct height of school furniture.Human Factors,1982, 24, 257–269.
52.
Myers, B. B., and Marshall, B.The influence of comfort on passenger modal choice in Western Canada. In D. J. Oborne and J. A. Levis (Eds.) Human factors in transport research. New York: Academic Press, 1980.
53.
Nachemson, A., and Elfstrom, G.Intravital dynamic pressure measurements in lumbar discs. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 1970, Supplement 1,3–38.
54.
Oborne, D. J., and Clarke, M. J.The development of questionnaire surveys for the investigation of passenger comfort. Ergonomics,1973, 16, 255–269.
55.
Petrofsky, J. S., Glaser, R. M., and Phillips, C. A.Evaluation of the amplitude and frequency components of the surface EMG as an index of muscle fatigue. Ergonomics,1982, 25, 213–223.
56.
Richards, L. C.On the psychology of passenger comfort. In D. J. Oborne and J. A. Levis (Eds.) Human factors in transport research. New York: Academic Press, 1980.
57.
Ridd, J. E., and Davis, P. R.Industrial human factors research in a British Health and Safety Institute. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 25th Annual Meeting. Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors Society, 1981, 541–545.
58.
Ridder, C. A.Basic design measurements for sitting (Bulletin 616). Fayetteville, AK: University of Arkansas, Agricultural Experiment Station, 1959.
59.
Rohmert, W., and Luczak, H.Ergonomics in the design and evaluation of a system for “postal video letter coding.”Applied Ergonomics,1978, 9, 85–95.
60.
Schoberth, H.Vom richtigen sitzen am arbeitsplatz (Correct sitting in the workplace). Frankfurt, W. Germany: University of Frankfurt, Ostsee Clinic, 1978.
61.
Shackel, B., Chidsey, K. D., and Shipley, P.The assessment of chair comfort. Ergonomics, 1969, 12, 269–306.
62.
Sharit, J., and Salvendy, G.Occupational stress: Review and reappraisal. Human Factors, 1982, 24, 129–162.
63.
Smith, M. J., Cohen, B. G. F., and Stammerjohn, L. W.An investigation of health complaints and job stress in video display operations. Human Factors, 1981,23, 387–400.
64.
Springer, T. J.Visual display terminal work stations: A comparative evaluation of alternatives. Bloomington, IL: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, 1982.
65.
Teichner, W.The subjective response to the thermal environment. Human Factors, 1967, 9, 497–510.
66.
Thier, R. H.Measurement of seat comfort. Automobile Engineer, 1963, 5, 64–66.
67.
Wachsler, R. A., and Learner, D. B.An analysis of some factors influencing seat comfort. Ergonomics, 1960, 3, 315–320.
68.
Webster's third new international dictionary of the English language, unabridged. Springfield, MA: Merriam, 1964.