Automobile seats are developed in an iterative manner because subjective feedback, which is usually of questionable quality, drives the design. The time and cost associated with iteration could be justified if the process was guaranteed to produce a comfortable seat. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Current practices are based on the premise that seat system design teams need objective, measurable laboratory standards, which can be linked to subjective perceptions of comfort. Only in this way can predictions be made regarding whether or not a particular design will be viewed by the consumer as comfortable. This type of forecasting ability would effectively improve the efficiency with which automobile seats are designed. In this context, the research reported, developed, and validated a stepwise, multiple linear regression model relating seat interface pressure characteristics, occupant anthropometry, occupant demographics, and perceptions of seat appearance to an overall, subjective comfort index derived from a survey with proven levels of reliability and validity. The model performance statistics were: adjusted r(2)=0.668, standard error of estimate=2.308, F (6, 38)=15.728, p=0.000, and cross-validated r (15)=0.952, p=0.000. From the model, human criteria for seat interface pressure measures were established. These findings could not have been attained without first demonstrating that (1) the data collection protocol for seat interface pressure measurement was repeatable and (2) seat interface pressure measurements can be used to distinguish between seats.

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Using the results of psychophysical and biomechanical experiments, NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Recommended Weight Limit (RWL), the Lifting Index (LI), the form of the asymmetry multiplier, and the criterion for compression force were investigated. Analysis of the results indicated a significant difference between the NIOSH RWL and the reported Maximum Acceptable Weight of Lift (MAWL). Contrary to the NIOSH lifting equation, the form of the asymmetry multiplier was found to be non-linear. The overall average of peak compression force on the L5/S1 was 3685 N. Fifty-eight percent of all compression forces reported in the biomechanical experiment were found to exceed the suggested 3400 N set by NIOSH guidelines. These results support previous research findings on the validity of NIOSH guidelines.

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The purpose of this study was to determine if the advantages and disadvantages of a new automotive seating concept, known as the micro-adjuster control system, could be reliably evaluated using both a physiological assessment technique (i.e., electromyography [EMG]) and a subjective questionnaire. The results indicate that psychophysical measures of discomfort and the root mean squared (RMS) activity of the EMG are statistically related, r (8) = -.788, p =.020. More specifically, subjective perceptions of comfort were found to improve with decreasing levels of muscle activity. This implies that seat comfort can be evaluated on the basis of physiological as well as subjective responses to prolonged driving. This finding should drastically improve automobile seat design efforts.