Activity analysis: contributions to the innovation of projects for aircrafts cabins

Abstract

This article presents results obtained from some ergonomics intervention in the project for the conception of aircraft´s cabins. The study's aim is to analyze the contribution of the method adopted in the passengers' activities analysis in reference situations, real-use situations in aircraft´s cabins, applied to analyze typical activities performed by people in their own environment. Within this perspective, the study shows two analyses which highlight the use of electronic device. The first analysis has been registered through a shooting filming in a real commercial flight. In the second one, the use is developed within the domestic environment. The same method has been applied in both contexts and it is based on activity analysis. Starting with the filming activity, postures and actions analysis, self-confrontation interviews, action course reconstruction and elaboration of postures envelopes. The results point out that the developed method might be applied to different contexts, evincing different ways of space occupation to meet human personal needs while performing an activity, which can help us with the anticipation of the users' needs, as well as indicate some innovation possibilities.

Identifying and analyzing critical factors impacting on passenger comfort employing a hybrid model

“…Activities are the links among humans, the cabin environment, and products, and they influence passenger comfort. Some studies (Hiemstra‐van Mastrigt, ; Rossi, Greghi, Menegon, & Souza, ) investigated the main types of activities that passengers perform in aircraft cabins, the space required for these activities, and their duration. The investigation led to discussions on how to avoid passenger discomfort by arranging specific activities at certain times and by employing new devices.…”

“…Rossi et al. () stated that passengers’ activities would vary depending on flight duration. Greghi, Rossi, Souza, and Menegon () compared the space occupied by passengers performing different activities with the existing cabin space using a methodology called calculation of posture envelopes .…”

“…Objective methods aim to collect and analyze objective data using different devices, such as pressure mats, electroencephalographs, and electromyographs. The comfort levels of subjects can be obtained by analyzing their movements and posture (Apostolico, Cappetti, D'Oria, Naddeo, & Sestri, ; Brenner, ; Greghi et al., ; Lueder, ; Rossi et al., ), pressure measurements (Fujimaki & Mitsuya, ; Groenesteijn et al., ; Vergara & Page, ), electromyography (EMG) (Rodrigues‐de‐Paula‐Goulart & Valls‐Solé, ), and so forth.…”

The Passengers’ Comfort Improvement by Sitting Activity and Posture Analysis in Civil Aircraft Cabin

“…Rossi et al [2] stated that passengers' activities would vary depending on flight duration, and they analyzed the activities of using electronic devices in commercial flights and domestic environment. Brenner [3] stated that after continuous sitting for 1.5 hours, a passenger's discomfort could be effectively relieved through a short rest.…”