Method and Device for Determining Comfort in Seating Groups and Comparison of Subjective and Objective Evaluations

Abstract

Seating groups, designed to support various human activities such relaxation, calming and relieving tiredness, are one of the most important products that directly affect the quality of life. Resulting from the product diversity and development of technology, human expectations from products have increased. Comfort, aesthetics and ergonomics have gained importance in selection criteria at this phase. However, the perception of comfort varies according to body mass index, tiredness level and psychology of the person. This variety poses a major problem in standardizing comfort. The furniture industry needs an understandable comfort scale that can appeal to the majority of the society. This study focuses on two issues: a checklist based on the parameters determined to evaluate the comfort of seating groups by determining the comfort parameters, and the development of a mathematical modeling method of comfort based on the feedback obtained from the users about the products. In order to determine the comfort criteria, comfort studies made in various areas and products have been examined, and a machine that applies pressure to the back and seating points of the seating groups in accordance with the ergonomic structure of the people, records the reaction force obtained from the product according to the applied pressure in the data memory and converts it into a graphic. The designed machine processes the mathematical formula to be created with the variables of position, force and time to reach the force, within the data it receives, and ensures a comfort value in the products. As a result, the comfort standard in seating groups has been determined by the mathematical modeling method and will be made into a quality standard by using the method determined in new product designs.