In this presentation various forms of research are described (e.g. setting priorities based on websites, measuring effects of alternatives) to support finding the optimum comfort environment. Cases are presented in improving a commuter train interior, a assembly line and aircraft interior

1. Examples of user research needed for optimal comfort design Prof dr P. Vink, editor of the book:

3. No research/design could be dramatic An armrest with the controls on the thigh

4. expec- tations comf. brochures, websites first sight good looking, spacious short term comfort: positive attention discomfort: no obstacles, no pressure points long term comfort: nice entertainment discomfort: posture variation good fit after care tell “ bad = coinci- dence” The comfort process in time

5. expec- tations first sight short term -Find main user demands -Test alternatives -Test final product long term -Find main user demands -Use biomechanics/ ergonomics -Test alternatives -Test final product after care Effects of treat- ments For each phase research Studying how users react on websites products

8. Designers make nice office chairs

9. a cheap and simple chair: four controls

10. Vink et al., 2007 How often do you adjust the chair (n=100)?

11. thus, user research is needed in design

12. user research alone is useless 2193876345987630458796305760387562038746508374560283746508237456083746508374605837465209837456028374650823746058273460582735609827360528734650287345602873456q49067194869847692847698246941385608347065187340813705`7201834750`872340873509830658357601385765781698356138659814350823752873562823537650283745602387310380561873451983057173

14. Case 1: Long Island RailRoad trainseat More info: Bronkhorst & Krause, 2005

17. Results of the observations Anthropometric data + 4 main activities: -sleeping -reading -just sitting/talking -in- and egress really important

18. Study of the best benchmark (S1) against the now used chair (S0) to come up with ideas

19. Regular LPD measurements

20. Even improvements for the best chair back angle depth of the seat in- egress/arm rest back cushion angle arm rest hip to knee space wings stiff cushions no side head support styling 5 o

25. 83% of 20 passengers experience more comfort sitting, reading, sleeping

28. Case 2: Faber work station design More information: Van Rhijn et al. (2005)

34. from batch (old) to flow (new)

37. 9 15 45 (3p) 134,7 3,6 min 1 hours 12 min (3p) New situation -25% 20 Required space/person (m ²) -44% 80,5 (4p) Required space (m ²) -46% 2 hours 35 min (2p) Lead time of a batch (60 products) -31% 5,2 min Time/person/product +96% 4,6 Products per person per day per m ² +44% 93,3 Products/person/day % Old situation

39. Results Job satisfaction 6 Reduced walking with heavy boxes 3 Reduced work stress / time stress 2 Improved detection of faults 6 Improved use of work space 5 Improved tasks diversity 4 Improved job content 6 Improved experienced productivity 5 Improvement towards more pleasant work # yes (of 6) Job satisfaction in the new situation

44. Case 3: Aircraft interior More information: Blok et al. (2007), Vink et al. (2007)

45. 20 – 30 years of difference: can you see it?

47. Main problems in 11,000 trip reports

48. % of comfort aspects that 153 participants rated “very poor/poor” on a five point scale: 1=very poor, 2=poor, 3=moderate, 4=good, 5=very good.

49. main problems Knee space Seat width Personal space However, in case of delay/cancellation/ lost luggage, comfort is also rated low + cramped muscles/tired/stiff

50. Possibility 1 stimulating movement Design: I. Kamp

51. Possibility 2 more kneespace for the same nr passengers Design: I. Kamp

52. Possibility 3 personal space Design: I. Kamp

57. Conclusion: guru Vink says: Better design thought research or design through research or … should be practiced by you!!!

58. References Blok M, Vink P, Kamp I. Comfortabel vliegen: comfort van het vliegtuiginterieur door de ogen van de gebruiker. Tijdschrift voor Ergonomie 2007;32(4):4-11. Bronkhorst RE, Krause F, Designing Comfortable Passenger Seats, In: Vink P, ed. Comfort and Design: Principles and Good Practice. Boca Raton (etc.): CRC Press, 2005:155-168 Rhijn JW van, Looze MP de, Tuinzaad GH, Groenesteijn L, Groot MD de, Vink P. Changing from batch to flow assembly in the production of emergency lighting devices. International Journal for Production Research 2005;43:3687-3701 Vink P., Porcar-Seder R., Page de Poso A., Krause F. Office chairs are often not adjusted by end-users. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) 51st Annual Meeting, Baltimore, October 1-5, 2007. CD-ROM. Vink P. I. Kamp, M. Blok, A description of the aircraft interiors study can be found at http://www.io.tudelft.nl/live/pagina.jsp?id=2241219a-ddeb-405c-a2dd-57f54b89cdb4&lang=en