Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026

A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training
Published on: January 20, 2019
A parametric investigation on seat/occupant contact forces and their relationship with initially perceived discomfort
Xuguang Wang1,2,3, Michelle Cardoso1,2,3, Ilias Theodorakos1,2,3
1a Université de Lyon , Lyon , France.
Abstract:
The present work investigates the contact forces between sitters and seat as well as their correlations with perceived discomfort. Twelve different economy class aeroplane seat configurations were simulated using a multi-adjustable experimental seat by varying seat pan and backrest angles, as well as seat pan compressed surface. Eighteen males and 18 females, selected by their body mass index and stature, tested these configurations for two sitting postures. Perceived discomfort was significantly affected by seat parameters and posture and correlated both with normal force distribution on the seat-pan surface and with normal forces at the lumbar and head supports. Lower discomfort ratings were obtained for more evenly distributed normal forces on the seat pan. Shear force at the seat pan surface was at its lowest when sitters were allowed to self-select their seat-pan angle, supporting that a shear force should be reduced but not zeroed to improve seating comfort. Practitioner Summary: The effects of seat-pan and backrest angle, anthropometric dimensions and sitting posture on contact forces and perceived discomfort were investigated using a multi-adjustable experimental seat. In addition to preferred seat profile parameters, the present work provides quantitative guidelines on contact force requirement for improving seating comfort.
Related Concept Videos
Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by...
Electron Configurations
The relative energies of the subshells determine the order in which atomic orbitals are filled (1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p,...
Controller Configurations
Control-system compensation involves various configurations, most commonly series or cascade compensation, in which the controller...
Electron Configuration of Multielectron Atoms
Relationship Formation
Initiation of Translation
First, the initiator tRNA must be selected from the pool of elongator tRNAs by eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2). The initiator tRNA (Met-tRNAi) has conserved sequence elements including modified bases at...

