Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate comfort levels of functional and non-functional chairs using subjective comfort rating, interface pressure measurement, muscle activity measurement, and skin temperature measurement. Background: Chairs are used for a prolonged period of time for sitting in many places such as the office, at university, at school, in industry, and so on. Almost all people use chairs in their everyday life. The functional properties of the chair are associated with comfort. Method: The subjective evaluation contains questions regarding chair comfort which can be rated with five point scale. The body-seat interface pressure was measured using a pressure mat system. The symmetry of sitting was measured using electromyography. The change in body part (thigh and buttock) temperature before and after sitting on a chair was measured with an infrared camera. Results: Participants rated significantly (p < 0.05) higher comfort scores for the functional chair in relation to the buttock and thigh region. Also, the participants felt a better cushion effect in the functional chair. When using the functional chair, lower interface pressure, better thermal comfort, and better symmetry of erector spinae muscle activity were observed. Conclusion: Overall, interface pressure measurement, muscle activity measurement, thermal imaging and subjective comfort score results showed that the functional chair was more comfortable than the non-functional chair. Application: The adopted methodologies could be used to measure the seating comfort of train seats.

Objective: The objective of this study was to define the Dynamic Sitting (DS) through trend analysis and research on the Dynamic Chair (DC) and applied technologies. Background: The effects of changing posture on the human body have been studied to find out healthy sitting postures. It is believed that changing posture is effective in reducing disc pressure on spinal cord and preventing back pain and musculoskeletal disease. But, the definition of DS and trends of DC have not been researched yet. Therefore, trend analysis of DC and its applied technologies are required to define dynamic sitting posture. Method: We researched the type of occupant postures from previous studies. And then, sitting behaviors were classified into three types; (1) sitting and standing, (2) working and studying, (3) taking a rest. Results: Variety shapes of DC and applied technologies were found out. From the result, the trend of DC and applied technology were summarized from three perspectives. ; (1) changing the chair functions according to user's intention, (2) conversion of dynamic chair technologies to office chair mechanism, (3) enables the user to change their sitting posture without operating control device. Conclusion: From this study, we defined dynamic sitting posture and analyzed the trend of DC and its applied technologies. This result might be used to develop an office chair for healthy sitting. But further investigation is required to figure out the technologies and functions for development of healthy chair. Application: The results of the publishing trend analysis might help to determine design concept of office chair.

Objective: The objective of the study is to develop a portable assistance device to help elderly users reduce strain on the knee and leg muscle while the elderly are standing up. Background: The pose of standing up from a chair is a basic movement, but the elderly often have difficulty standing up due to their weak muscles. We focus on designing a solution that helps the elderly reduce physical problems and support them standing up. Method: This study consists of three parts. Part I explores the way to reduce the refrain of leg muscle while standing up from a chair. In the process of structural development, we found that the moment is minimized when user pushes down the armrests due to a decrease in the force acting on the center of mass. In part II, a user test of 20 participants was carried out to rank the order of comfort of two stimuli: the chair with fixed armrests and the chair with the four-link mechanism that we created-in three different ways; (1) to stand up without touching armrests, (2) to stand up by pushing down on fixed armrests, and (3) to stand up by pushing down on armrests and being supported by the mechanism. To examine the statistically significant differences among the rank means, a Friedman test was conducted. In part III, we analyze the results of the user test and interview feedbacks, focusing on establishing a design strategy from UPO and visualizing it in 1:1 scale. Results: In part I, we decided to develop the four-link mechanism. The bottom is lifted up as the link rises. In part II, based on the rank data, we empirically found that UPO was assessed as the most comfortable during the stimuli. The thigh angle is smaller and the bottom of UPO is separated from a seat. In part III, after assessing the results and feedbacks, we created a visualization strategy for UPO: light, friendly, and novel. Conclusion: The portable and non-mechanical UPO comprises a four-link system that lifts the user's hips while standing. It can help users avoid knee and leg muscle strain. Its universal design considers the elderly's difficulties. Application: In a future study, combining light and durable material in UPO is expected to increase its usability. And this study is an opportunity to design various types of standing assistance devices.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the incidence risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the workplace, and to suggest the prediction models for level of CVD incidence risk. Background: CVD can be caused by various factors related to personal habits such as diet and exercise, or genetics. However it can also be caused and aggravated by work, making the elimination of such risk factors at work crucial disease (KOSHA, 2013). Method: The distribution of CVD risk assessment levels of 162 workers was compared with the acquired medical examination data to discuss the necessity of assigning additional risk factors. Two alternative risk assessment models were given to enhance the accuracy of the evaluation; adjusting risk scores given in the KOSHA GUIDE H-1-2013 (alternative 1) and building a matrix of KOSHA GUIDE H-1-2013 and risk assessment results based on work condition levels (alternative 2). To verify the suggested models, medical examination results of 12 workers approved of convalescence were referred to. Results: The second alternative showed more relevance between the results and workers approved of convalescence in predicting the risk group when applied to actual heath examination data from the approved workers. The power of description of the new method for determining the risk of CVD incidence, 83.3%, is higher than that of KOSHA GUIDE H-1-2013, 25%. Conclusion: Results of this study imply that more approved workers had been from unmanaged normal groups than managed risk groups, raising the importance of CVD management. Application: The new prediction model considering working time and shift work developed in this study is expected to be a fundamental data for risk analysis and management of CVD in the workplace.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a method for measuring breast size from three-dimensional (3D) body scan image data. Background: Previous bra studies established reference points by directly contacting the subject's naked skin to determine the boundary of the breast. But some subjects were uncomfortable with these types of measurements. This study examined noncontact methods of extracting breast reference points from 3D body scan data that were collected while subjects were wearing standardized soft bras. Method: 3D body scan data of 32 Korean women were analyzed. The subjects were selected from the Size Korea 2010 study. The breast landmarks were identified by graphic analyses of slicing contour lines on 3D body scan data. Results: Three methods determining bra cup size were compared. The M1 and M2 methods determined cup size by calculating the difference between bust girth and under-bust girth. The M3 method determined bra cup size by measuring breast arc length. Conclusion: The researchers proposed an anthropometric bra cup sizing system with the breast arc length (M3 method). It was measured from the geometrically defined landmarks on the 3D body scan slicing contour lines. The new bra cup size was highly correlated with breast depth. Application: The noncontact measuring method used in this study can be applied to the ergonomic studies measuring sensitive body parts.