Objective: The purpose of this study is to find the level of physical relaxation of individual subject by monitoring psychophysiological biofeedback to different types of mattresses. And, the study also aims to find a protocol to make a selection of the best mattress based on the measured information. Background: In Korea, there are an increasing number of people using western style bed. However, they are often fastidious in choosing the right mattress for them. In fact, people use their past experience with their old mattress as well as the spontaneous experience they encounter in a show room to finally decide to buy a bed. Method: Total five mattresses were tested in this study. After measuring the elasticity of the mattresses, they were sorted into five different classes. Physiological and psychological variables including Electromyography (EMG), heart rates (HR), oxygen saturations (SaO2) were used. In addition, the peak body pressure concentration rate was used to find uncomfortably pressured body part. Finally, the personal factors and subjective satisfaction were also examined. A protocol was made to select the best mattress for individual subject. The selection rule for the protocol considered all the variables tested in this study. Results: The result revealing psychological comfort range of 0.68 to 0.95, dermal comfort range of 3.15 to 6.07, back muscle relaxation range of 0.25 to 1.64 and personal habit range of 2.0 to 3.4 was drawn in this study. Also a regression model was developed to predict biofeedback with the minimal use of biofeedback devices. Moreover results from the proposed protocol with the regression equation and subjective satisfaction were compared with each other for validation. Ten out of twenty subjects recorded the same level of relaxation, and eight subjects showed one-level difference while two subjects showed two-levels difference. Conclusion: The psychophysiological variables and suitability selection process used in this study seem to be used for selecting and assessing ergonomic products mechanically or emotionally. Application: This regression model can be applied to the mattress industry to estimate back muscle relaxation using dermal, psychophysiology and personal habit values.

Objective:The objective of this study is to review the exposure limits in the legislation, guidelines, and standards for human vibration in Korea. Background: There have been relatively less interests in vibration than other risk factors in Korea. However, the importance of vibration is increasing as industry and everyday life are more mechanized. Method: Various enforcements were examined including legislation, guidelines, and standards for whole-body vibration and localized vibration. Results: No exposure limits were found in legislation, guidelines, and standards for the human vibration in Korea. Conclusion: It is important to introduce new duties regarding vibration risks to the general duties. Further studies are expected on the vibration exposure limits appropriate for Korean people and job conditions. Application: The results from this study would be of help to induce more interests in human vibration to the occupational health and safety professionals of Korea.

Objective:This study aims to investigate the correlation between office environment satisfaction levels and workers' subjective symptoms by conducting surveys asking office workers to state their subjective symptoms and office satisfaction levels. Background: The increased number of office workers and their work hours have led to new understandings of the importance of office environments including its temperature, humidity, noise levels, lighting, space arrangements, and quality of air. Method: Specific details on office work, office environment, office space satisfaction levels, workplace related symptoms, absence from work, due to workplace-related symptoms, were analyzed based on the survey answers given by 451 office workers who were the subjects of this research. Results: Office workers showed different characteristics of subjective symptoms depending on their gender, age, work experience, and time spent resting and on computers. Also, differences in symptoms were found for workers with different satisfaction levels for office environment (temperature, humidity, noise levels, quality of air, lighting) and office space arrangements (location of monitors, area and display of office space, chairs and desks). Conclusion and Application: Relationship between workers' satisfaction levels with the office environment and their subjective symptoms is expected to be serve as essential data for systematic management of the workplace.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to develop visual complexity metrics based on theoretical bases. Background: With the development of IT technologies, drivers process a large amount of information caused by automotive human-machine interface (HMI), such as a cluster, a head-up display, and a center-fascia. In other words, these systems are becoming more complex and dynamic than traditional driving systems. Especially, these changes can lead to the increase of visual demands. Thus, a concept and tool is required to evaluate the complicated systems. Method: We reviewed prior studies in order to analyze the visual complexity. Based on complexity studies and human perceptual characteristics, the dimensions characterizing the visual complexity were determined and defined. Results: Based on a framework and complexity dimensions, a set of metrics for quantifying the visual complexity was developed. Conclusion: We suggest metrics in terms of perceived visual complexity that can evaluate the in-vehicle displays. Application: This study can provide the theoretical bases in order to evaluate complicated systems. In addition, it can quantitatively measure the visual complexity of In-vehicle information system and be helpful to design in terms of preventing risks, such as human error and distraction.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the priority of information presentation and the effective menu type to be placed in the center of a gauge cluster display for commercial trucks and to present a set of ergonomic designs for the gauge cluster display. Background: An effective ergonomic design is specifically needed for the development of the gauge cluster display for the commercial trucks, because more diverse and heavier information is delivered to truck drivers, compared to the information to passenger car drivers. Method: First, all the information that must be shown on the commercial truck display was collected. Then, the severity, frequency of use, and display design parameters were evaluated for those information by commercial truck drivers. Next, an analysis on the information attributes and the heuristic evaluation utilizing the display design principles were carried out. According to the results, a design alternative of the main screen to be displayed was constructed by priority. A comparative analysis between the alternative and existing main screens was also conducted to see the efficacy of the designs. Lastly, we conducted an experiment for the selection of menu type. The experiment was conducted using the driving simulator with an eye-tracking device. The independent variables were four types of the menu reflecting the commercial truck characteristics such as grid type, icon type, list type, and flow type. We measured preference, total execution time, the total duration of fixation on the gauge cluster area, and the total number of fixation on the gauge cluster area as dependent variables. Results: Four types of driver convenience information and six types of driver assistance information were selected as the information to be placed primarily on the main screen of the gauge cluster. The Grid type was the most effective among the menu types. Conclusion: In this study, the information that appears on the main screen of the display, the division of the display and the design of the menu type for commercial truck drivers were suggested. Application: This study is expected to be utilized as guidelines on the ergonomic design of a gauge cluster display for commercial trucks.

Objective:To study the sources of indoor noise, its effects on human health, noise assessment and regulation through the use of standards, and techniques used to reduce noise. Background: Noise significantly affects the living environment, and there are an increasing number of reports of its impacts on human health. Method: We reviewed domestic and foreign data regarding environmental noise, and examined its effects and the standards used to regulate noise levels. Results: We describe the major sources of indoor noise and suggest possible legal standards, as well as recommended criteria for the control of noise. Conclusion: South Korea has higher legal standards of environmental noise than international standards in terms of threshold values. People in Korea are exposed to various sources of noise, and therefore the reduction of noise is urgently required. Application: Depending on the features of indoor spaces, an appropriate degree of indoor noise can be determined and techniques to reduce excess noise are required.

Objective: The purpose of the study is to evaluate appropriate weight for aged farmers in manually handling livestock feed in bags using ergonomic methods. Background: In the livestock industry in South Korea, despite the trend of aging of labor manpower, heavy items are still manually handled in many farms. In particular, among stockbreeding works, the handling of feed in bags weighing 25~30kg is reported as a cause of frequent injuries and musculoskeletal system diseases. However, studies on the standard for recommended weight allowed considering the physical characteristics of aged farmers older than 60 years with greatly decreased physical strength and muscle strength are insufficient. Method: To evaluate appropriate weight for handling of heavy livestock feed in bags, physical techniques for measuring recognized levels of physical work loads, the NLE (NIOSH lifting equation) a method that is an observation type technique, and an ergonomic modeling technique to predict compressive force imposed on L5/S1 were used. Subjects who participated in the experiment were organized into two groups of males/females with mean age exceeding 60 years, and lifting tasks were evaluated for nine weight levels. Results: Based on the results of psychophysical measurement, females showed a tendency of more drastic increases compared to males when weight was over 19kg. The results of estimation of regression models for the weight, 18.0 kg ($r^2=0.97$) and 15.3kg ($r^2=0.97$) were evaluated as stable load for males and females, respectively. In addition, both the observation type evaluation and ergonomic model evaluation showed stable loads in a range of 15~18kg. Conclusion: Given the results of the study, the weight of the feed in bags currently distributed to farms can become a cause of not only overexertion but also farm work related disasters such as musculoskeletal disorders and safety accidents. Providing livestock feed in bags weighing not more than 19kg for aged farmers is judged desirable, and managerial improvement for this matter is considered necessary. Application: The results of the present study can be utilized as useful data for institutional improvement of the weight of livestock feed in bags.