• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.860-864
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• 2008

In modern society, people tend to spend their time on various types of chairs. However, it is not easy for a designer to design a comfortable chair, because satisfaction with the chair depends not only on the quantitative elements such as size, but also on the qualitative element such as the user's feeling. To deal with these problems, there have been many studies on designing an ergonomics chair. In this paper, the hapticaided design (HAD) system was adopted to design the ergonomics chair. Based on the HAD system, the designer can experience whether the chair is comfortable or not through the haptic device, and also can modify the design parameters instantaneously. The haptic chair capable of controlling the design parameters in real time was proposed as a haptic simulator. The controllable parameters such as the seat height, reclining angle, stiffness of the backrest, and so on were selected based on the previous researches related to ergonomics chairs. It will reduce the development cost and time by replacing the process of making the real mock-up and prototype with the haptic chair.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 2010

In this study, user survey and some experiments were carried out to identify older adults' characteristics and needs for shower chair design. Firstly, the category and design components of shower chair were analyzed through product analysis. Secondly, older adults' needs for shower chair were identified through user interview and observation. Thirdly, experiment to measure older adults' motion, EMG, and body pressure while using shower chair was carried out and then older adults' characteristics for the use of shower chair were identified. Finally, the direction of design for shower chair was proposed to improve older adults' satisfaction.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2014

Objective: This research focuses on the working environment of office workers and aims to propose an ideal seating posture and chair design. Background: Generally, office workers having to seat in a fixed posture for long periods of time tend to suffer from an increased rate of musculoskeletal disorders. Method: The measurement and survey of 123 office workers on their working conditions and literature survey will lead to a suggestion of an ideal seating posture and workstation design theory. Results: Work environment satisfaction appeared low for chair and desks. Work-related pain over the last year was experienced among 47.2% of the respondents in shoulder (34.2%), neck (30.9%). Observation of working posture revealed that only 27.6% of workers utilize backrest during work. Conclusion: Office work embodies many situations where risks of musculoskeletal disorders may be high. Thus, the seated workplace must be set up to allow proper seating posture for workers. Application: The results of this study can be applied as baseline data for preventing musculoskeletal disorders of office workers.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.161-166
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• 2009

Although the entrance of house has been identified as a hotspot for older adults' fall accidents, there was not any lift chair to prevent older adults' accidents. In this study, a lift chair was developed to reduce fall accidents that can occur when older adults put on or take off their shoes in the entrance. In order to develop the product, we considered two aspects. Firstly, we considered older adults' anthropometric data to determine the design specification of the product. Also we considered the environmental characteristics of space using the product. In order to overcome the limited spatial freedom and use the entrance space effectively, we took a simplified and folding type for the product.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.23-36
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• 2000

In conventional ergonomics, consumer product can be made based on anthropometric data and specific design guideline. However, the product may not satisfy consumers because their emotional preference have not been properly considered in design phase. Therefore, in this study a new chair design process was introduced by which both consumer's emotional need and traditional ergonomic requirement can be satisfied. As a part of the process, the traditional Kansei engineering technique was modified to collect quantitative information of consumer's visual appreciation and physical feedback of various types of chairs. Furthermore, we developed an interface, so called, KADAS(Kamsung Analysis and Design Assistance System), for designers to use the technique in chair design. This software can help designers to understand what should be the most suitable shape in designing items such as seat, back and arm rest, etc. to meet the emotional need of consumers. This software displays the result of modified quantification theory I, and explains how to use the statistics. This study suggested a new approach for ergonomic design incorporated with Kansei Engineering technique. This technique can be also applied to other products by extending the database of KADAS.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 1999

All chairs are uncomfortable in the long run and some chairs become uncomfortable more rapidly than others. In a particular chair, some people feel more uncomfortable than others. Comfort will depend upon the interaction of chair, user, and task characteristics. In this study, we intended to design a comfortable office chair by investigating anthropometric and biomechanical aspects for Koreans. We determine the design dimensions by analysis the anthropometric data. With these body parameters, we determined the design dimensions such as seat height, seat depth, seat width, seat backrest width, etc. This research, hopefully contributes to the development of ergonomic chair and improvement of the chair design technologies.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.97-108
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• 2014

Objective:The present study is intended to evaluate the usability of a console chair for a weapon locating radar by comparing with different kinds of chair design. Background: Console chairs need to be ergonomically designed to reduce physical workload of operators and improve mission capability; few studies have been reported which systematically evaluate usability of military console chairs. Method: Ergonomic design of a console chair, a bus seat, and an office chair was evaluated in terms of headrest, seatback, seatpan, armrest, and controller on a 7-point scale. Ten males in their 20s and 30s were recruited considering the demographic characteristics of console operators. Results: The satisfaction scores of the console chair for headrest, seatback, and seatpan were significantly higher than those of the bus seat (mean difference [MD] = 0.9) and office chair (MD = 1.3). Meanwhile, the satisfaction scores of the console chair for armrest and controller were significantly lower than those of the office chair (MD = -1.4) and bus seat (MD = -2.2). Conclusion: The armrest and controller of the console chair needs ergonomic improvements for better comfort. Application: The evaluation results of the console chair would be of use for ergonomic console chair design.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 2001

This study was conducted to develop a prototype of adjustable desk and chair for students from elementary to high school. The development process started with identifying the problems of existing adjustable desks and chairs that are currently available in the market. The following fundamental design criteria were established and then applied to develop the prototype. The criterion of minimization of production cost yielding lower the market selling price was the most critically considered in view of the school furniture buyers' price-consciousness. Other design criteria used in this development were designing for stable and solid structure, requiring few motions and no tools to adjust, requiring the use of only one hand to adjust, unrestricting the adjustable interval, providing extra space for foot and knee area, reducing weight to move easily, and requiring not to move around for cleaning up floor. To evaluate the performance of the prototype, the adjustability of prototype was specifically compared with both dimensions suggested by KS G 2010(Korean Standards for desks and chairs for students) and current anthropometric dimension in terms of the flexible range of accommodation. Results of this study illustrate that the prototype developed in this study could be accommodated for the both dimensions. As a concluding mark, appropriate adjustable range for various grades and age groups were presented.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.13-24
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• 1994

The objectives of this study are twofold : (1) to investigate musculoskeletal discomfort for sedentary workers in offices ane (2) to revise the Korean Standard for the design of office chairs in order to reduce or eliminate the physical discomfort or the office workers. Two hundred seventy-one office workers from nineteen different companies companies were selected to evaluate the musculoskeletal discomfort and indibidual features of chair design. A statistical analysis of the survey rebealed that the office currently being used had two major deficiencies such as insufficient adjustability and inappropriate design specifications in ergonomic sense. A stepwise regression analysis showed that the deficiencies on the musculoskeletal discomfort of the workers. Based on the ergonomic design pronciples, was debeloped to revise the Korean Standard for the design specifications of office chairs. An application of the methodology was made amend the design specifications of the four factors such as seat pan height, seat pan width, and seat pan inclunation. Their effects were evident in the musculoskeletal discomfort of the workers.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.267-279
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• 2014

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.