title: Improving car passengers' comfort and experience by supporting the use of handheld devices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a demand for interiors to support other activities in a car than controlling the vehicle. Currently, this is the case for the car passengers and--in the future--autonomous driving cars will also facilitate drivers to perform other activities. One of these activities is working with handheld devices.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Previous research shows that people experience problems when using handheld devices in a moving vehicle and the use of handheld devices generally causes unwanted neck flexion [Young et al. 2012; Sin and Zu 2011; Gold et al.2011]. In this study, armrests are designed to support the arms when using handheld devices in a driving car in order to decrease neck flexion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neck flexion was measured by attaching markers on the C7 and tragus. Discomfort was indicated on a body map on a scale 1-10. User experience was evaluated in a semi-structured interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neck flexion is significantly decreased by the support of the armrests and approaches a neutral position. Furthermore, overall comfort and comfort in the neck region specifically are significantly increased. Subjects appreciate the body posture facilitated by the armrests and 9 out of 10 prefer using handheld devices with the armrests compared to using handheld devices without the armrests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More efforts are needed to develop the mock-up into an established product, but the angles and dimensions presented in this study could serve as guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S A T
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: van Veen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands TNO, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hiemstra-van Mastrigt
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands BMW AG, München, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kamp
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands TNO, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vink
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000592:standards*; D016287:Computer Peripherals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture
keywords: Discomfort; armrests; car seat; neck flexion; user experience