title: The influence of active seating on car passengers' perceived comfort and activity levels.
abstract: New technologies have led to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Sedentary behaviour is characterised by physical inactivity and is associated with several health risks. This excessive sitting does not only take place in the office or at home, but also during daily commute. Therefore, BMW AG developed an active seating system for the back seat of a car, consisting of sensors in the back rest that register upper body movements of the passenger, with which the passenger controls a game. This study evaluated three different aspects of active seating compared to other tasks (reading, working on laptop, and gaming on tablet). First, discomfort and comfort perception were measured in a 30-minute driving test. Discomfort was very low for all activities and participants felt significantly more challenged, more fit and more refreshed during active seating. Second, heart rate was measured, indicating a light intensity, but nevertheless non-sedentary, activity. Third, average and variability in activity of six postural muscles was measured by electromyography (EMG), showing a higher muscle activity and higher muscle variability for active seating compared to other activities. Active seating might stimulate movements, thereby increasing comfort and well-being.
authors.affiliation: TNO, Schipholweg 77-89, 2316 ZL Leiden, The Netherlands; Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Landbergstraat 15, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: suzanne.hiemstra@tno.nl.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hiemstra-van Mastrigt
authors.affiliation: Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Landbergstraat 15, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands; BMW AG, Knorrstrasse 147, 80788 München, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kamp
authors.affiliation: Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Landbergstraat 15, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S A T
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: van Veen
authors.affiliation: TNO, Schipholweg 77-89, 2316 ZL Leiden, The Netherlands; Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Landbergstraat 15, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vink
authors.affiliation: TNO, Schipholweg 77-89, 2316 ZL Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bosch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001336:Automobiles; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010465:Perception; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D018910:Video Games; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Passenger comfort; Seating; Vehicle interior