Seat-Human Interaction and Perception: A Multi-factorial-Problem

This study investigates the tactile perceived seat-human interaction of four types of BMW 5-series seats with the same foam properties and contours but different seat cover and seat suspension properties; 38 healthy subjects participated in an experiment rating and ranking the tactile perceived properties of the seats while blindfolded. A discomfort test, a seat characterizing rating on a scale of word pairs, and the overall experience of the seats were examined in four different sitting positions. The results of the experiment were related with the outcome of an objective measurement method: a pressure measurement mat and the measurement tool of Wegner et al. [19]. The study showed that the perception of the surface while interacting with the seat is independent from the sitting position. In contrast, the perception of the hardness and the elasticity of the seat is position-dependent. The results of the seat characterization are in line with the results of the measurement tool of Wegner et al. [19]. Further research is needed to investigate the mutual interdependence of the various measurement points of the measurement tool and to improve the prediction accuracy of the seat characteristics.