There has been a rapid growth in the vehicle industry market, companies are expected to provide comfortable and safer products, improving with every new model. Hence, the interest on developing Digital Human Modelling (DHM) tools that are focused on their needs. The aim of this project is to suggest a standard seating posture that could be used with ergonomic software like IMMA, to address the research an initial literature study was performed to understand existing methods used in the industry and previous posture studies. In order to visualize the extent of the topic, it was required to acquire information from the vehicle industries and make an investigation on preferred postures by real drivers. Comparisons are made between the different categories of observed vehicles, and literature found for ideal postures. The results were also used to implement suggestions for the ergonomic IMMA software development / Virtual Driver Research

A field study was performed using 51 participants that were randomly selected from several Brazos Valley, Texas businesses to participate in an 8-hour assessment of office seating habits that influence seating design and testing. A control group was established as those with BMI’s < 35 and an obese group was established as those with BMI’s >35. Data was collected through written survey and through data logging of seat and back contact pressure (average and peak), surface area, center of gravity and duration of contact by recording 8 metrics, once per second using the X-sensor pressure mapping device and software. Additionally, 50 days of caster roll distance was recorded for the participants using a caster mounted digital encoder. It was determined that at alpha = 0.05, using the Student’s T-test, a significant difference did exist between the groups in mean seat time per shift (p<.001) back contacts per shift (p<.002), seat contacts per shift (p<.01) and caster distance rolled per shift (p<.001). During a subsequent lab study, data were collected during 3 cycles of ingress, egress on the armrest use, along with anthropometry and critical chair testing parameters. Center of Gravity was measured from a fixed backrest (front to rear) for 16 participants. 4 male and 4 female obese with BMI greater than 35 and 4 male and 4 female with BMI less than 30 were compared. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a significant difference existed between anthropometric factors for normal and obese participants that would affect how a chair should be loaded during testing. The null hypothesis that normal means and obese means for each measure were equal was rejected by using independent samples T-test at alpha = 0.05 with p<.001 significance reported for all measures. These data suggest a need for a fresh look at several parameters used in the normal test standards as well as a need for a tougher test method for seating designed for the obese worker.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 36-37).

This dissertation examines the organization of audiences in spectacular venues (theatres, amphitheatres, stadia, and odea) throughout the Graeco-Roman world. The arrangements in Rome are discussed but the main focus is the organization of spectators in Italian and provincial venues, revealed through inscriptions found on the seats themselves indicating for which individual or group the seat or area was reserved. Included with this dissertation is a catalogue of seating inscriptions from venues throughout the empire, the first to be compiled. This study compares provincial communities within the same region, across regions, and also with Rome. Topics discussed include to what extent legislation passed in Rome influenced seating outside of the city, the contrast between the display in the theatre of the egalitarian ideology of classical Athens and the display of the hierarchically-based Roman ideology, the different uses of venues as they are revealed by seating inscriptions, and the relationship of spectacular venues to the power of the Roman emperor and the ways in which this power was negotiated in the East. Spectacular venues, in which members of the local population as well as visitors were present, were ideal locations for the display of the local social hierarchy. This display was one that was, at least in the western regions of the empire, influenced to a certain degree by legislation passed in Rome but it was also influenced by the desires of the local elite throughout the empire who were responsible for the grant of reserved seats. The organization of spectacular audiences thus not only reflected the disparate social and civic structures of individual communities, but also projected an idealized vision created by those in charge of seating arrangements. Local inhabitants could, through their attendance at spectacles, determine their place within the ideal community on display. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Children with cerebral palsy and powerful whole body extensor spasms find sitting in a rigid seat uncomfortable and sometimes painful due to the large forces they apply to their constraints. They are usually unable to speak and communication is difficult. The spasms affect every aspect of their lives. This thesis describes the genesis of a new functional dynamic seat for children with severe whole body extensor spasms, and the novel method used to design it. This novel seat technology is known as ‘Whole Body Dynamic Seating’. The thesis describes the clinical need this seat addresses, and the design and technology context in which this research takes place. The user evaluation, observation, measurement, analysis and reasoning that led to a successful seat design are described in detail. Children with cerebral palsy sometimes have whole body spasms that mean they cannot be seated in conventional static seating that positions a child in a fixed posture. For this research the children were classified as functioning at Chailey Sitting Ability Level 1 and Gross Motor Functional Classification System Level V. Such children spend much of their time being held by a person, or lying on a mat, bed or pad. This results in difficulty with social engagement and physical functioning, particularly in school. This research created a seat that such children could sit in, providing a comfortable and functional seat for use in a home or school classroom environment. This seat was designed with the direct and essential involvement of disabled children, their parents, therapists, teachers and carers. The work is part of a larger programme of research into seating and support technology that will enhance a child’s ability to gain functional movement and communication skills that can be employed to enable the child’s free self expression and social participation. The research investigated means of supporting children with whole body extensor spasms through a progressive iterative method utilizing direct user evaluation of a series of prototypes incrementing in complexity and fidelity towards a fully functional physical seat. An iterative method was used to design, build and evaluate three dynamic seats. This method incorporated two new approaches to prototyping developed for the research programme in response to difficulties encountered in designing dynamic systems for children with highly complex neuromotor disability. Soft and Semi-soft prototyping and evaluation methods provided essential feedback on dynamic seating concepts that guided proposed solutions, without requiring costly and time-consuming manufacture. Video was used to create a record of the children’s movements and responses for subsequent analysis. Instrumentation was built into the seats to enable direct objective measurement of the reaction forces and seat movement caused by extensor spasms. This thesis presents several unique features created through this research programme: 1. Independent and virtually hinged anatomical dynamic thigh supports; 2. Independent anatomical dynamic foot supports; 3. A virtually hinged dynamic back support; 4. An anatomical dynamic head support concept. The final Whole Body Dynamic Seat was child-centred in its functionality and aesthetic design, and was favourably commented upon by parents, children and school staff. Use of the new dynamic seating by three children (including one from a previous work programme) showed that children with severe whole body extensor spasms can be seated comfortably. The children also demonstrated gains in physical and social function as a result of using the dynamic seats. The two fully independent dynamic seats made advances in comfort over static seating for children with whole body extensor spasms. One of the children especially liked the seat and resisted being put back into his usual seating. An adult with severe cerebral palsy and extensor spasms evaluated a dynamic foot support concept and reported very significant reductions in spasticity and pain, and gains in physical function. The Whole Body Dynamic Seats showed gains in postural symmetry and in hand and head function over the usual static seats when used by the children with spasms. These gains were reported by staff during long term evaluations and measured specifically during the final evaluation. Two children learned to control the movement of seats in which they were sat, and were able to control their posture and use that control to carry out functions such as switch pressing. Such learning through the use of dynamic seating by children with severe dystonic cerebral palsy and whole body extensor spasms has not previously been documented. The seats did not just affect the children - school staff were affected too. School staff working around the children in the dynamic seats were observed to be more inclusive towards the children, and to expect more interaction from them. The ability of the children to move altered staff expectations of their ability to participate and communicate. This new seating has improved the quality of life of the children that use it. Future implementation of this technology in commercially produced seating offers the possibility of similar gains to many more severely disabled children who are currently less comfortable and less functional than they need to be.

No description available.

Patients with severe back deformities can greatly benefit from customized medical seating. Customized medical seating is made by taking measurements of each individual patient and making the seat as per these measurements. The current measuring systems employed by the industry are limited to use in clinics which are generally located only in major population centres. Patients living in remote areas are severely affected by this as the clinics could be far away and inaccessible for these patients. To provide service of customized medical seating requires a new measurement system which is portable so that the system could be transported to the patients in remote areas. The requirements for a new measurement system are analysed to suite the needs of Equipment Technology Services of the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland. Design for a new measurement system was conceptualised by reviewing systems and technologies in various scientific disciplines. Design for a new system was finalised by optimizing each individual component. The final approach was validated by measuring difficult models and repeating the process to check for process variances. This system has now been adopted for clinical evaluation by ETS Suggestions have been made for further improvements in this new measurement approach.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1981. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-53).

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio State University, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 210-216). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries