Selected Car Seat Studies Dealing with Static Pressure Distribution 2004-01-0377

The automotive seating industry has established static pressure distribution criteria against which to evaluate seats. The technologies used for this purpose have, in most instances, been obtained and integrated without extensive consideration of the procedural aspects associated with the specific application. This makes it difficult to reduce the established criteria into seat design recommendations. This may, in part, explain the difficulty researchers are having demonstrating the link between static pressure distribution and subjective perceptions of comfort (i.e. establishing validity). This study, based on six separate investigations, provides specific recommendations concerning [1] system set-up, [2] subject selection, and [3] protocol execution (e.g. in-lab vs. in-vehicle).