Car seat comfort assessment based on objective and subjective measurements in elderly population

Abstract

n important role in ensuring a comfortable driving experience is represented by a properly designed car seat, especially for elderly drivers. A seat prototype with easily interchangeable pads of cushion and backrest (e.g. thickness, lift at 40%) was realized to meet elderly needs. In this study both a subjective assessment, by means of selected surveys and checklists as well as an objective evaluation, throughout a pressure distribution evaluation, of an existing car seat and the new developed one, in three different pads configurations, has been performed. Thirteen healthy elderly subjects aged between 65 and 83 y.o. have been included in the study. Results showed that the new developed seat ensured a minor discomfort, both perceived (i.e. measured throughout the checklists) and objective (i.e. measured throughout pressure distribution measures) one, with respect to the pre-existing seat, for all the tested subjects. One of the tested configuration seemed to perform better in terms of perceived comfort while showing a uniform pressure distribution.