Human Factors Engineering Inspired Chair Design

大多数北美人从事的职业要求他们长时间保持坐姿。由于不活动而长时间坐着会导致高死亡率，腰痛，体重增加和其他各种生理和身体问题。坐姿不舒服会导致注意力集中和工作效率降低。Lifeform Funriture Manufacturing Inc是一家备受尊敬的加拿大座椅制造公司，该公司获得了一项新的创新技术。这种新的“Core-Flex”技术可以帮助解决与长时间坐着相关的问题。Core-flex技术允许坐着的工人通过腿部和腹部的运动，同时提高工作场所的生产力。Core-Flex技术包括一个分离式座椅板，通过交替主动踝关节和髋关节运动（类似于步行动作）来促进背部、骨盆和髋关节运动。到目前为止，这种“主动坐”的方法还没有经验证据支持它在办公室座椅设计中的增加。该项目的目标是评估和帮助更好地理解使用活动办公椅的人为因素结果。该项目将确定Core-Flex技术是否：1促进坐骨结节的坐姿压力; 2在长时间坐姿期间增加腿部血流量; 3促进中性姿势并减少坐姿不适。这项研究的结果将告知Core-Flex的开发原型，然后才能推向市场。与久坐行为相关的问题，例如坐着工作，需要一个实用的解决方案，这可以通过主动座椅技术来提供。这将转化为减少坐着的不适，增加在长时间坐着时的注意力，并提高生产力。

The majority of North Americans work in occupations that require them to remain in a seated static position forprolonged periods of time. Prolonged sitting due to inactivity leads to high mortality rates, low back painproblems, weight gain and various other physiological and physical problems. Sitting discomfort can lead to areduction in concentration and work productivity. Lifeform Funriture Manufacturing Inc, a well-respectedCanadian seat manufacturing company that has acquired a new innovative piece of technology. This new'Core-Flex' technology could help address concerns associated with prolonged sitting. The Core-flextechnology allows for movement for the seated worker by engaging the legs and abdominals while remainingproductive at the workplace. The Core-Flex technology consists of a split seat pan that promotes back, pelvicand hip motion by alternating active ankle and hip motion similar to a walking action. To date, this "activesitting" approach has not has no empirical evidence to support its incussion in office seat design. The goal ofthis project is to assess and help better understand the human-factor outcomes of using an active office chair.The project will determine whether the Core-Flex technology: 1 promotes sitting pressure on the ischialtuberosities; 2 demonstrates an increased blood flow in the legs during prolonged sitting; and 3 promotesneutral postures and reduce sitting discomfort. Findings from this research will inform Core-Flex's developingprototype before it becomes available to market. The concerns related to sedentary behaviour, such as sitting atwork, requires a practical solution, which may be provided by active seat technology. This would translate intoreduced sitting discomfort, increased concentration during prolonged sitting and increased productivity.