BEYOND PERCENTILES: AN EXAMINATION OF OCCUPANT ANTHROPOMETRY AND SEAT DESIGN. IN: HUMAN FACTORS IN DRIVING AND TELEMATICS, AND SEATING COMFORT

Abstract

The fact that people come in different sizes and shapes is an important consideration when designing a product. Anthropometry, the science that relates to the measurement and application of human body size, proportion, and capability, can and should be used as limiting factors or guidelines in design. This paper examines occupant anthropometry applied to car seat design with the understanding of the samples size relative to the desired population, and assuming that the traditional percentiles that ensure 90% accommodation disregard other factors that and will influence occupant comfort and accommodation.