Applied ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-08-07DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104616
Wei Zhang, Oliver Carsten, Courtney M Goodridge, Wei Zhang
{"title":"Effects of adopting voice assistants countermeasures on alerting drowsy drivers across age.","authors":"Wei Zhang, Oliver Carsten, Courtney M Goodridge, Wei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104616","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104616","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Drowsy driving is one of the leading contributing factors to traffic accidents. As drivers continue driving despite being aware of their drowsy states, it is necessary to adopt active countermeasures to avoid them falling asleep behind the wheel. Based on the multiple resources model, this study proposed five countermeasure types using voice assistants (no-countermeasure vs. meaninglessly listening vs. meaningfully listening vs. repeating vs. answering) and investigated their effects on countering drowsiness for young and middle-aged drivers. A five-week simulated manual driving experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of countermeasures based on driver performance, physiological indicators, eye movement indicators, and subjective ratings. Results indicated that repeating and answering were the two most effective countermeasures. The self-reported sleepiness of these two countermeasures (6.328 and 5.276 for repeating and answering, respectively) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of the no-countermeasure (7.983). The physiological arousal state in term of skin conductance level for the two (1.798 and 1.990 for repeating and answering, respectively) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of the no-countermeasure (1.022). Consistent patterns were also found in driving performance, eye movement indicators, psychomotor vigilance task accuracy, and subjective acceptance ratings. These findings suggested that countermeasures involving more resource stages can enhance drivers' alertness. The trend of higher alertness in the answering condition compared to the repeating condition highlighted the advantage of increasing cognitive load in countering drowsiness. Although young and middle-aged drowsy drivers did not differ on their average responses to different countermeasures, they showed differences in their physiological activation in reacting to the countermeasures. Drowsiness countermeasures should be tailored to fulfill individual needs, particularly for middle-aged drivers. This study not only clarifies how drowsiness countermeasures work but also offers practical guidance for vehicle designers on using in-vehicle voice assistants effectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"129 ","pages":"104616"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144805286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Applied ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-08-06DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104614
Jangwoon Park, Hongwei Hsiao, Baekhee Lee, Kang Yen Lee, Joo Hwan Son
{"title":"Optimizing heated driver seat design: Thermal comfort in cold weather.","authors":"Jangwoon Park, Hongwei Hsiao, Baekhee Lee, Kang Yen Lee, Joo Hwan Son","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104614","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104614","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heated seats are increasingly used in vehicles to improve thermal comfort, yet preferred temperatures across different seat zones remain underexplored. This study examined seat surface temperature preferences across six seatback and cushion zones, considering the effects of weather conditions and user demographics. A total of 102 participants-diverse in sex, age, body size, and ethnicity-participated in a controlled experiment simulating -8 °C to 12 °C and 35 %-75 % humidity. Results indicated that colder conditions led to higher preferred temperatures at four seat zones, with female participants generally favoring warmer settings than males. The findings support the need for seat heating systems with individual controls for multiple zones. Twelve predictive models-six each for basic and advanced seat designs-were developed to estimate optimal seat temperatures. These models can help automotive manufacturers improve seat heating systems by integrating them into AI-assisted technologies for adaptive thermal regulation, ultimately enhancing occupant comfort and satisfaction.</p>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"129 ","pages":"104614"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144796183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Applied ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-08-08DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104597
Gina N Schnücker, Johannes Salge, Linda Onnasch
{"title":"Exploring the influence of job characteristics on the adoption of driver advisory systems for energy-efficient driving: Insights from a longitudinal field study in rail operations.","authors":"Gina N Schnücker, Johannes Salge, Linda Onnasch","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104597","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104597","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates the impact of Driver Advisory Systems (DAS) for eco-efficient driving on train drivers' job characteristics and job satisfaction, and their effects on acceptance and compliance with the system. Driving and questionnaire data from 16 drivers equipped with DAS were collected over a five-month period. Questionnaire data were compared to questionnaire data of a control group (n = 18). Contrary to expectations, DAS did not significantly alter job characteristics or occupational satisfaction. However, drivers with higher task identity and occupational satisfaction demonstrated greater acceptance of and compliance with DAS, highlighting the interplay between work design and technology adoption. Regression analyses indicated that perceived usefulness, task identity, and skill variety were key predictors of compliance. Despite our small sample size, our study provides first indications about the value of considering aspects of work design to understand drivers' willingness to drive more energy-efficiently with the support of DAS.</p>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"129 ","pages":"104597"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144812704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Applied ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-08-08DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104618
Flavia Marrone, Nicole Sanna, Elena Falchi, Angelo Tirabasso, Massimo Bovenzi, Marco Tarabini
{"title":"Impact of foot-transmitted vibration on gait metrics, kinematics, and dynamic stability.","authors":"Flavia Marrone, Nicole Sanna, Elena Falchi, Angelo Tirabasso, Massimo Bovenzi, Marco Tarabini","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104618","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104618","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Transport operators face increased risks of injuries and falls while walking on a vibrating floor. No standards exist for human exposure to foot-transmitted vibration (FTV). In this study, twenty-one subjects walked on a treadmill constrained on a moving platform used to apply harmonic vibrations in four directions (mediolateral, anteroposterior, roll, and pitch) at four frequencies (0.5, 0.75, 1, and 1.5 Hz) with constant displacement (2 cm or 1°). The gait metrics, kinematic, and stability data were extracted in correspondence with the onset/offset of platform movement and when the steady-state of FTV was reached. Mediolateral vibration at the highest frequency was the most impactful condition, leading to the adoption of compensatory strategies to stabilize the center of mass closer to the floor and enlarge the base of support. These findings suggest that, from a normative perspective, a specific weighting curve is needed to assess human response to FTV while walking, since it varies as a function of vibration frequency and direction.</p>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"129 ","pages":"104618"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144805287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Applied ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-10-14DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104648
Shiwen Zhou, Wen Duan, Xiaoyun Yin, Matthew Scalia, Ray Hao, Nan Weng, Gregory Funke, Michael Tolston, Guo Freeman, Beau Schelble, Jamie Gorman, Nathan McNeese
{"title":"The spread of trust and distrust in human-AI teams.","authors":"Shiwen Zhou, Wen Duan, Xiaoyun Yin, Matthew Scalia, Ray Hao, Nan Weng, Gregory Funke, Michael Tolston, Guo Freeman, Beau Schelble, Jamie Gorman, Nathan McNeese","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104648","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104648","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"104648"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145304650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Anisotropy in motion sickness susceptibility during longitudinal and lateral motion while seated on a car seat.","authors":"Eito Sato, Kazuki Kajita, Kensuke Ito, Takahiro Wada","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104664","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104664","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Motion sickness is critical in automated vehicle design, particularly as horizontal accelerations become more variable and pronounced. However, even within horizontal translation, whether sickness sensitivity differs between longitudinal and lateral directions remains unclear. To investigate this, we conducted a within-subjects experiment with 21 participants exposed to repeated sinusoidal accelerations while seated in a car seat without visual cues, restrained by seat belt and neck brace. Each participant experienced one combination of two acceleration levels and multiple frequencies (0.15, 0.20, 0.25, or 0.40 Hz for 3.0 m/s<sup>2</sup>; 0.15, 0.25, or 0.40 for 0.65 m/s<sup>2</sup>). Symptoms were assessed using the Motion Illness Symptoms Classification at 1-min intervals. Results revealed significantly greater symptom progression in longitudinal motion (adjusted-mean: 3.0, max: 4.75) than lateral motion (adjusted-mean: 1.67, max: 2.65), despite smaller head angular velocities. These findings provide empirical evidence for direction-specific sickness sensitivity and underscore the need to consider motion direction in vehicle design.</p>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"104664"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145294454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Applied ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-10-11DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104662
Praneet Sahoo, Francesco N Biondi
{"title":"On the effect of using an augmented reality laser projection operator guidance system on cognitive workload and assembly task performance.","authors":"Praneet Sahoo, Francesco N Biondi","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104662","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104662","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Augmented Reality offers clear benefits in the workplace: overlaying digital information directly over the real-world has the potential to make tasks easier and increase performance. While augmented reality has found wider adoption in fields like aviation and transportation, its benefits in manufacturing remain all but unexplored. To fill this gap, this study compares the use of an augmented reality laser projection system during a virtual reality-based manufacturing assembly task against more traditional means of operator guidance: video and pictorial. Twenty-five participants completed a block layout assembly task in two cognitive task demand conditions: easy and hard. Cognitive workload was measured via ocular and self-reported metrics; performance in the assembly task was also measured. Relative to video and pictorial guidance, laser projection was associated with the lower cognitive workload and quicker task times in the easy cognitive task demand condition. However, no differences between the three operator guidance systems were found in the hard condition. Findings show the potential for laser projection operator guidance to improve assembly performance and reduce operator's workload in the absence of a secondary task. Future work should further investigate the use of laser projection systems in the real-world.</p>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"104662"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145281867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Applied ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-10-11DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104661
Aanuoluwapo Ojelade , Sunwook Kim , Wallace Morris , Alan Barr , Carisa Harris-Adamson , Maury A. Nussbaum
{"title":"Evaluating back-support exoskeletons in simulated construction-relevant tasks: Effects on task completion time and aspects of usability","authors":"Aanuoluwapo Ojelade , Sunwook Kim , Wallace Morris , Alan Barr , Carisa Harris-Adamson , Maury A. Nussbaum","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104661","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104661","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) are a promising intervention in reducing physical demands during diverse occupational tasks. However, limited information is available about the effectiveness of different BSE designs during construction work and if those effects are consistent between novices and experienced workers. We evaluated the benefits and potential unintended consequences of BSEs during construction work, considering worker experience levels. Forty participants (20 novices and 20 experienced, balanced in both groups by sex) completed lab-based simulations of several construction-relevant tasks. These tasks were performed under a control condition (no BSE) and with three BSEs, each of which was tested in two support settings (on and off). Task performance was measured using completion time, and perceptions of diverse aspects of usability were obtained. Generally, BSE use increased task completion time, perceived discomfort, and perceived interference of BSEs during simulated tasks, while its effects on perceived physical effort were mixed. Rigid BSEs particularly increased perceived movement restrictions, while a soft BSE (or exosuit) did not. In a few cases, the effects of BSEs on completion time and BSE usability differed between novice and experienced groups. While some differences were observed between experience levels, future work could focus on novice populations with caution regarding specific outcomes. Overall, our results suggested that the effects of BSEs on completion time and perceptions of usability were distinct and task-specific, with no single BSE design emerging as being clearly superior across the simulated tasks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104661"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Applied ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-10-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104653
Rachel Egan , Marie E. Ward , Amanda Sherwin , Emily Naylor , Fiona Carroll , Salma Alamin , Mary Kelly , Deirdre Doyle , Barbara Cusack , Fionnuala Cox , Una Geary , Ignacio Martin-Loeches , Sean Keane , Niall Conlon
{"title":"Applying Human Factors/Ergonomics to support change in healthcare - An innovative co-designed approach to conducting antibiotic allergy de-labelling in the intensive care unit","authors":"Rachel Egan , Marie E. Ward , Amanda Sherwin , Emily Naylor , Fiona Carroll , Salma Alamin , Mary Kelly , Deirdre Doyle , Barbara Cusack , Fionnuala Cox , Una Geary , Ignacio Martin-Loeches , Sean Keane , Niall Conlon","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104653","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104653","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Implementing change in complex healthcare systems is inherently difficult, with most change initiatives failing. Human Factors/Ergonomics can support change processes through better understanding of the current system and designing and implementing new improved ways of working. One in four patients have a documented antibiotic allergy. Inaccurate and unverified antibiotic allergy labels have a negative impact on patient outcomes. The authors have been involved in the successful introduction of a new approach to allergy de-labelling in the intensive care unit. The primary objective of this study was to outline how this change was supported by applying Human Factors/Ergonomics to the change process. The Cube socio-technical systems analysis was used to understand and support this complex change across four domains of culture, system functioning, action and sensemaking and across a change cycle of understanding the current ‘as is’ problem; co-designing the ‘to be’ solution; planning and preparing to change; implementing and embedding the change. Over the course of the study 85 patients with either a reported non-immune or low risk antibiotic allergy were successfully de-labelled. This study exemplifies Human Factors/Ergonomics in action and has shown that taking a structured approach to change, that aims to understand and alter different system components, can achieve results.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104653"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Applied ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-10-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104660
Jose Luis Sánchez-Jiménez , Esther Sánchez-Ribes , Jose Ignacio Priego-Quesada , Alberto Encarnación-Martínez , Roberto Sanchís-Sanchís , Pedro Pérez-Soriano
{"title":"Sex differences in young adults on comfort and foot skin temperature using different running shoes lacing","authors":"Jose Luis Sánchez-Jiménez , Esther Sánchez-Ribes , Jose Ignacio Priego-Quesada , Alberto Encarnación-Martínez , Roberto Sanchís-Sanchís , Pedro Pérez-Soriano","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104660","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examined the impact of sex and lacing pattern on foot skin temperature (Tsk) and comfort during running. Twenty-four recreational runners participated in two treadmill trials involving cross-lacing and heel-lock lacing. Tsk and comfort were measured before and after 20 min of running at 10 km/h. Results revealed higher post-exercise Tsk with cross-lacing compared to heel-lock lacing (p = 0.003). Females had lower pre-exercise Tsk but higher post-exercise Tsk than males (p < 0.001). Heel-lock lacing was perceived as more comfortable (p < 0.05), and females reported higher heart rates and perceived exertion (p < 0.001). The mechanical work of running is crucial for the impact of lacing patterns on Tsk. Increased Tsk with cross-lacing negatively influences comfort, suggesting that lacing patterns can affect foot thermoregulation and subjective experience during running.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104660"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}