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Techniques
This page describes some of the techniques we use, to take
Objective Measurements of people using products.
Pressure Measurement
By measuring the pressure at the interface between people and
a seat or bed, we quantify the support given to different parts
of the body. This technique is also called Pressure Mapping.
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This plot shows a seat cushion, with the normal pressure
peaks under the pelvis. This type of view is good for
visual presentation of seat comfort performance.
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This plot shows the longitudinal distribution of pressure
along the cushions of three office seats. It shows how
the foam of a cheap seat bottoms out under the occupant,
giving high pressure under the pelvis. This would inhibit
blood flow, and cause discomfort with fidgeting and
poor postures.
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Also it shows that the prototype developed during this project
outperformed an expensive seat.
Video Analysis
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We record video of people using products or prototypes,
then analyse the tapes to extract systematic data about
the interactions. Video can be static or hand-held,
in colour or infra-red. We use infra-red cameras for
sleep studies, with time-lapse recording to speed up
analysis. For reports, edited videos are produced with
captions and comments, and still-frames are used as
illustrations.
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Other Techniques
- User trials and surveys
- Actimetry, which counts limb movements, and so gives a
measure of comfort or support quality
- CAD modelling
- Measurement of physiological factors like heartrate, sweating
and breathing rates
- Data analysis, with statistical validation
- Prototyping and mockups
Example project
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