Ergonomics participatory opportunities to determine a comfortable car seat for Malaysian female car drivers / Mohd Hairil Othaman

The development of comfortable seats is an important issue in the automotive industry. The purpose of seat is to provide stable bodily support in a posture that comforts over a period of time, physiologically satisfactory and appropriate to the task or activity in question. In order to match the seat to the user, anthropometric factors are the major importance in designing car seat. At such, it should accommodate the entire population by using appropriate parameters according to their anthropometric dimensions. Seat reference point, seat height, seat width, lumbar support and adjustability range of seat should also be considered as part and partial of designing this car seat. This study uses qualitative method such as observation and measurement to collect data. The relevant anthropometric data was used to propose the recommended car seat design based on Malaysian size; nevertheless it will be compared to analyze the most suitable seat for Malaysian populations. It is hoped that the finding of this anthropometric data will be used in designing car seat and increasing the comfort and alertness of the drivers, also help reducing fatigue while driving a car on the road.