Comfort seats: Influence of laptop and tablet use for seat design

Abstract

The use of laptops and tablets is increasing. In 2008 more laptops than desk tops are sold and tablet sales is increasing as well. This has influence on the design of office and vehicle interiors. However, the ideal tablet office or laptop aircraft seat, which results in an optimal position and experience, is hard to establish as for reading, typing and touchscreen activities other positions are experienced as comfortable. These changes in work devices have their consequences for the interior. For instance, in the office the desk top is not often used. In using the current desk top PC the keyboard, mouse and screen can be placed on every position. The guidelines prescribe for instance the screen height and the keyboard position. For a notebook this is more difficult as the keyboard and mousepad are connected to the screen. Sometimes a docking station or seperate screens, mouses and keyboards are connected. Or a notebook standard with keyboard and mouse is used. In this case the work station can be designed in such a way the VDU guidelines are met. Using a tablet with a touchscreen the human body position is completely different. For a train, car or aircraft seat this device use has its consequences as well. In this presentation several devices and environmental designs will be shown, background information and effect studies will be presented showing consequences for seat and environment design.