A conceptual framework proposed to formalize the scientific investigation of automobile seat comfort

Consumer expectations for automobile seat comfort continue to rise. With this said, it is evident that the current automobile seat comfort development process, which is only sporadically successful, needs to change. In this context, there has been growing recognition of the need for automobile seat comfort researchers to establish a theoretical and methodological foundation. Only in this way can automobile seat comfort achieve recognition as a true scientific discipline and enable its further development. The present contribution hopes to stimulate and lead researchers to focus on a framework through which this recognition and development can take place. This paper describes the current automobile seat comfort development process and details the associated limitations. The limitations were the catalysts for the creation of a systematized framework intended to direct the investigative process associated with seat comfort research. The framework is expected to produce theories and methods that can explain, guide, and further legitimize the discipline of automobile seat comfort. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.