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Author Florian Schneider, Dr. Susanne Frohriep |
| Abstract In times of digitalization as a megatrend, haptic feedback by touch or contact interfaces can be a means to relieve the driver/passenger on other channels of perception while communicating relevant information. In this context, the perceived comfort of haptic systems is particularly important to ensure the best possible user product interaction. Two ergonomic cross-sectional studies from the automotive and forklift sectors are presented in this contribution. The first study involved the randomized assessment of three different haptic center console devices for automotive applications in a laboratory environment. 21 subjects tested the different devices, which had three activation thresholds of 0.3N/1.0N/2.0N. The second study analyzed haptic feedback in terms of an indication and attention signal in different seats for forklifts. The tested expert group encompassed 8 subjects in the static laboratory study and 4 subjects in the field tests. The results of the first study showed for all three devices that female subjects perceived the defined activation thresholds as higher than the males did. Overall, activation thresholds no higher than 1N were preferred by the sample group. The results of the second study showed ratings for the distinctiveness of the two tested signals ranging from 6 – Sufficient to 10 – Perfect by the tested forklift truck drivers. The results of the first study suggest gender as an influencing factor on the perception of a haptic feedback at the fingertip, which is relevant for the compilation of sample groups in the product validation process. The second study verified the acceptance of a newly implemented haptic technology with an expert sample group. |