The visual categorization of production automotive seats on descriptors of comfort

BACKGROUND

The role of appearance of automotive seats on perceived comfort and comfort expectancy has been acknowledged in previous research but it has not been investigated in depth.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the effects of the appearance of production automotive seats, based on the hypothesis that visual design differentiations are affective in creating comfort expectations. The significance of the descriptors Sporty, Luxurious and Comfortable and the associated visual design attributes was of interest.

METHOD

Images from 38 automotive production seats were used in an image-based card sorting app (qCard) with a total of 24 participants. Participants were asked to categorize the different seat designs varying from 1: least, to 9: most for all three descriptors.The resulting data was analyzed using hierarchical clustering analysis.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the perceived Sporty, Luxurious and Comfortable were descriptor items that significantly differentiated seats with certain design attributes. It was found that for the Sporty perception the integrated headrest design and angular shapes were key. On the other hand, the Comfort perception was characterised by seating with a separate headrest and rounded seat back/cushion shapes.

CONCLUSIONS

For seat design processes, the method enables a practical way to identify elements conveying Sporty, Comfortable and Luxurious perception.

Quantitative Evaluation of Microdistortions in Bowman's Layer and Corneal Deformation after Small Incision Lenticule Extraction

Purpose

To quantitatively evaluate microdistortions in Bowman's layer and change in corneal stiffness after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

Methods

This was a prospective, longitudinal, and interventional study. Thirty eyes of 30 patients were screened preoperatively and underwent SMILE for treatment of myopia with astigmatism. Visual acuity, refraction, optical coherence tomography (OCT; Bioptigen, Inc., Morrisville, NC) imaging of the layer and air-puff applanation (Corvis-ST, OCULUS Optikgeräte Gmbh, Germany) was performed before and after surgery (1 day, 1 week, and 1 month). The Bowman's Roughness Index (BRI) was defined as the enclosed area between the actual and an ideal smooth layer to quantify the microdistortions. A viscoelastic model was used to quantify the change in corneal stiffness using applanation.

Results

Uncorrected distance visual acuity improved (P < 0.001) and refractive error decreased (P < 0.0001) after SMILE. BRI increased from preoperative levels (1.81 × 10⁻³ mm²) to 1 week (3.14 × 10⁻³ mm²) after SMILE (P < 0.05) and then decreased up to a month (2.43 × 10⁻³ mm²; P < 0.05). Increase in the magnitude of the index correlated positively with refractive error (P = 0.02). However, corneal stiffness reduced after SMILE (105.86 ± 1.4 N/m versus 97.97 ± 1.21 N/m at 1 month, P = 0.001). The decrease in corneal stiffness did not correlate with refractive error (P = 0.61).

Conclusions

BRI correlated positively the magnitude of refractive error. However, decrease in corneal stiffness, assessed by air-puff applanation, may not be related to microdistortions after SMILE.

Translational Relevance

An objective method of quantification of Bowman's layer microdistortions using OCT was developed to monitor corneal wound healing and improve lenticule extraction methods.

Psychophysical Vision Simulation of Diffractive Bifocal and Trifocal Intraocular Lenses

PURPOSE

The visual performance of monofocal, bifocal, and trifocal intraocular lenses was evaluated by human individuals using a vision simulator device. This allowed investigation of the visual impression after cataract surgery, without the need actually to implant the lenses.

METHODS

The randomized, double-masked, three-way cross-over study was conducted on 60 healthy male and female subjects aged between 18 and 35 years. Visual acuity (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study; ETDRS) and contrast sensitivity tests (Pelli-Robson) under different lighting conditions (luminosities from 0.14-55 cd/m², mesopic to photopic) were performed at different distances.

RESULTS

Visual acuity tests showed no difference for corrected distance visual acuity data of bi- and trifocal lens prototypes (P = 0.851), but better results for the trifocal than for the bifocal lenses at distance corrected intermediate (P = 0.021) and distance corrected near visual acuity (P = 0.044). Contrast sensitivity showed no differences between bifocal and trifocal lenses at the distant (P = 0.984) and at the near position (P = 0.925), but better results for the trifocal lens at the intermediate position (P = 0.043). Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity showed a strong dependence on luminosity (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

At all investigated distances and all lighting conditions, the trifocal lens prototype often performed better, but never worse than the bifocal lens prototype.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE

The vision simulator can fill the gap between preclinical lens development and implantation studies by providing information of the perceived vision quality after cataract surgery without implantation. This can reduce implantation risks and promotes the development of new lens concepts due to the cost effective test procedure.