1.

0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of The Study

Ergonomics is the scientific study of human work. More specifically, ergonomics is the science

of designing the job to the worker rather than physically forcing the worker’s Body to the job

(Sherif and Saad, 2017). Ergonomics is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding

of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies

theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall

system performance (Dugar, et al., 2021).

Globally over the past decade, there is 25 percent increase in the individuals suffering from

musculoskeletal conditions due to bad sitting postures (Sherif and Saad, 2017). Ergonomics

emerges as a concern because majority of these musculoskeletal conditions are related to

computer use, improper workstation design and faulty posture (Sherif and Saad, 2017).

In long term, the workplace deficiencies surpasses the body’s coping mechanisms, resulting in

pain, mental stress, decreased performance and poor quality of work, neglecting these issues has

resulted in disabling injuries urging one to change One’s profession (Dugar, et al., 2021).

Inappropriate use of desktop computer increases the risk of health problems especially the

musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and this is as a result of working for prolonged period in an

ergonomically deficient work place (Dugar, et al., 2021). Practice of ergonomics improves

working efficiency, comfort and easiness to use without compromising (Dugar, et al., 2021).

Ergonomic office chairs have been designed to help achieve optimal posture with their shape,

adjustable height, armrests, adjustable reclining backrest and additional lumbar spine support

(Dimberg, et al., 2015). Users, however, do not utilize all the adjustments and thus do not use the

office chair in the optimal ergonomic way (Goossens, et al., 2012), either due to a lack of

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 knowledge or simply their habitual sitting positions. A feedback system integrated into the chair

may help tackle this issue and guide the user towards an optimal sitting posture behaviour.

In response to the side effects of a sedentary life style, recently, sitting posture monitoring and

corrective applications have received much attention among researchers (Mallare, et al. 2017 and

Le, et al. 2013). Several kinds of smart chairs have been developed and experimented using

various methods, including image processing and chairs’ sensor data classification, using various

sensor types such as single pressure sensors (Matuska, et al. 2020 and Roh, et al. 2018), pressure

(Mallare, et al. 2017 and Le, et al. 2013)distribution sensors (Huang, et al. 2016 and Wang, et al.

2020), textile sensors (Kim, et al., 2018), accelerometers (Ma, et al., 2016), and combined

sensors (Cho, et al. 2019 and Jeong, et al. 2021), just to name a few.

The main objective of this Study is to design a Smart Ergonomic Chair that gives support to the

back (lumbar spine) of the user.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Sitting is one of the most commonly adopted postures of human being in daily life. People spend a

long time on sitting in an office chair, car seat or lounge chair. The sitting behavior analysis

becomes an important research topic recently in a variety of domains, such as biomedical

engineering, public healthcare service and facility design. It has been suggested that poor sitting

behaviour can cause a threat to human body by linking to various pains and other complications

(Huang et al., 2016).

Many studies have shown that some common sitting postures of human body can lead to lumbar

flexion and higher compressive forces in lumbar joints; in order to avoid the adverse effects of

poor sitting behavior, the real-time monitoring of sitting posture has received particular attention

and was used as a promising method in recent years (Xu et al., 2011).

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The aim of this Study is to develop a monitoring system for both static and dynamic sitting

postures with an interactive ergonomic chair. As a preliminary study, this Study focused on

building a smart ergonomic chair system which can be easily implemented for further

improvement. The smart chair can be used for the monitoring of user’s sitting postures and

promote the user to improve sitting behavior.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of The Study

The aim of this Study is to design, build, test and evaluate the prototype of smart ergonomic chair

that gives support to the back (lumbar spine) of the user. The Specific objectives of this Study

were set to;

i. design a new, low cost and simple smart chair system that has the advantage of being at the

same time robust, versatile, accurate, and easy to setup;

ii. identify the best deep learning model for our designed smart chair.

1.4 Significance of The Study

The Smart Ergonomic Chair designed by this Study can be used in various fields, including

medical fields in correction of sitting postures. First application that we are targeting is in offices,

banks, churches, homes and games for leisure or for posture calibration. With these, the goal of

this project would be to correct user’s posture while enjoying the comfort of the chair by directing

appropriate sitting position opposite to the user’s usual habit based on collected data. Also, this

study not only seeks to address a specific ergonomic issue but also contributes to broader

discussions on workplace well-being, technological integration, and sustainable design practices in

the context of furniture manufacturing and will be used as relevant material for researchers in

related studies.

1.5 Scope of The Study

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This Study covers the modifying of an office ergonomic chair to a smart ergonomic chair that

gives support to the back (lumbar spine) of the user. The Study was limited due to time factor,

money and unavailability of the necessary resources within the Study location (Makurdi).

1.6 Motivation

The Study will serve as a true application of computing in mechanical engineering and will be

seen as advancement in the technological world. Many researchers will definitely be interested to

further this Study because of the vast benefits of the smart ergonomic chair in our society today.

1.7 Definition of Terms

1.7.1 Ergonomics: The study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body,

taking into consideration factors like comfort, efficiency, and safety.

1.7.2 Smart Technology: Integration of sensors, actuators, and connectivity to enhance the

functionality of the chair, allowing it to adapt to user needs.

1.7.3 Sensors: Devices that collect data, such as pressure sensors for posture detection or

temperature sensors for comfort control.

1.7.4 Actuators: Components responsible for responding to input, like motors adjusting the

chair's position or providing massage features.

1.7.5 IoT (Internet of Things): Connecting the chair to the internet to enable remote

monitoring, control, and data exchange.

1.7.6 User Interface: The means through which users interact with the chair, which could

include touch controls, mobile apps, or voice commands.

1.7.7 Biometric Monitoring: Incorporating features like heart rate or posture monitoring for

health and well-being benefits.

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1.7.8 Energy Efficiency: Design considerations for power consumption and sustainable energy

sources, especially relevant for a smart device.

1.7.9 Material Science: Choosing materials that are both comfortable and durable for the chair's

construction.

1.7.10 Human-Centered Design: Focusing on the end-users' needs and experiences to create a

chair that enhances overall well-being.