Abstract
In this study, we investigated how users work with a tablet in a non-desk setting. While portable computing devices have enabled ‘work anywhere’, few furniture and user interface has been designed for working in non-desk settings. In a co-exploration study, participants (n = 20) performed three tablet activities (video watching, typing, and drawing) on a configurable sofa. Using multiple cushions, the participants iteratively explored comfortable sitting as well as lying postures in diverse body orientations. The result showed a variety of postures and support configurations for the comfort of working in a non-desk setting. Unlike working at a conventional desk setting, the body parts supported each other as well as a tablet, and preferred postures were unique to each activity. By systematically analyzing and categorizing postures, we uncovered new design opportunities for furniture and interactive systems that do not deal with a traditional desk setting.
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Acknowledgement
This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT Future Planning (NRF-2019R1H1A1101001).
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Shin, J., Saakes, D. (2022). The Ergonomics of Couch Potatoes: A Study into Postures for Non-desk Working Scenarios. In: Bruyns, G., Wei, H. (eds) [ ] With Design: Reinventing Design Modes. IASDR 2021. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-4472-7_135
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