This article reviewed both studies on general smart car technologies and human–computer interaction (HCI)/human–vehicle interaction studies that were published in journals and conferences so that the current status of research can be identified and future research directions can be suggested. Furthermore, previous studies on elderly drivers were reviewed, as these drivers could be the most vulnerable social group in terms of new technology acceptance. A total of 257 articles for HCI research and 45 articles for elderly drivers were selected and reviewed from 11,267 collected articles (2010–2014). According to the results, most articles were mainly related to safety and adaptive features (e.g., driver’s state recognition, vehicle surrounding monitoring, driver action-suggestion), and infotainment research in terms of HCI (e.g., information technology devices–vehicle interaction, vehicle–vehicle interaction) was relatively insufficient despite its high research demand. According to the results of the literature review and technological trends analysis based on previous technical road maps, from HCI/human factors engineering (HFE) perspectives, research related to “Assistance systems,” “Physiological & mental state recognition,” “Position sensor technology,” “Behavior recognition,” and “Infotainment” was suggested to HCI/HFE researchers for further research. In particular, HCI/HFE researchers need to focus on research on acceptable levels of automation, observing new driving behaviors, investigation of driver characteristics to develop personalized services, and new technology acceptance to develop and improve smart cars in the future.

BACKGROUND: The popularity of mobile computing products is well known. Thus, it is crucial to evaluate their contribution to musculoskeletal disorders during computer usage under both comfortable and stressful environments. OBJECTIVE: This study expl

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have been recognized as one of the main occupational health problems for dentists. Many studies have suggested that dentists experience work-related pain or discomfort in the neck, shoulder, and back, as w

The number of people who complain of sleep disturbances is steadily increasing. An understanding of sleep-related factors is required to address sleep problems. This survey study investigated the sleep habits and sleeping symptoms relating to the comfort and support characteristics of pillows and the relationship between sleep quality and pillow design factors. The study utilized data from 332 participating Korean adults aged 20–76 years (mean age ± SD: males, 40.4 ± 15.2; females, 42.9 ± 15.4). We developed a questionnaire that evaluated sleep habits (sleep duration, bedtime, wake-up time and sleeping position); sleeping symptoms (snoring or coughing, breathing and sleepiness during waking hours) based on the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-K) questionnaire; and pillow-related factors (support, comfort, fatigue, height and shape) from existing pillow studies. The average sleep duration was 6.8 h, with more than half (52%) of participants sleeping in the supine position. The overall score for sleep quality was considered poor (4.84 points on a seven-point Likert scale), with some degree of sleepiness during waking hours (4.4 points on a seven-point Likert scale). Females went to bed earlier than males and were more likely to sleep in the lateral position compared to males. The number of toss and turn or waking events during sleep increased with age, and older individuals went to sleep earlier and woke up earlier. Among the symptoms of fatigue, pain, discomfort with changing position, snoring, coughing and breathing discomfort, participants reported their highest levels of discomfort due to sleepiness after waking, and they experienced the least head pain. Participants who used a regular-type pillow had poorer satisfaction on multiple comfort and support factors (support, comfort, height suitability, shape suitability) compared with those who used a functional-type pillow. Less head fatigue, less neck fatigue and less shoulder pain had significant effects on sleep quality. To reduce neck fatigue and shoulder pain, designers should consider the height for neck support in the lateral position. To reduce neck fatigue, it is desirable to use materials like latex or memory foam that provide neck support, which can improve sleep quality. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of sleep habits and characteristics of pillow comfort and provide practical guidelines for better pillow designs.