Comfort and discomfort during smartphone use on a bed

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The number of smartphone users is immense. People can do ever more with a smartphone. Smartphones are used everywhere, including in bed and on the sofa. The awkward postures taken in these situations affect comfort and discomfort. In designing a bed, it might be useful to know which position is comfortable for smartphone use on a bed. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to define the most comfortable trunk angle for smartphone use on a bed. METHODS: To study comfort and discomfort, 52 participants were asked to use the smartphone on a bed. The trunk angle of this bed was adjusted to 6 positions from flat to upright and for each angle the comfort and discomfort was recorded. RESULTS: The results showed that the participants prefer a trunk angle range around 120 and 142 degrees. At the best trunk angle 29% of the participants felt comfort in the legs, 25% in the upper back and 16% in the shoulders. However, in this position 36% also mentioned discomfort in the lower back and 24 % in the neck. CONCLUSIONS: For smartphone use a bed is preferable which enables a trunk angle of around 120–140 degrees. For the legs this is comfortable. However, for the neck and upper back the problem of discomfort still needs attention.

Biomechanical analysis of cervical spine (C2–C7) at different flexed postures

“…37,38 Also, higher flexion angles cause NMSD with postural stress and muscular imbalances, resulting in anatomical structure deformation and nerve compression. 39,40 The limitations of the study are the FEA model, generated through CT images, pertains to one patient. Thus, the analysis is patient-specific.…”

“…37,38 Also, higher flexion angles cause NMSD with postural stress and muscular imbalances, resulting in anatomical structure deformation and nerve compression. 39,40…”

Product Innovation Possibilities by Designing the Smart Phone Exterior Outline Based on 3d Scans of the Hand Imprint

“…There are many possible postures for people holding smartphones, such as double-hand and single-hand holding. The smart phones are used for many activities such as texting, playing games or listening to music [1]. Udomboonyanupap, et al [1] also showed that the right hand and double hand (texting with thumbs) are used mostly for texting.…”

“…The smart phones are used for many activities such as texting, playing games or listening to music [1]. Udomboonyanupap, et al [1] also showed that the right hand and double hand (texting with thumbs) are used mostly for texting. That is why these positions were selected.…”

“…Smartphones have become a part of our daily lives. They are used for listening to music, watching a movie or series, texting, web browsing, checking email or travel time schedules [1]. In marketing and research much attention has been paid to optimizing the smartness, the systems and the mechanisms of smartphones to increase performance [2].…”