Abstract
In this paper, the effects on human performance of thermal sensation were investigated. Recruited subjects performed Mackworth clock tests examining vigilance and cognitive performance. The results showed that thermal discomfort caused by elevated air temperature and clothes had a negative effect on performance. A quantitative relationship was established between thermal sensation votes and task performance. The relationship indicates that optimum performance can be achieved slightly below neutral (\( PMV_{best} = - 0.74 \) for group), while thermal discomfort (feeling too warm or too cold) leads to reduced performance. The big individual difference in \( PMV_{best} \) implies that occupants have different thermal requirements to keep high performance. Therefore, conventional heating and cooling approaches should work with individual microclimate control approaches to improve individual productivity. The findings can be used for economic calculations pertaining to building design and operation when occupant productivity is considered.
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This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51578305] and Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation [grant number 9172008].
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Fu, J., Yan, R., Wang, F., Ma, L. (2020). Relationship Between Thermal Sensation and Human Cognitive Performance Based on PMV. In: Harris, D., Li, WC. (eds) Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics. Mental Workload, Human Physiology, and Human Energy. HCII 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12186. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49044-7_4
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