Kansei Ergonomic Study of Body Brush Development

Abstract

We have conducted a series of experiments aimed at improving the design of body brush handles. This study recruited eight female and 13 male university students between the ages of 19 and 21. Three prototype body brushes (A, C, and D), and an existing commercial design (B) were tested. The prototype handles were made from two parallel stainless-steel wires and a plastic base, and each design was uniquely curved. The existing product, B, had a straight wooden handle. Electromyography (EMG) was recorded at the biceps brachii and flexor digitorum profundus while the participants aligned the brush head with the centers of their backs. A significantly lower EMG integral was measured with prototype C, and prototypes A and C both received positive Kansei evaluations. Then, two new designs (samples E and F) based on A were compared with B. Six men between the ages of 30 and 60 years participated in these second experiments. A final design was selected based on the results and the refined model will be marked in July 2017.