A Comparison of the Comfort of Seats for Sonarmen

Sonarmen undergoing refresher training in the Sonar Operational Trainer compared, while on "sonar watch," the comfort of four seating designs: a contoured automobile seat with an adjustable backrest; a "kneeling" chair; a conventional office chair with an inflatable lumbar support pillow; and a conventional office chair. The subj ects were asked to use each seat for an entire day --unless it was too uncomfortable-and to use a different seat on successive days. The automobile seat was judged to be the most comfortable. It was concluded that significant improvements can be made in the design of the seats on submarines.