Komforttests

Komforttests are systematic evaluations of perceived comfort conducted during the use of a product, environment, or service. The aim is to quantify how comfortable a user feels under realistic operating conditions, combining subjective judgments with available objective measurements when appropriate. Typical objective data include temperature, humidity, surface heat flow, seating pressure distribution, vibration, noise, and biomechanical indicators, but the core of Komforttests remains the user’s perception of comfort.

Applications span several domains: automotive seating and interiors, furniture and textiles, clothing and wearables, consumer electronics and work equipment, and architectural or HVAC interventions. They help compare design variants and guide optimization toward greater long-term ease of use and satisfaction.

Methodologically, Komforttests involve recruiting participants representative of the target user group, defining realistic tasks or scenarios, and conducting tests in controlled laboratories or real-world settings. Participants rate comfort-related experiences on standardized scales or questionnaires, covering aspects such as overall comfort, thermal sensation, contact pressure, fatigue, moisture feel, ease of use, and perceived support. Results are analyzed with descriptive statistics, reliability checks, and sometimes multivariate analysis, to derive a comfort index or benchmark.

Relation to standards: Komforttests commonly draw on established ergonomics and environmental comfort standards (for example ISO 7730 for thermal comfort, ISO 2631 for vibration, or related industry norms) to ensure comparability and validity, while the exact protocol is tailored to the product and context.

See also: ergonomic testing, user experience, thermal comfort, sensory evaluation.