Lear Displays Innovative Transgenerational Seat in 'Secrets of Aging' Exhibit
31 March 2000
Lear Corporation Displays Innovative Transgenerational Seat in 'Secrets of Aging' Exhibit at Boston Museum of Science LEAR'S NEW TRANSG POWER SWIVEL SEAT The New Lear TransG Power Swivel Seat. (PRNewsFoto)[KI] BOSTON, MA USA 03/31/2000 LEAR'S NEW TRANSG POWER SWIVEL SEAT The New Lear TransG Power Swivel Seat. (PRNewsFoto)[KI] BOSTON, MA USA 03/31/2000
BOSTON, March 31 Lear Corporation is loaning
its innovative TransG (for transgenerational) seat designed for the maturing
population as part of the Secrets of Aging exhibit that opens on April 1 at
the Boston Museum of Science. The exhibit runs through September 4 before
continuing its six-city U.S. tour.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000331/DEF024-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000331/DEF024-b )
The TransG seat was part of the TransG concept vehicle designed by
international automotive supplier Lear Corporation in response to the
question: Will tomorrow's vehicles be user-friendly for an active generation
of baby boomers who eventually will begin to experience the physical effects
of the aging process?
In 2005, 1.7 billion baby boomers worldwide will be over the age of 45 and
66 million Americans will be over the age of 55 (21 percent of the US
population). As these baby boomers mature, they inevitably will face varying
degrees of physical limitations and will need to find ways to adjust to the
aging process. Will those maturing boomers find future vehicle interiors
functionally challenging or almost unnoticeably enabling?
"Lear took on the challenge of developing future interior features and
functions that are stylish as well as user-friendly to this large and
influential segment of consumers," said Jim Masters, President of Lear's
Technology Division. "We actively solicited consumer input, applying the
lessons learned from Lear's three-year research and development study. The
TransG was created to showcase the many innovative interior features that Lear
can offer automakers for future models to attract maturing boomers."
TransG is designed so everyone -- from the smallest or youngest to the
largest or oldest member of the population -- is accommodated in their choice
of features in an interior of tomorrow. Transgenerational design also offers
a large amount of flexibility and choice to the consumer to meet a variety of
lifestyle needs.
To help designers better understand maturing boomers' needs as they age,
Lear developed a consumer research program codenamed the Masters(TM) Study.
Lear's Product Analysis Group assembled a consumer panel of males and females
aged 50 to 70, with an average age of 65 years. Four consumer studies helped
define the program, starting with studies on ingress/egress, seating
adjustments, four-point seat belts and even display colors. Five focus group
studies and a Lear-organized two-day seminar on "Designing Vehicle Interiors
for the Mature Driver" augmented the Masters Study.
"We created the TransG concept vehicle with an array of innovative seat
system features specially designed to accommodate and enable maturing baby
boomers," said Marilyn Vala, Lear Manager - Comfort and Convenience, who was
involved in the research and ergonomic design of the TransG. "While boomers
intend to maintain their active lifestyles, they also must learn to adjust to
the normal physical changes that occur with aging. The TransG seat systems
and other features include transparent enablers that are both stylish and
easier for everyone use."
The powered rotation seat swivels outward, presenting itself at a
45-degree angle -- indicated by the Masters participants as the best angle for
entering and exiting a vehicle. The leather-trimmed seat provides less
friction and makes it easier to slide into and out of the seat. Beyond seat
design, the lower step-up height and virtually flat load floor of the TransG
interior concept enhance ease of ingress and egress.
Once seated, the occupant uses the TransG's power system to swivel the
seat into driving position. The comfortable six-way power seats feature
built-in memory, power recliner, power cushion lift and power headrest,
operated by wireless seat control switches. The Backcycler(TM) lumbar system,
temperature controls with seat cooling and heating, and inboard armrests also
offer comfort. Seat and door armrest heights have been engineered for optimum
comfort and convenience.
Instead of moving the seat fore or aft, the TransG's instrument pod moves
toward the driver from its most forward location to a memory position
programmed by the driver. At the touch of a button, the accelerator, brake
and dead pedals also traverse toward the driver to their preferred position.
Lear's research also underscored that safety is another important area for
maturing adults. Safety features on the TransG seat system include seat
cushion restraints, inflatable air collar restraints, side bolster air bags
and four-point, all-belts-to-seats restraint system for enhanced occupant
safety.
The four-point belts are easy to reach and buckle. Occupants simply slide
their arms through the belts positioned on either side of the seats then grasp
and latch the buckle using both hands. This belt system secures occupants
more uniformly in the seat and is more comfortable because it doesn't cut
diagonally across the chest. An air collar integrated into the seat belt will
inflate to protect the head and neck should a crash occur.
To prevent occupants from sliding forward during a sudden impact, Lear has
incorporated a cushion restraint device under the seat cushion. When
deployed, it raises the occupants' knees to keep them from sliding out under
the seat belts.
A group of science centers led by the Museum of Science in Boston created
The Secrets of Aging exhibit, a unique and compelling exploration of what
today's science tells us about growing up and growing older. The exhibit runs
from April 5 through September 4 (Labor Day) at the Museum of Science.
More than 3.55 million visitors are expected during the Secrets of Aging
exhibit's six-city U.S. tour. The other stops on the U.S. tour include: COSI
Columbus in Columbus, Ohio, for an October 2000 opening; The Science Museum of
Minnesota in St. Paul, Minnesota, in April 2001; California Science Center in
Los Angeles, California, in October 2001; The Franklin Institute of Science in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in October 2001; and Fort Worth Museum of Science
and History in Fort Worth, Texas, in April 2003.
Lear Corporation, a Fortune 200 company headquartered in Southfield,
Michigan, USA, is the one of the world's largest automotive suppliers, with
1999 sales of $12.4 billion. The company's world-class products are designed,
engineered and manufactured by more than 120,000 employees in over 300
facilities located in 33 countries. Information about Lear and its products
is available on the Internet at http://www.lear.com