2020 IEEE 7th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Applications
Optimal Design of Massage Chair Interface Based on Eye Tracking Technology
Hongxiang Shan, Xingsong Wang, Mengqian Tian, Yuliang Mao
School of Mechanical Engineering
Southeast University
Nanjing, China
e-mail: 18851668026@163.com, xswang@seu.edu.cn, tianmq@seu.edu.cn, MaoYL@seu.edu.cn
Abstract—Massage chair can simulate "push, knock, knead,
button, pinch" and other massage techniques. However, the
realization of these functions depends on the control of the
controller, so the interface design of the massage chair
controller is very important for the massage chair. The
realization of function is very important. In this study, eye
movement experiment and evaluation experiment were used to
study the human factor problems in list, grid and card
interfaces, and the information architecture and interaction
mode of massage chair interface were optimized. The results of
this study can provide a scientific basis for the optimal design
of Internet of things mobile interface.
Keywords-human factor engineering; massage chair
interface; eye movement experiment; universal design
I. INTRODUCTION
Human machine interface is the medium of interaction
between human and machine. It is a new trend to develop
human-computer interface with touch screen [1]. The touch-
screen human-machine interface combines the key and the
display screen, making the operation convenient [2].
In recent years, the domestic research focuses on the
comfort factors of massage chair. In terms of gender
differences, Song Jie, Shen liming, Hou Jianjun and others
adopted subjective evaluation method to put forward
suggestions for the optimal design of massage chair working
parameters [3]. In terms of massage intensity, the intelligent
massage intensity should not exceed that of traditional
Chinese massage. In terms of massage path and scope,
combined with traditional Chinese medicine massage and the
distribution of human acupoints [4], the areas on both sides
of the spine below the shoulder are regarded as massage
range of massage chair. It is clear that the horizontal massage
interval of massage chair is 9cm, 20cm, and the vertical
massage interval is 50cm, 100cm. In terms of massage mode,
Chen Haomiao, Shen liming, Song Jie, etc. used the free
modulus amplitude estimation method to get the most
comfortable massage mode of 8 measuring points, and
verified its scientificity through EEG experiments [5]. In the
aspect of massage head coating, Song Jie et al. Studied the
configuration of massage head coating by subjective
evaluation and testing of body pressure distribution [6]. In
terms of the rotation speed of the massage head and the
massage position, Shao Tingting and others think that both
are important factors to be considered in the design of the
massage chair [7].
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At the same time, domestic researchers have also made
in-depth research on the problems of interface interaction
and interface design methods. Li Yue and others analyzed
the constraints of human-computer interaction design
interface [8]. Wang Feiyan and others analyzed the interface
constraints and proposed the practical application of product
human-computer interaction [9]. Liu Yaming and others
explored the practical application of human-computer
interaction in product design process [10]. In terms of
interface design methods, Xu Feng and others analyzed and
studied the interface design from three aspects: reasonably
planning the content of visual information, choosing the
appropriate visual form and reasonably planning the visual
information structure [11]. Ye Dongdong, Li Shiguo, etc. put
forward the hierarchy of needs, discussed the diversified
needs of users on the level of usability, ease of use and
experience, and proposed design strategies to meet the needs
of users [12]. Li Haixia and others put forward the method of
emotional elements, from three aspects of instinct, reflection
and behavior emotion, to elaborate the embodiment of
emotional elements in interaction design [13]. Tan Hao and
Xie Siyuan proposed a design method of interface symbols
based on sound visualization, and invited users to participate
in the creation [14]. Yang Qiao, Xie Liang and others put
forward the empathy design method, through the concept
model and the concept verification method [15].
Universal design refers to the design of products and
environment suitable for everyone's convenient use,
regardless of gender, age and ability, within the maximum
possible range [16]. This definition was proposed by
American universal design center and regarded as an
important design trend by the United States and Japan.
Toshiko NAKAGAWA, MESI and the Japanese Society of
engineering are all additional principles beyond the seven
principles, including the requirements reflecting the essence
and practice of design, such as economy, aesthetics and
environmental protection, so as to achieve a more perfect
general design principle and make the development direction
of universal design more tend to reflect the practical needs.
As shown in Table I.
TABLE I. UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Advocator Concept Content
1. Equitable Use
The Center for
2. Flexibility in Use
3. Simple and Intuitive Use
Universal 7 Principles
4. Perceptible Information
Design
5. Tolerance for Error
6. Low Physical Effort
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 7. Size and Space for Approach
and Use
1. Durability and economy
Toshiko 3 Subsidiary
2. Quality and beauty
NAKAGAWA principles
3. Health and environment
II. METHODOLOGY
By studying the characteristics of 16 existing massage
chair apps, this paper summarizes two typical massage chair
interface layouts, which are tabular and web formats. Li
Qingchuan summarizes six design patterns of mobile
terminal, and points out that content-oriented navigation
design performs better in understanding, navigation and
interaction, which may be a promising direction for the
elderly friendly mobile application design [17]. Therefore,
according to Li Qingchuan's summary of mobile interface
design, three kinds of low fidelity pages are designed to
remove the interference of color and icon style, which are list,
grid and card. As shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Three interface layouts (List, Grid and Card).
The interface human factor engineering test is studied by
experimental method. The objective and quantitative criteria
should be taken as a reference frame to judge whether there
are man-machine problems in the manipulation interface of
massage chair.
A. Evaluation Experiment Method
Based on the evaluation data and eye movement data, the
usability of massage chair control interface is evaluated by
subjective and objective evaluation methods. Among them,
the evaluation experiment method is the evaluation index of
effectiveness and satisfaction. The test requirements are the
correctness, completeness, interactive gestures and
subjective psychological feelings of the subjects when they
complete the specific tasks. The evaluation indexes of eye
movement experiment method are the representation
meaning, information layout efficiency and interface
information structure of the interface elements. At the same
time, the evaluation indexes of the interface mainly reflect
the completion time, the number of operation errors, the user
questionnaire survey, the number of fixation points, the hot
spot distribution map and the results of scanning trajectory
map. There are 10 subjects in the evaluation experiment,
each of whom completes 6 tasks in turn, as shown in Table II.
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Typical tasks are designed according to the function of
massage chair and the ergonomic characteristics of interface.
TABLE II. TASKS OF ASSESSMENT EXPERIMENT AND EYE
MOVEMENT EXPERIMENT
Number Task
1 Turn on automatic massage mode and select neck and
shoulder care massage
2 Open the massage chair timing interface and set the time
for 15 minutes
3 Open hot pack function
4 Turn on the music
5 Turn on the manual massage mode and massage the waist
6 Set the leg airbag strength to medium
B. Eye Movement Experiment Method
The purpose of eye movement experiment is to capture
the visual information of the processing of state interface.
Through quantitative data to analyze the ergonomic
problems of massage chair control interface, and eye
movement index should not be too much. The subjects of the
experiment are 5 boys and 5 girls, and the experimental
instrument is Tobii x30 eye tracker. After the completion of
the evaluation experiment, the eye tracker experiment is
carried out on the interface with three layouts, and the tasks
are shown in Table II.
III. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
A. Evaluation Experiment
According to the test personnel's records, the influence of
different interface designs on the number of wrong
operations is verified. Through the evaluation experiment,
the total number of errors of 10 subjects completing six tasks
can be recorded, and the average number of errors and
standard deviation of three layout interfaces can be obtained.
As shown in Table III, the list interface has the highest
average number of errors, and the card interface has the
lowest average number of errors. This indicates that it is
difficult for subjects to understand and operate the list
interface, and easier to understand and operate the card
interface. The large standard deviation of the number of
errors in the list interface indicates the high degree of data
dispersion and the differences in the operation performance
of the subjects, which reflects the cognitive ability of
different individuals when using the list interface. The
minimum standard deviation of the card interface indicates
that the card interface is more general. In the interactive
gesture, using the list and net interface requires two hands to
complete the click, slide and other operations, while in the
card interface, the subjects can complete all tasks by single
hand click and slide.
TABLE III. MEAN AND STANDARD DEVIATION OF ERRORS
Measurement Mean Standard deviation
List 1.8 0.872
Grid 1.5 0.5
Card 0.6 0.49
 B. Eye Movement Experiment
Evaluation indexes of eye movement tracking data:
fixation duration, hot spot distribution of fixation time,
Figure 2. Mobile interactive gesture. scanning path map of experimental samples. The fixation
time is related to the search efficiency of users. The longer
Through the collection of user's opinions, the interface is the fixation time is, the more uncertain the target is, the
analyzed qualitatively. The user feedback content is as lower the search efficiency is. Therefore, the unreasonable
follows: layout of the interface will increase the fixation time. The
 The list layout interface has more information levels, mean of fixation duration of three layouts (List, Grid and
which is easy to cause memory burden and fatigue Card) are shown in Table IV. As shown in Figure 3, three
during continuous tasks. lines represent the change of the mean of fixation duration in
 There are many layout icons in the grid format, the List, Grid and Card. When task 1, 3 and 6 are completed, the
interface is more complex, and it is easy to produce fixation duration of card layout is the lowest; when task 2
visual fatigue when used for a long time. and 5 are completed, the fixation duration of list layout is the
 The card layout interface is simple and efficient. It lowest, while that of grid layout is the best only when task 3
can be operated by one hand, but there are many is completed, so in general, card layout is the best when tasks
types of cards. Sometimes, you need to slide several are completed. As shown in Figure 4, it can be seen that the
times to reach an interface. hot spots of the grid layout have the largest distribution range,
almost covering the whole area, while the hot spots of the
TABLE IV. THE MEAN OF FIXATION DURATION OF THREE LAYOUTS
UNDER DIFFERENT TASKS
card layout are concentrated in the middle of the card, with
the smallest range. Therefore, it can be predicted that when
Task List Grid Card the massage chair function increases and the interface
1 6.822 7.001 4.591
information increases, the hot spots distribution area of the
2 7.403 11.112 9.099
3 4.072 4.746 3.392 list interface and the grid interface will gradually increase
4 4.157 3.747 5.565 and disperse, while the hot spots in the card layout will
5 9.746 10.625 10.75 remain in the middle area of the interface.
6 12.315 8.795 6.657
IV. OPTIMAL DESIGN AND EYE MOVEMENT ANALYSIS OF
MASSAGE CHAIR INTERFACE

A. Information architecture
Considering the universality of massage chair users,
based on the universal design, the revised massage chair
interface mainly improves the usability design of information
architecture from the two directions of interface layout
design and information content division, and optimizes some
details according to the experience of subjects.
1) Information content: Through the market survey, it is
found that the proportion of the elderly people who use
massage chairs is large. At the same time, users have
Figure 3. The mean of fixation duration in List, Grid and Card ( X-axis
represents task and Y-axis represents the average fixation duration).
different functional requirements for massage chairs.
According to the characteristics of massage chair with many
additional functions, most of them adopt the combination of
movement and air bag. The control part of massage chair is
divided into main functions and additional functions. The
main function is to massage the head, neck, shoulder, back,
waist, arm, leg, sole and other parts of the body. The
additional functions mainly include music, hot compress,
time, AR, acupoint detection, trajectory planning and other
non-primary function. Less information levels are designed
to avoid the psychological burden and low efficiency.
2) Interface layout and visual design: According to the
analysis of the three layout usability test results, a simple,
clear and reasonable layout interface is designed by using
the card layout interface and combining the simple and
Figure 4. Hotspot map (List, Grid and Card).
intuitive principle and the information awareness principle

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in the general design theory. Since most users will give
priority to the automatic massage mode, the automatic
massage mode will be placed in the upper left corner of the
interface, and voice control will be added, which can be
more convenient for the use of the elderly.
B. Interactive Mode
According to the principle of low physical consumption
and fairness in general design theory, more attention is paid
to the interaction mode of middle-aged and elderly users.
Therefore, click, slide interaction gesture and one hand
operation mode are designed to make the operation more Figure 6. Comparison of optimized surface and old interface.
simple and humanized. As is shown in Figure 5.
V. CONCLUSION
Through evaluation experiments and eye movement
experiments, this paper evaluates the usability of human
factors problems in list, grid and card interface, and finds
that card layout performs well in terms of error times,
fixation duration and fixation track. According to the
characteristics of massage chair population, which is mainly
middle-aged and elderly people, the information architecture
and information structure of massage chair interface are
completed by using universal design theory. Through the
further analysis of eye movement experiment, the mobile end
interface of massage chair with better usability is obtained.
In this paper, the method of subjective and objective
evaluation can be used to help the research of mobile
interface design. At the same time, the card design can also
be used in the mobile internet of things interface design.
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