## 4 Discussion  
The present study illustrates that the integration of the AFMF system into the driver's seat substantially elevates self-reported comfort and diminishes compensatory movements during extended driving sessions. By combining subjective comfort assessments with objective measures of ICMs, our investigation offers an evaluation of the AFMF system's effectiveness, thereby providing insights into enhancing driver safety and overall well-being in practical settings. Although the collection of subjective comfort ratings meant that participants were aware of the seat condition, several methodological strategies were employed to minimize bias. Specifically, each participant experienced both conditions (AFMF activated and de-activated) in a randomized, counterbalanced design, which mitigated order effects and individual differences, ensuring that any bias was uniformly distributed. Moreover, all participants received standardized, neutral instructions that refrained from highlighting an expected superiority of one condition, thereby reducing the influence of demand characteristics. In addition to these subjective ratings, objective measures in the form of ICMs were recorded, offering an unbiased complement to the self-reported data. The ART ANOVA analysis of comfort ratings indicated a statistically significant effect on the driver seat condition, with the AFMF-equipped seat demonstrating a clear advantage over the standard seating configuration in terms of comfort. The AFMF-equipped seat, which integrates dynamic massage patterns, significantly alleviates fatigue compared to a standard seat, supporting the hypothesis that such systems can enhance comfort during extended driving sessions. No significant effects were observed for time or the interaction between seat condition and time, suggesting that the AFMF system's influence on comfort is sustained throughout the trial, independent of the duration of the drive. The analysis of ICMs offers further insight into the mechanisms by which the AFMF system improves comfort. The ART ANOVA (Table 5) demonstrated that the driver seat condition, time, and movement type all significantly influenced ICM, with the seat condition having the most substantial effect. This finding suggests that the AFMF system reduces the need for compensatory movements that typically arise from prolonged sitting. Previous research has also shown that reducing comfort is frequently associated with an increase in ICM, and the AFMF system's ability to reduce these movements underscores its  
Figure 8: Interaction between Time and Driver Seat Condition on Movement Frequencies (Error Bars Indicate Standard Errors [SE]). potential to alleviate ICM [15; 16; 17; 18]. In addition, the AFMF system's ability to reduce these movements, highlights its potential to alleviate ICM. The interaction plot (Figure 6) illustrates that participants in the AFMF condition demonstrated lower mean movement frequencies across all movement types in comparison to those in the standard seat condition. This suggests that the AFMF system may effectively mitigate fatigue, thereby reducing the need for compensatory movements. The AFMF system appears to promote a more comfortable sitting posture over extended periods, potentially alleviating some of the fatigue that typically leads to frequent shifts and fidgeting. When analyzing the interaction between time and movement type (Figure 7), it became evident that Type 1 and Type 2 movements exhibited the most substantial increase over time. This suggests that as fatigue escalated, participants compensated by adjusting their limbs and torso. The pairwise comparisons suggest that Type 1 and Type 2 movements were more frequently engaged than Type 3. However, the absence of significant differences between Type 1 and Type 2 movements indicates that these movement types may serve similar functional roles in responding to fatigue, with their frequency not differing significantly over time.