Measuring posture change to detect emotional conditions for workers: A scoping review

BACKGROUND: The emotional management of workers can not only increase the efficiency of work, but also contribute to the improvement of the productivity of a company. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review surveyed the literature to identify the relationship between postural expression and emotion during sedentary tasks. METHODS: We searched relevant literature published up to December 1, 2019 using seven electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, IEEE Xplore, and MEDLINE Complete). RESULTS: A total of 14 publications were included in this scoping review. It was found that the application of pressure sensor and camera-based measurement equipment was effective. Additionally, it was proposed to predict the emotional state of the worker by using forward and backward movements as the main variable as opposed to left and right movements. The information-based analysis technique was able to further increase the accuracy of workers' emotion prediction. CONCLUSIONS: The emotion prediction of workers based on sitting posture could be confirmed for certain movements, and the information-based technical method could further increase the accuracy of prediction. Expansion of information-based technical research will further increase the possibility of predicting the emotions of workers based on posture, and this will in turn promote safer and more efficient work performance.