• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.146-150
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• 2020

Assistive technologies for people with disabilities are often marginalized in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In this paper, we intend to present the possibility of acquiring tactile information through the tactile display adapting an electromagnetic actuator. The multi-layered display designed for tactile communication has innovatively narrowed the size and spacing of cells in order to express pictures, maps, and graphics. This display has enabled the visually impaired to touch two-dimensional information combining with other assistive technologies so that. It would also provide a technical source of access to STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) so that students will perform better and be better prepared for advanced education. Moreover, it can be applied to public infrastructure and transportation in smart-city projects on the globe. Hence, this paper introduces the principle of Electromagnetic-actuator and how it can be utilized in many diverse areas.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.105-111
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• 2014

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) refer to various types of amplification equipment designed to improve the communication of individuals with hard of hearing to enhance the accessibility to speech signal when individual hearing instruments are not sufficient. There are many types of ALDs to overcome a triangle of speech to noise ratio (SNR) problems, noise, distance, and reverberation. ALDs vary in their internal electronic mechanisms ranging from simple hard-wire microphone-amplifier units to more sophisticated broadcasting systems. They usually use microphones to capture an audio source and broadcast it wirelessly over a frequency modulation (FM), infra-red, induction loop, or other transmission techniques. The seven types of ALDs are introduced including hardwire devices, FM sound system, infra-red sound system, induction loop system, telephone listening devices, television, and alert/alarm system. Further development of digital wireless technology in hearing instruments will make possible direct communication with ALDs without any accessories in the near future. There are two technology solutions for digital wireless hearing instruments improving SNR and convenience. One is near-field magnetic induction combined with Bluetooth radio frequency (RF) transmission or proprietary RF transmission and the other is proprietary RF transmission alone. Recently launched digital wireless hearing aid applying this new technology can communicate from the hearing instrument to personal computer, phones, Wi-Fi, alert systems, and ALDs via iPhone, iPad, and iPod. However, it comes with its own iOS application offering a range of features but there is no option for Android users as of this moment.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.581-596
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• 2010

The purposes of this study are to investigate and analyze the level of information and the state of digital divide of the disabled by surveying the demand for information and communication assistive devices, and to provide basic data for plans on the development and utilization of information and communication assistive devices. In order to understand the actual condition and the state of digital divide of persons with disabilities, the differences of possession and accessibility of information technology devices, usage ability, and utilization were analyzed according to the disability profile by using the T-test. The results show that there are significant differences (T=-2.510*) of possession and accessibility of information technology devices with respect to the disability profile, and that the disabled have lower possession and accessibility of devices than the non-disabled. Result of this study's demand forecast shows that about 28% of total respondents are currently using information and communication assistive devices, and a majority (67%) of them answered that the use of assistive devices lend great help to their lives. The proportion of those who have been supported by the government or related organizations with information and communication assistive devices were 36% of the total respondents, and those satisfied with the performance of the devices were 46% of the total responses. Meanwhile, only 36% of total users answered that the operation and use of functions of the devices was easy and convenient, responding that the difficulty of operating assistive devices was the greatest inconvenience. Moreover, the general requests of respondents in regards to the devices were stabilization of device performance, miniaturization of size, simplification of buttons, and reduction of weight.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.777-788
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• 2010

Early diagnosis of autism and intervention of medical treatment are very significant to develop specific social communication skill for children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs). But they have difficulties in medical treatment because of lack of a public welfare institution and special medical system. In particular, few children can access such treatment and the existing single-therapist clinics are inefficient with regard to cost and time. Therefore, new methods should be studied for developing various products, services, and systems for autistic children. This study discusses the potential use of an interactive design as assistive technology for such children. We utilize the experience gained in the collaborative design of the interactive therapy system (ITS). The key methods include a collaborative design with rapid interactive prototyping, heuristic evaluation, user-centered process, VR technology, tangible interface, and scenario-based contents. We applied these methods to the ITS and proved the efficiency of interactive design as an assistive technology through clinical experimentation.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2015

As one of the most widely used assistive technology devices for the disabled in Korea, the powered wheelchair conforms to KS P ISO 7176-5 standard size which uses original version of international standard, ISO 7176-5 without technological modification. However, the international standard is not suitable for the disabled in Korea because it defines the size of wheelchair based on the body size of foreigners, which causes imbalanced posture due to limitation of movement or rotation of pelvis, pressure ulcer incidence due to excessive pressure on the thigh or popliteal space and calf, and safety of reduction due to improper posture. This study suggested the guidance of size for powered wheelchair based on human body size examined by Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, showing a great difference from the size defined in KS P ISO 7176-5 and accordingly redefinition for the size of powered wheelchair is needed.

• 재활복지
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.207-220
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to determine the parent-perceived effect of adaptive seating devices on the lives of infant or young children with physical and brain lesion disabilities(age 1-13y) and their families. Using the seating device for disabled parents of 42 people with disabilities who use FIATS-AS to investigate functional outcomes. All parents completed the FIATS-AS 4 times-2 times before and 2 times after their child received a new adaptive seating system. Repeated-measures analysis of variance detected significant mean differences among the FIATS-AS scores. Also to estimating the impact of the new seating intervention for the 3 age cohorts using the FIATS-AS scores. The FIATS-AS detected a significant interaction between age cohort and interview time. Providing adaptive seating devices has been found that the positive effects on guardians. The change was significant in 1~7 years of age. Environmental modification, such as seating and other assistive technology devices, may have an important role to play in the lives of young children with disabilities and their families.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.478-487
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• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to analyze the effect of wearable complex muscle support system on energy efficiency during walking in elderly. Design: Cross sectional study Methods: Twenty healthy elderly participated in this study. All subjects performed a 6 minuteswalk test(6MWT) and stair climbing test in dual, slack and no suit conditions. In each condition, oxygen consumption(VO₂), metabolic equivalents(METs), energy expenditure measures(EEm), physiological cost index(PCI), walking velocity and heartrate were measured. Through repeated measured ANOVA, it was investigated whether there was a statistically significant difference in the measurement results between the three conditions. Results: In over-ground walking, VO₂, METs and EEm showed significant differences between no suit and slack conditions(p<0.05). In stair climbing, VO₂ showed significant difference between slack and dual conditions(p<0.05). Also, METs and EEm showed significant differences between no suit and slack, and between slack and dual conditions(p<0.05). Conclusions: Wearing the wearable complex muscle support system for elderly does not have much benefit in energy metabolism efficiency in over-ground, but there is a benefit in stair walking.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2009

Electrically operated hospital bed and operating table are useful devices to care patients and to keep postures of them in medical treatment. However they have the risk of physical injury due to various functions and mechanisms consisting of them. In this paper we propose particular requirements for the safety and test methods of electrically operated hospital beds and operating table classified into medical devices. Each items are developed based on international standards. The results of this study can be used for developing internationally harmonized standards for the approval of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA).

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.1-5
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• 2013

In this paper, we proposed how to estimate the walking state in the knee disarticulation prosthesis's knee angle control. In control of the knee disarticulation prosthesis, we can estimate walking state that measurement of knee angle using absolute encoder and measurement of load on the soles using strain gage. We suggested a method of estimating the current walking states which can be divided into four cases and showed the effectiveness of the method via a series of experiments.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2016

In this paper, we apply limited area mask operation and active contour model to accurately detect tongue area outline in tongue diagnosis system. To accurately analyze the properties of the tongue, first, the tongue area to be detected. Therefore an effective segmentation method for detecting the edge of tongue is very important. It experimented with tongue image DB consists of 20~30 students 30 people. Experiments on real tongue image show the good performance of this method. Experimental results show that the proposed method extracts object boundaries more accurately than existing methods without mask operation.