• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.22 no.3_1spc
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• pp.587-592
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• 2013

Until recently, the primary users of wheelchairs were people with lower body disabilities. However, the number of patients recovering from accidents or surgery, as well as the number of elderly people using wheelchairs, is constantly increasing. This study examined the design and manufacture of standing and gait assist wheelchairs that assist temporary gait disturbed patients to take rehabilitation training and elderly people to engage in walking exercise. A kinematic analysis was used to select a drive motor and design a four-bar linkage mechanism for lifting the backrest vertically. Using a multibody dynamic simulation, detailed design was performed taking into consideration the spatial motion and partial interference, and the necessary push force and stroke of the linear actuator were also calculated. To ensure structural safety, the von-Mises equivalent stresses of the upper and lower brackets of the linear actuator were verified through a finite element analysis. The manufactured wheelchair was shown to operate successfully as intended, using the developed controller for the drive motors and linear actuator.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2015

In this paper, we proposed the fabrication methodology of orthotic device using 3D Computer-Aided Design programme and 3D printing technology based on images acquired from 3D scanner. We set the process and methodology of its fabrication method and confirmed whether it is available for clinical by fabricating four kinds of orthotic device for a patient with cerebral palsy. 3D printing technology method was indicated quantitatively and qualitatively about duration, tensile strength stronger comparing with conventional method, and we could propose that the 3D printing technology for the orthosis could be the proper method to mediate and compensate with reported problems related to orthosis.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.94-102
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• 2011

In this paper, we proposed a real-time education assistive technology system based on haptic display to improve education environment of total blindness people. The proposed system consist of a lecture and writing S/W for educator and a previously developed haptic display H/W for total blindness people. The one has the major function which is quickly and easily writing to the education data, that will be provided to total blindness people, through familiar UI, the other has the major function which print out the tactile information about the education data. The result of implementing system not only provides a similar result using existing braille instrument and printer, but shows that it is effective performance and functionality because it can print out the education data in real time.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.267-273
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to figure out the stroller for baby with physical disability and to suggest improvement by using the usability test. Usability evaluation is separated by the user and the expert evaluation was conducted. Strollers for disabled users to analyze the evaluation of this experience using a guardian of a child with a disability was conducted targeting 30 people. The function and structure of the stroller easy to evaluate whether the five-point scale. Professional 10 strollers for disabled users with the problems of the design and structure were looking to make a suggestion. In this study, to obtain foreign products and differentiation, functionality, and ease of analyzing the conditions of satisfaction and competitiveness of domestic products will be able to contribute.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.55-66
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• 2015

In the perspective of industrial health management, it is important for the employee to decrease their job stress, to improve their productivity and quality of labor. In this study, the job stress, and it's influence on PWI(Psychosocial Wellbeing Index) were investigated by the questionnaire survey of 138 industrial workers who had studied assistive technology in college. The contents of questionnaire consist of the demographic characteristics, job-related characteristics, job stress and psycho-social stress. We evaluated job stress by KOSS-SF(Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Sort Form) and psychosocial stress by PWI-SF(Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form). To analyze the results, we evaluated the exposure level of KOSS and PWI by demographic characteristics and job-related characteristics using significance tests. Also, we estimated the relationship among demographic characteristics, job-related characteristics, job stress and psychosocial stress, using correlation analysis. As a results, all workers were found to be in a group under the high risky stress. It showed that the scale index of female's job non-autonomy and pwi were much larger than those of male's. Therefore, to guarantee job autonomy of female workers should be more emphasized, to improve their working environment. Job type had significant relationships with many job stress category; physical environment, job demand, job instability and organization culture. Regarding pwi, the scale index of the workers who is in charge of the civil service such as contacting the disabled and the aged in person, were much larger than that of the other workers. Accordingly, the job stress management program including physical environment, job demand, job instability and organization culture, should be suggested, to decrease the stress of the workers in charge of the disabled and the elders service. The strongest predictors of pwi was organization system through maximum positive relations between organization system and pwi. Therefore, it indicates that improvement of organization system such as a fair merit rating, a manpower supply, demand plan and department cooperation is urgently needed to reduce pwi.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.425-433
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• 2014

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of CAD (Computer Aided Design) based alpine mono-ski bucket design on disabled ski athletes' kinematic characteristics. Two national team ski athletes with LW11 disabilities (Locomotion Winter Classification) category for sit ski participated in both pre and post experiment. Both of the subjects performed 3 trials of carved turn on a ski slope under two conditions. Where, subject "A" performed pre experiment with personal bucket and post experiment with the newly developed CAD based bucket whereas, Subject "B" as control subject performed both pre and post experiment with his personal bucket. For the experiment, 24 Infrared cameras were positioned on the ski slope which covered the path of the ski turn. Also, motion capture suit with reflective markers were worn by both subjects. In the result, decrement in medial/lateral displacement of COM, anterior/posterior displacement of COM, flexion/extension angle of trunk as well as velocity losing rate of COM was observed in subject "A" when using the newly developed CAD based bucket. In contrast, no larger effect on performance was observed when using personal buckets. In conclusion, the findings obtained from the study indicated effectiveness of newly developed CAD based bucket by reducing excessive movement of hip and trunk which is an important factor to perform an effective turn.