• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-27
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• 2012

This study provides development information on Omni-Wheel Drive Rider Robot, futuristic electric scooters, with autonomous driving systems that are used for people including the disabled and senior. Also, it is meaningful in suggesting alternatives to replace motorized wheelchairs or electric scooters for the future. Prior to development of Omni-Wheel Drive Rider Robot with autonomous driving systems, it surveyed 49 people, including 18 people who own electric scooters and 31 senior people who have not. The summary of the survey is as follows. First, inconveniences during riding and exiting and short mileage due and safety driving to problems of recharging batteries are the most urgent task. For these problems, the study shows that charging time of batteries, mileage, armrests, footrests, angle of a seat are the primary considerations. Second, drivers prefer joystick over steering wheels because of convenience in one-handed driving against dangers from footrest and carriageways sloping roads, paving blocks. One-handed driving can reduce driving fatigues with automatic stop systems. Moreover, the study suggests many design factors related to navigation systems, obstacle avoidance systems, omni-wheels, automatic cover-opening systems in rainy.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2015

This study is to investigate the accessibility compliance status of smart devices for people with disabilities in the information age, smart and offer improvements. Vision of smart devices, operating systems (IOS, Android, Windows) based smart devices currently in use by most, hearing, investigation and provide handicapped accessibility status and improvement measures derived from a comparative analysis of the Disabled Accessibility Improvement of smart devices was presented.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.518-523
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• 2015

This paper proposes a gait phase classifier using a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN). Walking is a type of dynamic system, and as such it seems that the classifier made by using a general feed forward neural network structure is not appropriate. It is known that an RNN is suitable to model a dynamic system. Because the proposed RNN is simple, we use a back propagation algorithm to train the weights of the network. The input data of the RNN is the lower body's joint angles and angular velocities which are acquired by using the lower limb exoskeleton robot, ROBIN-H1. The classifier categorizes a gait cycle as two phases, swing and stance. In the experiment for performance verification, we compared the proposed method and general feed forward neural network based method and showed that the proposed method is superior.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.176-183
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• 2009

This paper proposes command signal generating method for a wearable robot using the force as the input signal. The basic concept of this system pursues the combination of the natural and sophisticated intelligence of human with the powerful motion capability of the robot. We define a task for the command signal generation to operate with the human body simultaneously, paying attention to comfort and ease of wear. In this study, we suggest a basic exoskeleton experimental system to evaluate a HRI(Human Robot Interface), selecting interfaces of arm braces on both wrists and a weight harness on the torso to connect the robot and human. We develop the HRI to provide a command for the robot motion. It connects between the human and the robot with the multi-axis load-cell, and it measures the relative force between the human and the robot. The control system calculates the trajectory of end-effector using this force signal. In this paper, we verify the performance of proposed system through the motion of elbow E/F(Extension/Flexion), the shoulder E/F and the shoulder Ab/Ad (Abduction/Adduction).

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.258-268
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• 2021

Online learning systems are becoming an effective educational medium for many universities. The accessibility of online learning system in universities means that every student, including the visually impaired, is able use all the site's services. This research focuses on investigating the accessibility of online learning systems for visually impaired users. The paper purpose is to understand the perception of visually impaired undergraduate students towards Blackboard's accessibility and to make recommendations for a new Blackboard design with accessible features that support their needs. Impact of a new Blackboard design with accessible features on visually impaired students, using Taif University students as a case study is evaluated in this paper, as it is similar to most learning systems used by Saudi universities. A study on Taif University's utilization of Blackboard was conducted using mixed method approaches (an automatic tool and a user study). In the first phase, Taif's use of Blackboard was evaluated by the web accessibility tool called AChecker. In the second phase, we conducted a user study to verify previously discovered accessibility challenges to fully assess them according to the accessibility and usability guidelines. In this study, the accessibility of Taif University's Blackboard was evaluated by thirteen visually impaired undergraduate students. The results of the study show that Blackboard has accessibility issues, which are confusing navigation, incompatibility with assistive technologies, untitled pages or parts, unclear identification for visual elements, and inaccessible PDF files. This paper also introduces a set of recommendations that aim to improve the accessibility of Blackboard and other educational websites developed for this population. It also highlights the serious need for universities to enhance web accessibility for online learning systems for students with disabilities.

• 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 the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.436-443
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• 2013

This paper presents design methods of a fuzzy controller and an operator model for a wire-driven heavy material lifting system helping human workers. The wire-driven heavy material lifting system is a kind of human-assistive systems in which a human is involved in the control loop. Thus, human's control characteristics and requirement of reducing worker's force to lift a heavy material are considered in the design process of the proposed fuzzy controller. An automatic weight measurement algorithm during the early stage of lifting is also introduced. Finally, the effectiveness and performance of the proposed system are proved by experiments.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• no.26
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• pp.112-120
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• 2001

This study investigated the extend to which the facilities satisfactorily accommodate people with different disabilities and their specific needs for improving the facilities. Systematic interviews were conducted with 90 disabled people using the non-propertionate stratified cluster random sampling method. Frequency analysis, Chi-square tests, Duncan tests, and analysis of variance(ANOVA) were employed for data analysis. The findings indicated that the respondents' assessment of accommodations and needs for improving accommodations differed by the type of disabilities. People with physical disabilities were the least satisfied with stairs, followed by seating in stadiums and/or theaters. For people with visual disabilities, the lack of guidance and information facilities was the most difficult problem. People with hearing disabilities often pointed out difficulties in using public telephones. meanwhile, people with physical disabilities asked for easy access to assistive devices and improved mobility-related circumstances. yet people with visual disabilities expected to improve way-finding relevant issues, such as detectable warnings on walking surfaces and guidance and information facilities, whereas people with hearing disabilities desired to develop hearing-aid equipments, such as TDD and assistive listening systems.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 2016

Magnetic sensors and actuators have been widely used in industry and medical fields. Integrated systems based on sensors and actuators are defined as mechatronics that is the general combination of mechanics and electronics. Recently, magnetic wireless sensors and actuators have been developed and used at a systematic level. In particular, their mechanisms depend on magnetic, such as magnetic material and physical phenomena. However, their research boundary has not been clear. Researchers talk of magnetic micro-robots, magnetic actuators and sensors. Therefore, a new and correct definition is required. In this study, we introduce the advanced and extended concept of mechatronics, which is a magneto-mechantronics for biomedical and rehabilitation. Among various applications, we focused on wireless pump and sensing system for blood vessel rehabilitation and local motion capture, respectively.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.46.1-46
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• 2001

This paper describes a control method of hybrid power assistive system for lower body, HAL, with the techniques of Phase Sequence and the application of EMG. Our objective is to attain the power assist control of motion in the lower body effectively with these two methods. The Phase Sequence which performs basic motion controls of HAL is the method that a motion, the Task, is accomplished by dividing each motion into the unit named Phase and ...