• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.99-109
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• 2013

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the current state of training in assistive technology(AT) for pediatric physical therapists(PPTs) and pediatric occupational therapists(POTs), in addition, investigate therapists' preferred training methods and contents. The eventual purpose was to suggest the essential fundamental factors to adapt the assistive technology in clinics. METHODS: The subject of this study were 167 therapists(98 PPTs and 69 POTs) who work at general hospitals, welfare center, facilities for the disabled, and special education school in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. Frequency analysis and Chi-squared test were used. RESULTS: Significant numbers of PPTs(66 therapists, 67.3%) and POTs(50 therapists, 72.5%) answered that they had received training in AT. More than 48% answered no training experience or low adequacy in each classification scheme for questions. The most difficulty in the training was indicated by lack of education opportunity(90 therapists, 53.9%). The most required device training was seating and position device training(43 therapists, 21.9%) for PPTs and orthosis and prosthesis device training(29 therapists, 21.0%) for POTs. In assistive technology service, PPTs needed evaluation to AT device training(69 therapists, 35.2%) and POTs needed evaluation to disabilities for AT training(41 therapists, 29.7%). Both therapists answered that the most effective training is continuous education(52 therapists, 31.1%) and college education(48 therapists, 28.7%). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that PPTs and POTs need more opportunities for training in AT. For effective clinical app lication of AT, there should be continuous education such as on-the-job training, mentoring program, technical manual, and college education.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.132-144
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the association between satisfaction with assistive technology devices and psychosocial impact among some mentally or physically disabled children. Methods: The study subjects were 120 disabled children and their primary caregivers who were using rental assistive technology devices in Gwangju and Jeollanam-Do. Data were collected by structured questionnaire composed of general characteristics of subjects, characteristics related with using assistive devices. Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology 2.0 (QUEST 2.0) and Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Device Scale (PIADS). The statistical analysis were performed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlational analysis. Results: The total mean score for QUEST 2.0 was $4.08{\pm}0.66$ (satisfaction with devices, $4.01{\pm}0.70$; satisfaction with the assistive devices service, $4.14{\pm}0.90$) and the mean of PIADS was $1.00{\pm}0.75$ (ability, $0.99{\pm}0.78$; adaptability, $1.04{\pm}0.86$; self-respect, $0.99{\pm}0.74$). The scores of PIADS was statistically significant difference according to usage time of assistive devices. The PIADS was significantly positive correlated with QUEST 2.0 Conclusions: The mentally or physically disabled children reported that the higher level of satisfaction and the more positive impact of psychosocial aspect with assistive technology devices. It would be necessary to perform further studies for addressing the effects of assistive technology devices.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2013

Objective : This study was aimed to survey the present situation and satisfaction in assistive technology of the physically disabled person. Method : 110 patients, being diagnosed with spinal cord injury and stroke, were chosen and structured interview was carried out using by a questionnaire. Result : The followings are the results of this study. First, spinal cord injury(76.2%) and stroke(72.5%) patients used the most wheelchair and mobility devices in assistive technology device. Second, they were satisfied in effectiveness of assistive technology device. Third, spinal cord injury(39.4%) patients used the most repair service in assistive technology service. Fourth, stroke(28.2%) patients used the most application and training service. Fifth, they were satisfied in professionality while were dissatisfied in service delivery program. Conclusion : The results of this study would contribute to better assistive technology for the physically disabled person.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.8-19
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• 2013

One of the important issues for structural and electrical specifications in developing a robot is to determine lengths of links and motor specifications, which need to be appropriate to the purpose of robot. These issues become more critical for a gait rehabilitation robot, since a patient wears the robot. Prior to developing an entire gait rehabilitation robot, designing of a 1DOF assistive knee joint of the robot is considered in this paper. Human gait motions were used to determine an allowable range of knee joint that was rotated with a linear type actuator (ball-screw type) and links. The lengths of each link were determined by using an optimization process, minimizing the stroke of actuator and the total energy (kinetic and potential energy). Kinetic analysis was performed in order to determine maximum rotational speed and maximum torque of the motor for tracking gait trajectory properly. The prototype of 1 DOF assistive knee joint was built and examined with a impedance controller.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-58
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• 2023

This article is a spinoff of a doctoral study that was completed at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) in 2018 on provision of information services to persons with visual and physical impairments in public university libraries in Kenya. The article examined how ICTs such as internet, e-resources and e-databases, word processing, websites and more were being used in public university libraries to provide access to information by visually and physically impaired persons. Data were collected from the visually and physically impaired students, University Librarians, Systems librarians, staff from disability departments and library staff who provided services to visually and physically impaired persons. The findings revealed that the visually and physically impaired persons in most of the libraries could not access information owing to lack of the necessary assistive and adaptive technologies and weak institutional support and framework. The study recommend that the libraries improve assistive technology infrastructure, embrace new assistive technologies such as telepresence robots, virtual realities and more, and put in place enabling policies and capacity building programmes for library staff to enable them to provide services to persons with impairments.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.805-813
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• 2018

The research was conducted with the purpose of providing effective safety and quality control system for assistive products for handicapped those are used extensively. Assistive products couldn't be classified independently due to collision with the act of medical device and lack in legal basis. The issues about safety and quality have been solved by other legal frames on a case by case basis. We couldn't find any abroad case of independent safety and quality control policy. For the practical solution, this article suggested hybrid classification system mixed with existing policies. Each classified branches are allocated to the appropriate policy of safety and quality control so those are ease of understanding and prospect. And also a delicacy process was suggested not to leave off any assistive products. Through these suggests of the improvement it is expected that blind areas of safety and quality control for assistive products for handicapped could be solved and identity of assistive products could be established to provide product safety for handicapped and boost relevant industries.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2010

Research and development of Assistive Technology (AT) for blind people is primarily focused on assisting mobility and improving access to information. Some particularly useful devices for aiding access to information and communication are DAISY players used with talking books, screen readers for reading screens, video magnifiers to aid low vision, Braille displays, and Braille PDAs. These essential devices have been successfully commercialized and have assisted many visually impaired people. Assistive technology devices for visually impaired people are called sensory substitution devices, because these devices substitute tactile or auditory functions for visual functions. The tactile interfaces of sensory substitution devices such as Braille displays and Braille PDAs have a bimorph type of piezoelectric actuator that forms a Braille (pin) of the Braille cells by moving up and down. KGS Corporation of Japan has more than 80% share of the worldwide market for these Braille cell actuators. Commercializing it for the first time in the world. This paper reviews the various endeavors in Japan in the research and development of tactile displays, such as Braille displays and Braille PDAs. Furthermore, it discusses sensory substitution devices that use tactile displays, focusing especially on the rotating Braille display we have developed.

• 재활복지
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.25-45
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• 2014

The present report aims to examine the assistive technology(AT) service operating system for the Disabled in Sweden, and will give it to NHIS(National Health Insurance Service) to manage of policy for AT service operating system. The user of AT is around 10% of the Disabled in Sweden which is introduced the AT service system to support the independence for the Disabled. To provide AT service, the role of the Ministry of Health(planning and regulation, controling Handisam and Hi as a subsidiary), County councils(providing and follow up medical AT service, operating AT service center) and Municipalities(providing general AT service) in Sweden is decentralized strictly. Specially, all the AT device is lent freely and recycled suitably for persons with Disabilities, moreover nurses, physical therapist and occupational therapist has a qualification for prescription of AT device . This finding will be the basis to improve Assistive Technology Operating System in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.26 no.6_3
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• pp.1315-1323
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• 2023

Rehabilitation assistive devices not only assist the rehabilitation therapy and daily life of the disabled and the elderly, but also assist the labor of their caregivers, so various functions are required to improve their quality of life. In this study, a design method considering its practicality is introduced for an active rehabilitation assistive device that can perform both standing and walking assistance by driving various actuators. For this purpose, the force required to assist standing was calculated using statics with the body segmentation method. Also, the overturning stability of the device was verified for various physical conditions and postures. The actuator in the active rehabilitation assistive device was operated by a patient using a graphical user interface in an embedded computer and a touch panel for easy usage. The detailed design was performed for implementation through the help of 3D-CAD and the finite element analysis, and a prototype was produced. Finally, it was proven that the design goal was satisfied by experimental validation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.109-116
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• 2016

This study presents a unique way to improve consumer-oriented service for assistive orthosis products. Satisfaction and important factors were analyzed based on responses from disabled people who have used the orthoses. We surveyed 185 disabled people with QUEST (Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology), and we conducted in-depth interviews with 25 individuals. The average satisfaction score was 3.68 (orthoses satisfaction: 3.78; service satisfaction: 3.52). For each item, the highest score was effectiveness, and the lowest one was cost. As important factors for each item, the participants selected cost, comfort, repair, and service. The fee system for orthoses needs rational revision, and a delivery system should be constructed for follow-up services such as repair.