• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 1998

Digital hearing aids offer many advantages over conventional analog hearing aids. With the advent of high speed digital signal processing chips, new digital techniques have been introduced to digital hearing aids. In addition, the evaluation of new ideas in hearing aids is necessarily accompanied by intensive subject-based clinical tests which requires much time and cost. In this paper, we present an objective method to evaluate and predict the performance of hearing aid systems without the help of such subject-based tests. In the hearing impairment simulation(HIS) algorithm, a sensorineural hearing impairment medel is established from auditory test data of the impaired subject being simulated. Also, the nonlinear behavior of the loudness recruitment is defined using hearing loss functions generated from the measurements. To transform the natural input sound into the impaired one, a frequency sampling filter is designed. The filter is continuously refreshed with the level-dependent frequency response function provided by the impairment model. To assess the performance, the HIS algorithm was implemented in real-time using a floating-point DSP. Signals processed with the real-time system were presented to normal subjects and their auditory data modified by the system was measured. The sensorineural hearing impairment was simulated and tested. The threshold of hearing and the speech discrimination tests exhibited the efficiency of the system in its use for the hearing impairment simulation. Using the HIS system we evaluated three typical hearing aid algorithms.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.309-316
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• 2010

This paper proposes healthcare bathing system for improving the multisensory function and not washing. We designed various types of bathtub for developing bathing system. This system consists of whirlpool bathtub for multisensory stimulation, a cover of bathtub with visual-auditory stimulation function, a small size PC for main control, touch panel, digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), color-changeable LED mood lighting system for improving visual sensibility and speaker. We investigate the effects on autonomic nervous system during bathing with healthcare bathing system for improving the multisensory functions. To analysis physiological parameter, body temperature, blood pressure, intraocular pressure and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured before, during and after bath using healthcare bathing system. Experiments were performed on partial immersion bath and the water temperature was kept $39{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$. The body temperature and the heart rate variability of the subject were measured every 5 minutes before, during, and after the bath. In analysis of HRV, the parasympathetic nerve increased from starting bath and decreased after 15 minutes. So the subjects felt comfortable at 15 minutes after starting bath. Blood pressure decreased to 16mmHg maximumly however pulse increased. Bath using healthcare bathing system for improving the multisensory functions affects positively the circulation of the blood. From this results, it leaves something to be desired in evaluation of serviceability and physiological analysis using the healthcare bathing system, however, we expect to analyze more clearly the relationship between the serviceability of product, physiological change and sensibility by various physiological parameters.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 2001

The spectral subtraction algorithm using a criterion based on the human perception has been recently developed. The speech processed with Virag's algorithm sounds more pleasant to a human listener than those obtained by the classical methods. However, Virag's algorithm requires a robust voice activity detector (VAD). In the ESS (extended spectral subtraction) algorithm without VAD, the residual noise becomes more noticeable as the SNR decrease. In this paper we propose a new speech enhancement method, the combination of Wiener filter and spectral subtraction based on noise masking characteristics in the human auditory system. There is no need of VAD because the noise can be successively updated even during speech activity using Wiener filter. The adjustment of the subtraction parameter based on the masking threshold makes the residual noise inaudible. The proposed method has been compared with conventional spectral subtraction algorithms. Objective and subjective evaluation of the proposed system is performed with several noise types having different time-frequency distributions. The application of objective measures, the study of the speech spectrograms, as well as subjective listening tests, confirm that the enhanced speech with proposed algorithm is more pleasant to a human listener.

• 한국HCI학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.02a
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• pp.512-515
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• 2009

In this paper, we propose layout based multimodal contents authoring tool for Digilog Book. In authoring step, users create a virtual area using mouse or pen-type device and select property of the area repetitively. After finishing authoring step, system recognizes printed page number and generate page layout including areas and property information. Page layout is represented as a scene graph and stored as XML format. Digilog Book viewer loads stored page layout and analyze properties then augment virtual contents or execute functions based on area. Users can author visual and auditory contents easily by using hybrid interface. In AR environment, system provides area templates in order to help creating area. In addition, proposed authoring tool separates page recognition module from page tracking module. So, it is possible to author many pages using only single marker. As a result of experiment, we showed proposed authoring tool has reasonable performance time in AR environment. We expect that proposed authoring tool would be applicable to many fields such as education and publication.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.732-745
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• 2009

Objectives : This study analyzed the contents of research papers of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) concerning chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) published in PubMed during the last 5 years. This study was conducted to help clinical studies for treating COPD with Oriental medicine. Materials and Methods : We inspected 31 theses and scrutinized their objectives, periods, participants, materials and methods, methods of assessment, results and Jadad score. Results : The treatments in the studies were supplements, physical training, acupuncture, acu-TENS, Bojungikgi-tang (Buzhongyiqi-tang), counseling, breathing training, osteopathic manipulative treatment, reflexology, and distractive auditory stimuli. The aims of treatment were improvement of exercise capacity, lung function, quality of life, oxidative status, nutrient status, systemic inflammation, and cessation of smoking. The median for treatment period of study was 8 weeks, the median number of participants was 35 and the differences between mean $FEV_1$ from groups were less than 10% in 22 studies. The methods of assessment were lung function test, exercise capacity test, muscle strength test, questionnaire of QoL, laboratory studies, and measurement of nutrient state. The mean of Jadad score was $2.4\;{\pm}\;1.03$, and 24 treatment were assessed as effective. Conclusion : Recent CAM studies of COPD have focused on various topics in alternative and complementary medicine, and it is necessary to provide objective studies for treatment of this disease with Oriental medicines.

• Journal of Korea Game Society
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.65-73
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• 2008

In this paper, we designed and implemented edutainment platform that can be effectively applied to developmental disabilities for their education and treatment of sensibility and intelligence training. We developed embedded hardware and contents authoring tool to make multimedia contents operated on the hardware, a management tool to provide result of training, and a real-time monitoring tool for observing the state of study. The hardware is designed by considering the characteristics of developmental disabilities and provides visual, auditory and tactile sense to assist sensibility training for their attention. User-friendly and easy-to-use authoring tool enable teachers and non-specialist to make educational contents. Also the real-time monitoring tool make us to observe user's status even in the outside of classroom. The management tool stores result of training and make us to review the result for further steps. Using this edutainment platform, efficient repetitive training is possible without restriction of time and location. Also when it applied to practical education, we can recognize that our system is effective on improving the ability of attention and studying.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.65-81
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• 2010

This single case study is to examine the gait parameter changes of a 12-year old patient with Cerebellar Astrocytomas using RAS in gait training program. Kinematic and temporospatial changes were analyzed using VICON 370 Motion Analysis System. A total of nine RAS gait training sessions was provided and each training program took 30 minutes. Gait analysis revealed that the patient showed improvement in cadence, velocity, stride length, and step length and improved the range of joint movements by showing gait patterns similar to normal distribution from a pathological pattern. This study showed possibilities to apply the RAS technique to the various population including clients with cerebellum damaged; however more further research should be done in this area.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2009

The cochlea of the inner ear has two core components, basilar membrane and hair cells. The basilar membrane disperses incoming sound waves by their frequencies. The hair cells are on the basilar membrane, and they are the sensory receptors generating bioelectric signals. In this paper, a biomimetic technology using ZnO piezoelectric nano-pillar was studied as the part of developing process for artificial cochlea and novel artificial mechanosensory system mimicking human auditory senses. In particular, ZnO piezoelectric nano-pillar was fabricated by both low and high temperature growth methods. ZnO piezoelectric nano-pillars were grown on solid (high temperature growth) and flexible (low temperature growth) substrates. The substrates were patterned prior to ZnO nano-pillar growth so that we can selectively grow ZnO nano-pillar on the substrates. A multi-physical simulation was also conducted to understand the behavior of ZnO nano-pillar. The simulation results show electric potential, von Mises stress, and deformation in the ZnO nano-pillar. Both the experimental and computational works help characterize and optimize ZnO nano-pillar.

• Journal of Information Management
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.41-67
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• 2010

Augmented reality technology was invented for military purposes at the beginning. But the development of wireless and location based technology in 2000s makes AR services reach the age of innovation. Especially, it attracts attention as a media which enriches our perception. There is a potential that it can extend the virtual information in the real world from optical sense to auditory, tactile, and olfactory sense. This study proposed the interactive information service system and method based on AR. To do it, technical background on AR was analyzed and a method to apply the technology was examined. Especially, as a eco service, this study proposed new information service using 2D bar code in a library for user need and convenience in ubiquitous environment. The proposed service system can optimize practical utilization of information resources in virtual and real reality as consolidating analog and digital resources in a library.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.264-270
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• 2014

This study developed a portable respiratory training device to improve breathing stability, which is an important element in using the CyberKnife Synchrony respiratory tracking device, one of the typical Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT) devices. It produced an interface for users to be able to select one of two displays, a graph type and a bar type, supported an auditory system that helps them expect next respiration by improving a sense of rhythm of their respiratory period, and provided comfortable respiratory inducement. By targeting 5 applicants and applying individual respiratory period detected through a self-developed program, it acquired signal data of 'guide respiration' that induces breathing through signal data gained from 'free respiration' and an auditory system, and evaluated the usability by comparing deviation average values of respiratory period and respiratory amplitude. It could be identified that respiratory period decreased $55.74{\pm}0.14%$ compared to free respiration, and respiratory amplitude decreased $28.12{\pm}0.10%$ compared to free respiration, which confirmed the consistency and stability of respiratory. SBRT, developed based on these results, using the portable respiratory training device, for liver cancer or lung cancer, is evaluated to be able to help reduce delayed treatment time due to respiratory instability and improve treatment accuracy, and if it could be applied to developing respiratory training applications targeting an android-based portable device in the future, even use convenience and economic efficiency are expected.