• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.384-391
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• 2008

For use in the guide system for the people who are visually impaired, an obstacle searching device using synchronous ultrasonic wave emission was proposed and developed. Generally, the conventional obstacle detection methods use the ultrasonic distance measuring device with successive scan method. However, the scan method causes a theoretical error and it couldn't estimate accurate obstacle distances. The proposed synchronous firing method use the plural number of ultrasonic sensors which emit ultrasonic wave simultaneously and estimate the distance to the closest obstacle relatively accurately. We analytically analyzed the errors of the conventional and proposed methods and compared the quantitative differences of the errors. The differences verified by obstacle search experiments. Using the proposed ultrasonic wave synchronous firing method, 3 dimensional obstacle location estimating device was designed and implemented. The results of the 3 dimensional obstacle detecting experiments showed the proposed method had good performances and it would be sufficiently use in the guide system for the people who are visually impaired.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.33 no.2C
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• pp.167-172
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• 2008

Since a 2-dimensional (2D) bar code can retrieve data and information quickly, it is widely used and recognized as a useful tool for many industrial applications. However, the information capacity of the 2D bar code is still limited. Recently the analog-digital code (AD code), which has the largest storage capacity yet contained in a code, has been developed, thereby expanding the bar code's application range because it overcomes the limitation of data capacity. In this paper, we present the AD code and implement an effective embedded system which can transform text information into voice using the 2D AD code and Text To Speech (TTS). This voice information can also be transmitted to blind people as well as the old by capturing the AD code on paper or in books.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2015

Purpose : The current tactile walking surface indicators have not been easily accessible to blind and vision-impaired people due to unexpected variation of walking environment and walking behavior of transportation poor. Moreover, those indicators frequently cause the inconvenience to transportation users' walking. Thus, this study aims to investigate the improvement of tactile walking surface indicators, by comparing and analyzing findings from the relevant research. Results from this study contribute to suggest the better standard criteria of tactile walking surface indicators for transportation users, especially blind and vision-impaired people, the handicapped, the child and the elderly and weak, providing the secure and convenient circumstance for walking. Method : This study presents the problems about the standard criteria of tactile walking surface indicators via the examination of finding from the past studies. For example, we examine all standard criteria, focusing on shapes, colors and qualities of materials used for Tactile Walking Surface Indicators. Then, the present study suggests the improvement of standard, which apply to the current walking environment practically and reasonably. Results : To improve the current condition of tactile walking surface indicators, the analysis on international and domestic standard criteria need to be conducted. Findings from these analyses helps to suggest the better criteria for the interval between projecting points of tactile walking surface indicators, effective perceived range of walking road, and the brightness contrast between tactile walking surface indicators and finishing materials. Implication : The suggested standard criteria of tactile walking surface indicators need to be tested by transportation users, and the practical instructions of establishing tactile walking surface indicators should also be developed.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.363-369
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• 2021

This study improves the design of electric pot and cup that can safely pour and drink hot beverages among daily necessities for the blind and the elderly. It looks at the electric pot and cup that people with visual impairments usually use through their use perspective and studies and improves the safety problems that arise when using them based on the principle of universal design. Through this prior study, we study designs that can be used and shared by all disabled and socially disadvantaged people together and improve the design of household goods to expand the scope of use of general products and create new social values. In addition, through this design improvement process, everyone pursues an equal and virtuous life together, forms a well-off inclusive society, and takes advantage of the current position of the disabled and value of life once again.

• IEMEK Journal of Embedded Systems and Applications
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2017

This paper proposes a new device for a portable braille device using Atmega128 and solenoid magnets. This braille device is composed of three panels, and each panel has six solenoid dots. This device aims to help the disabled people who cannot communicate with others. As an application example, when a disabled people approach a traffic light, it sends a message via Bluetooth to the proposed device letting people recognize a dangerous area. The message converted from the database is based on standard braille chart.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.51-57
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• 2015

Digital braille music is an indispensible instrument for the blind persons to enjoy music and to proceed the more professional music education. Producing braille music requires professionals such as braille translators thereby it costs money for an individual to order braille music. Therefore, public libraries involve in producing and distributing braille music. Current status of digital braille music in Korea has been far from the fulfillment with the unmet needs of the blind people for diversity in their music preferences. This paper analyses the present condition of braille music possession in Korea National Library. Based on the analysis, policy proposals has been proposed.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.100-107
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• 2013

As the eBook market grows fast recently, various eBook viewer solutions such as hardware viewers and software readers came out to the market. We can, however, hardly find mobile eBook interfaces for the reading disabled people who have difficulties in reading for their visual impairment or learning disabilities, or dyslexia. An eBook viewer interfaces for the reading disabled people should be carefully and distinctively designed because the reading disabled people cannot use normal versions of eBook viewer. In this paper, we suggest a eBook viewer interface model to make the reading disabled people read eBooks easily. Depending on the type of the reading disabled people: the full blind, the almost blind, the just learning disabled, our model provides an adaptive interface to make them read eBooks effectively. In addition, unlike the existing simple audio books, we also support annotation systems to make the reading disabled people interact with eBook viewer. To show the effectiveness of our model, we implemented an eBook viewer prototype on an android-based mobile device. We are sure that our model and implementation can make the reading disabled people, who is 10% of all the domestic people, read eBooks effectively.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.54
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• pp.149-176
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to examine the degree of community integration of visually impaired people who have the limitation of mobility in comparison with another disabled and to find factors affecting community integration. The data were obtained through telephone interview with visually impaired people. The final sample was consisted of 1,004 respondents. The data were analyzed using statistical techniques such as crosstabulation, t-test, and hierarchical regression. In this study, the factors affecting community integration was divided into four dimensions : the attribution to disability, physical functioning, psychology and social support system. The major findings of this study were as follows: First, the factors affecting community integration of visually impaired people were age, education, economic status, social support, information support and participation of rehabilitation service. Second, the factors affecting community integration of the low vision and the blind are the limitation of daily activities and social support. But the factors affecting community integration of the blind are participation of education for braille and that of the low vision are information support and participation of rehabilitation service. Finally, the person losing eyesight since school age were the more limitation of daily activities than the person losing eyesight in babyhood. The factors affect community integration of the former are social support, information support, participation of education for braille, and rehabilitation service. The current findings suggest that intervention and policy aimed at improving social support system and formal services such as education, rehabilitation services should be considered by rehabilitation professionals and policy makers.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-30
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• 2007

The rapid development of information and communication technologies has resulted in rapid increase in the qualitative and quantitative information that can be accessed by information technology. Furthermore an enormous amount of information is provided in various formats. However, there are a group of people who are not able to even approach to targeted information due to physical or environmental problems. Visually handicapped users constitute a class of these users. In this paper, a method of developing user interface for web-based education service is described for the visually handicapped users to access information more efficiently. First, this paper analyzed the problems of visually handicapped users to access information targeting representative domestic sites that supply education services. And based on the results of the above analyses, Nest, this paper explains the web-based education service interface implementation method according to types of the content to be delivered. Lastly, the validity of this method is provided by testing a web page based on the implementation method according to the types of content.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.47-57
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to discover the nature from the life experience of a person with unilateral acquired blindness and his/her family after losing the eyesight and adapting in the environment and to find the meaning of life and how to solve the problem in psychosocial aspect. Methods: This study uses one of the qualitative research methods which explains how families with the unilateral acquired blind perceive blindness after experiencing it and observes how they signify it. starts with interest in lifestyles of individuals and their families and tries to understand the subjective existences of participants in accessible ways and draw the experiences after becoming one-side blind. It cyclically uses deductive verification process through inductive method and establishing hypothesis using materials. Results: According to the results of this study, unilateral acquired blindness studies, due to shattered life, they did not know what to do. Also, discomfort from struggling in a big tunnel and even will to live were found. trying to go out to the world, seeing the new world, and trying to encourage myself, strong attachment to life was shown to by saying, appeared. Each includes sub-topics such as feeling abandoned after confirmed the blindness, feeling disappointed to doctors, family, and friends, trying to live with hope, struggling in a tunnel with thinking how to live, closing the mind from the world, seeing outside the world in the midst of struggling, trying to forget the past with the will of life, having hope to live with care of family, and trying to keep the rest vision. Conclusion: Firstly, in nursing aspect for their adaptation, programs for disable people and nursing intervention focused on their families should be developed. Secondly, since it can be economic and psychological burden for their families and acquaintances, it is necessary to support the blind so that they can find fitted rehabilitation programs and come back to society. Thirdly, active participation of health care providers may influence social interest the improvement of national welfare policy for the unilateral acquired blind.