• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1067-1076
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• 2016

This paper describes the development of a hybrid-powered wheelchair (HPW) for the elderly. The proposed HPW has novel mechanical and control features compared with conventional powered wheelchairs. An ergonomic back-braking mechanism was designed in order to stop the wheels easily. In terms of control features, the HPW remarkably reduces the muscle power required by combining various assistive functions, such as wheel torque assistance, friction/inertia compensation, gravity compensation, and the one-hand driving algorithm. For wheel torque assistance, strain gauges were attached to the hand-rim in order to measure the wheel torque applied by a human. Gyroscopes and an accelerometer were attached to the wheel and chair respectively for friction and inertia compensation. An inclinometer was attached for gravity compensation and the one-hand driving algorithm was included for patients who can only use one hand. The one-hand driving algorithm controls the angular velocity of the uncontrolled wheel by using a gyroscope and pressure sensors attached to the bottom of the seat. Finally, the performance of the proposed motion assisted algorithm was verified through various experiments.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting maintenance of exercise among elderly with metabolic syndrome. In order to achieve this purpose, the study design was used a cross-sectional survey. Study participants were a total of 136 elderly with metabolic syndrome and they completed the questionnaire consisted of outcome expectations, exercise self-efficacy, exercise social support, physical activity environment, and exercise maintenance. The data was analyzed using frequency, $X^2$, t-test, and Logistic regression by SPSS Win 20.0 program. The study results had shown that factors affecting maintenance of exercise among elderly with metabolic syndrome, were gender, outcome expectation, and exercise self-efficacy. This study results indicated that the personal motivation such as self-efficacy and outcome expectation among elderly with metabolic syndrome was the most important factor to maintain their exercise. Therefore, we should consider on developing health promotion program to enhance the personal motivation such self-efficacy and outcome expectation for elderly with metabolic syndrome. In addition, this results would used to develop adequate nursing strategies for taking care them in the community.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.22 no.3_1spc
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• pp.600-606
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• 2013

This paper describes the development of a novel walking assistance robot for the elderly and infirm. In the case of simple walking assistance devices, the walking safety and effectiveness are somewhat low; hence, caregivers are frequently required. The walking assistance robot developed in this research is capable of securely and conveniently assisting a walking user by using electric motors and various devices without a caregiver. The main features include the following. First, the walking safety is improved by using a pelvis supporter, and the robot is able to follow the user effectively by means of ergonomic motion sensors and electric powered wheels. Second, it is possible to adjust the load applied to the lower body by adjusting the height of the pelvis supporter. Finally, it is possible to inform the approximate distance and direction of any obstacle around the robot using the sounds and vibrations for the blind and the hearing impaired. The performance of the developed walking assistance robot was successfully verified using a walking assistance test in a narrow-corridor environment.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Planning & Design
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.119-126
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• 2019

The active living of the elderly leads to improve their lives and enhance social networks. In the view of the active living, the walkability is an essential factor for the elderly's daily life. To support the active living, making age-friendly environment is important. Considering that the elderly mainly carry out activities through walking, making the age-friendly walking environment is a preliminary action. The existing studies applied various methods such as surveys by experts. In spite of the benefits in theirs, there is still a limitation that current walkability measurement methods did not incorporate the actual elderly's walking activity. Thus, the purposes of this study is to measure the elderly's walking quantitatively using a wearable sensor, and to investigate the feasibility of comparing several walking environments based on the data collected from the actual elderly's walking. To do this, experiment was conducted in four types environments with 22 senior subjects. The walkability was measured by walking stability represented quantitatively as Maximum Lyapunov Exponent (MaxLE). Through the experiment results, it was confirmed that the stability of the elderly walking was different according to the walking environment, which also meant that bodily responses (walking stability) is highly related to walkability. The results will provide an opportunity for the continuous diagnosis of walking environments, thereby enhancing the active living of the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.102-112
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• 2019

This study is a quasi-experimental of one-group pretest-posttest design to verify the effects on loneliness, depression and self-esteem when conducted the cognitive function enhancement program for elderly people over 75 years old. It was carried out on 6 persons living in C North G Country who was subjected to elderly people over 75 years old for 10 weeks from September 26, 2016 to December 17,2016 in order to compare changes in loneliness, depression, and self-esteem. As a result, it was found that depression had noticeably decreased and self-esteem had significantly improved with the program. Thus, the cognitive enhancement program is thought to carry benefits as nursing intervention for the decrease in depression and the improvement of self-esteem in old-old elderly.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.507-515
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• 2020

The children's park, which was created uniformly during the industrialization period, is less utilized and is mainly used by the elderly during the day. In addition, sports facilities and rest facilities for the elderly are being installed, damaging the essence of children's parks. The main purpose of this study was to present the creation of a children's park that was appropriate to its essence and the utilization plan for the elderly. In this study, we conduct a survey to identify citizens' perception of children's parks and found that the opinions of children and the elderly were generally different. Children want to change and enjoy various games, while older people want to enjoy various programs while maintaining the status quo. As above, children do not dislike using the park with the elderly, but hope to create a separate park if possible. Meanwhile, the elderly want to renovate the current children's park and continue to use it. Therefore, in the future, some areas of children's parks will be created for the elderly or the entire area will be changed into small parks for the elderly, considering the location characteristics and population distribution of children's parks. In addition, the government should prepare measures for the introduction of programs for the elderly or maintenance using the elderly.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of telephone intervention on the reduction of depression after the intervention for the elderly living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. A one-group pretest and posttest design was used to examine changes in depression level following telephone intervention a once a week for 10 weeks. The subjects of this study were older adults aged 65 registered with 3 social welfare institutions in Wonju, and a total of 114 elderly completed a questionnaire before and after the intervention. Telephone intervention was provided by 56 nursing student volunteers, and each student was in charge of 2-3 elderly people. The depression score decreased from 6.59±3.74 before the intervention to 5.01±3.34 after the intervention (t=4.959, p<.001). Study findings suggest that telephone intervention is effective as an emotional support for the elderly living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is needed to expand the scope of various subjects and regions, including the elderly not living alone.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.17-25
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• 2018

Purpose: Korean society is undergoing the rapid increase and poverty of elderly population. Therefore, the appropriate supply and planning of public rental housing for the low-income elderly is more important. The purpose of this study is to present the basic data for the study and planning of the elderly housing complex by analyzing the cognitive characteristics of the elderly residing in the rental housing. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted to identify health characteristics of the elderly living in the 'Gongreung SH Apartment'. 100 random samples were collected and 82 valid samples were analysed. Statistical analysis was performed using Excel and R for the age, sex, health, outdoor walking frequency and characteristics of Cognitive map of the elderly. Results: The characteristics of cognitive map were classified into point shapes and linear shapes. The linear group was lower in average age than the point group and tended to draw the map wider. The wider the map was, the more the number of elements in cognitive map was. The number of elements on the cognitive map decreased as respondents' age increased. On the other hand it was not related to residence period and gender of the elderly. Implication: The cognitive extent of the residential environment tends to decrease with age. Men's cognitive range is wider than women's. There is no corelation between the number of cognitive elements and cognitive map type. Men tend to have a systematic image of city, whereas women focus on relational and social urban factors. For sustainable apartment complex design, various characteristics of the group including men and women, different age and different health status should be considered.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.465-470
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• 2024

Kitchen cabinets are widely used for their spacious storage and efficient use of space, but their high installed location makes it difficult for the elderly and disabled to access. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a new height-adjustable kitchen cabinet that can be used more easily and safely. The lift-down range of cabinet was set considering the installation location of cabinet for efficient use of kitchen space and the maximum height accessible to the elderly and disabled, and the link geometry and driving method of the complex link mechanism were determined through the mechanism design procedure to ensure that the selected floor come down safely along the optimal descend path. In addition, the appropriate motor and control algorithm were added to allow the user to descend to the desired height with a simple button operation. It was confirmed through actual production that the proposed linkage mechanism performs the desired lift-down motion.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.409-420
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• 2016

Korea is expected to enter 'Super Aged Society' in 2026. However, as walking is the very basic human right of mobility, securing safe and convenient moving of elderly people comprising the majority of transportation vulnerable is thought to be the most basic welfare, which can be easily neglected. From this perspectives, this study provides the walking characteristics of elderly people to be used in design of pedestrian facilities. The analysis of the measurements using Motion Analysis Systems shows that all walking factors of elderly people is 75% level of the younger group. Elderly group shows slower movement, reduced shoulder movement and increased ankle movement compared to the others. Also, foots are risen less and ground repulsive force is increased. Cluster analysis shows that the group of the elderly shows high variability inside the group, and 2 or 3 clusters can be formed with factors of Walking, Balance and Muscles. These walking characteristics can be used in designing pedestrian road, slope and step height of roadway facilities.