• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.197-204
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to evaluate driving performance of normal subjects for controlling the steering wheel by using foot operated steering devices in the driving simulator. Many people with complete bilateral loss or loss of use of upper limbs but with normal lower limbs are frequently left without use and/ or control of their hands, arms, or the upper extremities of their bodies. As a result, persons disabled in this manner have problems in operation an automobile because they cannot grasp and manipulate a conventional steering wheel. Therefore, if foot operated steering devices are used for controlling the vehicle on in people with disabilities, the disabled people could improve their community mobility by driving a car safely. Ten normal subjects were involved in this research to evaluate steering performance by using three types of steering devices(conventional steering wheel, pedal type foot steering, circular type foot steering) in driving simulator. STISim Drive 3 program was used for testing the driving performance in two road scenarios: straight road and curved road at low and high speed of vehicle (40 km/h and 80 km/h). This study used two-way ANOVA to compare the influences of two factors(type of foot steering device and road scenario) in the three dependent variables of steering performance(standard deviation of lateral position, the lateral position of vehicle and the number of line crossing). The average values of the three dependent variables(standard deviation of lateral position, lateral position and the number of line crossing) of driving performance were significantly smaller for conventional steering wheel or pedal type foot steering than circular type foot steering.

• 한국디지털정책학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.281-288
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• 2006

Recently, information technology are rapidly diffused throughout the world. A new paradigm, 'telework' and 'distant education' is a product of the tremendous technological changes driving the disabled vocational rehabilitation. In the computer and information communication technology areas related with web-based telework-distant education, the disabled expect vocational rehabilitation. Therefore nowadays, the disabled effort to adapt to the new information era by web-based telework and distant education. This study attempts to suggest developmental framework of employment innovation model to vitalize the disabled vocational rehabilitation.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.32-42
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to evaluate driving performance of Healthy and disabled groups (with or without driver's license) to control steering wheel by using steering assistive devices in the driving simulator. The persons with partial loss of use of all four limbs have problems in operation of the motor vehicle because of functional loss to operate steering wheel. Therefore, if steering assistive devices for grasping the steering wheel are used to control the vehicle on the road in persons with disabilities, the disabled persons can improve mobility in their community life by driving a motor vehicle safely. Ten healthy subjects (with or w/o driver's license) and ten subjects with physical disabilities (with or w/o driver's license) were involved in this study to evaluate driving performance to operate steering wheel by using four types of steering assistive devices (Single-pin, V-grip, Palm-grip, Tri-pin) in driving simulator. STISim Drive 3 software was used to test the steering performance in four scenarios: straight road at low and high speed of vehicle (40 km/h and 80 km/h), curved road at low and high speed of vehicle (40 km/h and 80 km/h). This study used two-way ANOVA in order to compare the effects of two factors (type of steering assistive device and subject group) in the three dependent variables of driving performance (the lateral position of vehicle, standard deviation of lateral position representing the variation of the left and right movement of the vehicle and the number of line crossing). The mean values of the three dependent variables (lateral position, standard deviation of lateral position, the number of line crossing) of steering performance were statistically significantly smaller for the healthy or disabled groups with driver's license than the other groups without driver's license on the curved road at high speed of vehicle compared to low speed of vehicle.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2018

Objective : This study aims to review research trends in driving rehabilitation for the disabled in South Korea since 2000 suggesting research directions for clinicians and researchers. Methods : Fifty eight articles in 16 journals listed in accredited or candidate journal lists of National Research Foundation of Korea from January, 2000 to December, 2016 were reviewed. 'Driving rehabilitation' and 'driving for disabled' were used as search terms. Descriptive statistics were used to classify articles according to study methodology, levels of evidence, study participants, research topics, and academic associations or official journals. Results : Fifty percent of analyzed researches have been published since 2012. Twenty-two studies (37.9%) were published as group comparison and correlational research. Only seven studies (12.1%) were included in evidence level I. There were 19 studies (38.8%) conducted with brain-injured patients among 49 studies including participants. The Korean Society of Occupational Therapy Journal, having published 15 studies (25.9%) about driving rehabilitation, ranked first among the analyzed journals. In research topic, 15 (25.9%) studies were performed about clinical evaluation. Conclusion : The present study showed that the quality of driving rehabilitation-related studies has been increasing, but more intervention-based researches need to be carried out and it is also necessary to carry out various researches in related fields in order to establish efficient driving rehabilitation in Korea.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.11-27
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate high technology adaptive driving controls, such as mini steering wheel-lever system and joystick system, for the people with physical disabilities in the driving simulator. Background: The drivers with severe physical disabilities have problems in operation of the motor vehicle because of reduced muscle strength and limited range of motion. Therefore, if the remote control system with driver-by-wire technology is used for adaptive driving controls for people with physical limitations, the disabled people can improve their quality of life by driving a motor vehicle. Method: We developed the remotely controlled driving simulator with drive-by-wire technology, e.g., mini steering wheel-lever system and joystick system, in order to evaluate driving performance in a safe environment for people with severe physical disabilities. STISim Drive 3 software was used for driving test and the customized Labview program was used in order to control the servomotors and the adaptive driving devices. Thirty subjects participated in the study to evaluate driving performance associated with three different driving controls: conventional driving control, mini steering wheel-lever controls and joystick controls. We analyzed the driving performance in three different courses: straight lane course for acceleration and braking performance, a curved course for steering performance, and intersections for coupled performance. Results: The mini steering wheel-lever system and joystick system developed in this study showed no significant statistical difference (p>0.05) compared to the conventional driving system in the acceleration performance (specified speed travel time, average speed when passing on the right), steering performance (lane departure at the slow curved road, high-speed curved road and the intersection), and braking performance (brake reaction time). However, conventional driving system showed significant statistical difference (p<0.05) compared to the mini steering wheel-lever system or joystick system in the heading angle of the vehicle at the completion point of intersection and the passing speed of the vehicle at left turning. Characteristics of the subjects were found to give a significant effect (p<0.05) on the driving performance, except for the braking reaction time (p>0.05). The subjects with physical disabilities showed a tendency of relatively slow acceleration (p<0.05) at the straight lane course and intersection. The steering performance and braking performance were confirmed that there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) according to the characteristics of the subjects. Conclusion: The driving performance with mini steering wheel-lever system and joystick control system showed no significant statistical difference compared to conventional system in the driving simulator. Application: This study can be used to design primary controls with driver-by-wire technology for adaptive vehicle and to improve their community mobility for people with severe physical disabilities.

• 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 Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.141-151
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of long-term taxi driving posture on the balance of musculoskelectal system. Methods : The author practiced Moire topography by using IBS-2000 for 30 male taxi drivers and general people. Then we measured difference of contour lines, difference of shoulder joint height, interval between vertical baseline of pelvis and vertical baseline of neck, ratio of thoracic curve and lumbar curve, difference of width between right and left through Moire topography. After we statistically analyzed difference of Moire topography's data between long-term employed male taxi drivers and general people. Results : 1. Taxi drivers, difference of contour lines in scapular, lumbar, gluteal region was bigger than general people and significant difference(p<0.05) was observed between subject group. 2. Taxi drivers, diference of shoulder joint height was more large than general people and significant difference(p<0.01) was observed between subject group. 3. Taxi drivers, diference of interval between vertical baseline of pelvis and vertical baseline of neck was more large than general people and significant difference((p<0.05) was observed between subject group. 4. Taxi drivers, ratio of thoracic curve was more large than general people and ratio of lumbar curve was more less than general people and significant difference(p<0.05) was observed between subject group. Conclusions : According to above results long-term taxi driving posture might cause musculoskelectal system unbalance.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2008

Information technology is rapidly diffused throughout the world. Unfortunately, as the technology goes on the disabled vocational rehabilitation is more isolated in physically and mentally. A new paradigm, 'Digital practical use Opportunity' is a product of the tremendous technological changes driving the disabled vocational rehabilitation. The employment for the disabled vocational rehabilitation is a hot issue. Because lack of education rehabilitation cause many problems for the employer. Relating program of employment and education for the disabled vocational rehabilitation, they can get a job in a better condition. This study propose a model of good environmental employment for the disabled vocational providing them the way of getting a job so that they can go as a member of highly developed society. It conducted in society could fundamentally advance our knowledge about the structure of the employment of the disabled vocational rehabilitation, cure their feelings, give them a chance to live happier, stronger, healthier.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.471-477
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• 2006

Ion exchange metal composite(IPMC) has toughness equivalent to the range of human's muscle, transformation-actuation force by relatively low voltage and the fast response time. Thus, as a new method for preparing thicker IPMC, the solution casting method to make the films of various thicknesses out of liquid nation was attempted in this study. To reduce the surface resistance of electrode, the first plated electrode prepared by Oguro method was replated with Au and Ir using ion beam assisted deposition(IBAD). The microstructures of electrode surfaces before and after IBAD plating were investigated using SEM. The change of water and ion-conductivity in IPMC were measured under applied voltage. The displacement and driving force of IPMCs with various thicknesses were measured to evaluate the driving properties.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.81-86
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• 2009

Purpose: This study compared the characteristics of the brake response time during the driving task between elderly and younger drivers. Methods: The participants consisted of an elderly group (n=12) and a younger group (n=12). The brake response time (BRT), which consisted of the reaction time (RT) and movement time (MT), was assessed in an actual driving car. The BRT was measured at the initiation and termination of the brake response for the driving task Results: The elderly group showed a significantly longer delay in the initiation and termination of the brake response than the younger group. The BRT correlated significantly with both the RT and MT. However, the RT showed a more significant correlation. Conclusion: A delay in the initiation and termination of the brake response may have clinical implications. A further study will be needed to determine the different factors contributing to the driving performance of elderly drivers.