• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2016

Objectives : As the prevalence of elderly depression increases, it becomes urgent problem to provide preventive and management measures. But in practice, it is difficult to detect depression in early stage. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between sociodemographic factors and depression in elderly welfare facility users in a city. Methods : In this research, the severity of depression and sociodemographic factors(gender, age, education, co-morbid disease, housing type, number of children, number of family members living with the subjects) was evaluated through PHQ-9 and interview. Using the data, the associations of depression and sociodemographic factors were analyzed. Based on PHQ-9 depression cut-off value(10 points), the subjects were divided into two groups, and the difference of the variables between groups were analyzed statistically. Results : 'Own house'(YES/NO), education(less than elementary school graduation/more than elementary school graduation) were sociodemographic factors which showed significance difference in mean PHQ-9 scores. Group with Over PHQ-9 10 points showed less 'having their own house' and less education level than group with less PHQ-9 10 points. Conclusions : With this research, it is expected that the risk factors for the elderly depression can be understood and the measures for early detection and invention of elderly depression would be provided.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.117-140
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• 2019

As the aging phenomenon accelerates and various social problems related to the elderly of the vulnerable are raised, the need for effective elderly care solutions to protect the health and safety of the elderly generation is growing. Recently, more and more people are using Smart Toys equipped with ICT technology for care for elderly. In particular, log data collected through smart toys is highly valuable to be used as a quantitative and objective indicator in areas such as policy-making and service planning. However, research related to smart toys is limited, such as the development of smart toys and the validation of smart toy effectiveness. In other words, there is a dearth of research to derive insights based on log data collected through smart toys and to use them for decision making. This study will analyze log data collected from smart toy and derive effective insights to improve the quality of life for elderly users. Specifically, the user profiling-based analysis and elicitation of a change in quality of life mechanism based on behavior were performed. First, in the user profiling analysis, two important dimensions of classifying the type of elderly group from five factors of elderly user's living management were derived: 'Routine Activities' and 'Work-out Activities'. Based on the dimensions derived, a hierarchical cluster analysis and K-Means clustering were performed to classify the entire elderly user into three groups. Through a profiling analysis, the demographic characteristics of each group of elderlies and the behavior of using smart toy were identified. Second, stepwise regression was performed in eliciting the mechanism of change in quality of life. The effects of interaction, content usage, and indoor activity have been identified on the improvement of depression and lifestyle for the elderly. In addition, it identified the role of user performance evaluation and satisfaction with smart toy as a parameter that mediated the relationship between usage behavior and quality of life change. Specific mechanisms are as follows. First, the interaction between smart toy and elderly was found to have an effect of improving the depression by mediating attitudes to smart toy. The 'Satisfaction toward Smart Toy,' a variable that affects the improvement of the elderly's depression, changes how users evaluate smart toy performance. At this time, it has been identified that it is the interaction with smart toy that has a positive effect on smart toy These results can be interpreted as an elderly with a desire to meet emotional stability interact actively with smart toy, and a positive assessment of smart toy, greatly appreciating the effectiveness of smart toy. Second, the content usage has been confirmed to have a direct effect on improving lifestyle without going through other variables. Elderly who use a lot of the content provided by smart toy have improved their lifestyle. However, this effect has occurred regardless of the attitude the user has toward smart toy. Third, log data show that a high degree of indoor activity improves both the lifestyle and depression of the elderly. The more indoor activity, the better the lifestyle of the elderly, and these effects occur regardless of the user's attitude toward smart toy. In addition, elderly with a high degree of indoor activity are satisfied with smart toys, which cause improvement in the elderly's depression. However, it can be interpreted that elderly who prefer outdoor activities than indoor activities, or those who are less active due to health problems, are hard to satisfied with smart toys, and are not able to get the effects of improving depression. In summary, based on the activities of the elderly, three groups of elderly were identified and the important characteristics of each type were identified. In addition, this study sought to identify the mechanism by which the behavior of the elderly on smart toy affects the lives of the actual elderly, and to derive user needs and insights.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.23-34
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• 2020

Objective : Recently, the demand for wearable mobile devices for the monitoring and improvement of one's health and quality of life is increasing. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the need of potential users in order to develop mobile health based and lifestyle care application for the elderly. Methods : Participants who lived in their community and used a mobile phone were recruited. Finally, a total of 84 participants completed the survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a t-test, which was carried out with SPSS version 25.0. Results : The application functions that users deemed important for a lifestyle care app were the number of daily steps, physical activity, blood pressure, sleep, nutrition and participation in activity. Interestingly, there was a significant difference in the importance given to the app function of participation in activities between age groups. Conclusion : This study investigated the need and preferences of potential users of health and lifestyle care application for the promotion of health among the elderly. The, findings obtained from this study could be a valuable resource for the development of lifestyle care application.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.3-12
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• 2010

This study mainly focused on the intergenerational exchange as a plan to revitalize the social participation of the elderly. The purpose of the study is to propose a plan for revitalizing future intergenerational exchange through the present condition analysis in the aspects of activity, space and consciousness for the elderly-centered intergenerational exchange. The study scope is the local welfare level, broad sense of exchange for the aged, children, youths and local residents, and the study objects are the personnel in charge of welfare policy and the staff in charge of operating general social welfare centers and the users of the facilities users. A survey questionnaire type research was sent through post mail to 278 social welfare centers, and 384 government offices within the jurisdictions. Among them, the responses were collected from 22 general social welfare centers and 26 offices within the jurisdictions. A proposal of a plan to revitalize intergenerational exchange that needs to be implemented in future based on the consideration of the present condition and characteristics of the intergenerational exchange of general social welfare center.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.936-940
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• 2013

As the ageing population grows around the world, the demand for electric wheelchairs, an important mobility assistance device for the disabled and elderly, is gradually increasing. Therefore, a number of studies related to intelligent wheelchairs are actively underway to improve safety and comfort for wheelchair users. However, previous collision avoidance studies for intelligent wheelchairs have concentrated on collision avoidance methods with the shortest distance and by only changing either velocity or heading angle, rather than considering the forces exerted on the user. If a collision avoidance algorithm that does not consider these forces is applied to an intelligent wheelchair, there is a possibility of an accident due to falling as wheelchair users are generally disabled and elderly people. In this paper, we propose a collision avoidance algorithm which minimizes the forces exerted on a wheelchair user by minimizing the variation of the wheelchair's velocity and heading angle when the sizes, positions, velocities, and heading angles of a wheelchair and a moving obstacle are known.

• Archives of design research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.19-26
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• 2002

Comtemporary popular culture fosters information exchanges through the development of digital products. Digital products may lead, or may be led, by outline popular culture. However, popular culture is possible off-line as well. There are certainly diverse classes of people who use digital products; however, the major users are those who mainly use the networks. These users have ample access to information and thereby lead popular culture and also are led by it. Surely, it is not only the popular culture that digital products take into consideration. In modern times, personal computers and the Internet are changing into privately owned digital products. Amid the collective tendency of popular culture, the owned products emphasize the fact that it is ′mine only.′It would be goad if ′interesting′materials, something that teenagers like, are added to digital products. Surely, there is a limit to ′interesting′ materials, but the materials of "S or energy," which has a certain sense of humor as well as giving out fresh energy, can be considered in digital product esign. It can be considered a modern pattern, or at least the addition of a new value, and not the old-time pattern of the "Ten Long-Living Animals." More popular and diverse colors are needed in the mix of digital products used by adults who are middle-aged or elderly. If altered colors are applied to the digital products as much as popular culture changes, it can assist the elderly with their weakened physical abilities.

• 한국경영정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.421-426
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• 2007

This study considered the most crucial elements in websites as web usability and web accessibility. The web usability signified the empirical satisfaction of ordinary users on websites and how much they used the relevant websites conveniently and accurately, while the web accessibility signified the technical support that could have an easy access to web contents and the principles of cognitive aspects, by considering the users such as those who have been alienated from information. Even if the people were given lots of beneficial information, the websites would be useless if their usability and accessibility were not considered. It would be necessary to reduce the information gap by letting any users (the physically challenged, the elderly, etc.) give an access to every information without any professional abilities and to provide the efficient websites corresponding to the embodiment goal of e-government through rapidity and accuracy of contents and the feedback for systematic structure and people's demand.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.134-145
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to explore the acceptance intent of groups of experts and users for converged medical equipment using NeuroTech. This healthcare equipment is applied with technology that simultaneously enhances body function and cognitive function. Interviews were conducted with groups of experts and users to investigate the acceptance of equipment. The interviews include health problems for the elderly, the need to develop medical equipment, and the effectiveness. After recording the collected historical data, we performed the data analysis in accordance with the procedures of the phenomenological analysis method. The total number of people interviewed was 27, 16 experts and 11 users. As a result of the interview, we derived seven topic groups for each of the 12 topic groups and user groups. The implications were derived based on the results.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 2020

Purpose: This study is to examine the intention of the elderly who live alone in the customized AI speaker for the elderly living alone to improve the quality of life service for the elderly living alone in the smart city environment. Based on the quality of life model of the elderly, this study is applied to the technology acceptance model to investigate the relationship between perceived usefulness and ease of use on the sustained use intention. Research design, data and methodology: Residents in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, selected as candidate local governments for the Smart City Challenge Project of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in June 2019 to measure the perceived technology acceptance of potential users for the AI technology for the elderly living alone as part of the smart city technology. In order to evaluate the intention of using AI speaker, which is the target system of this study, a video of a chatbot using experience of elderly people living alone was produced. Results: First of all, in order for the elderly living alone to have an attitude to use AI-based speakers, there should be a perceived usefulness of the quality of life of the elderly. However, ease of use did not show any significant causal relationship to attitude toward use. In addition, the attitude toward use weakly influenced the intention to use. In other words, elderly people living alone were not likely to have a significant effect on their attitude toward use. However, feeling that AI speakers are easy to use will help to improve the quality of life, which in turn led to the attitude toward using AI speakers, which could lead to indirect effects. Finally, the perceived usefulness of quality of life was found to have a weak effect on direct use intentions. Conclusions: This study conducted a study on the technology acceptance of service environment to improve the quality of life for the specific user group who live alone in the smart seat environment. In this study, we examined the effects of AI speaker on the elderly living alone to improve the quality of life for the elderly living alone.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.225-241
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• 2011

The purposes of this study were to determine the actual state of the indoor environment, and to analyze the relationship between the architectural or living factors and indoor physical elements in the elderly hall at apartment complexes during winter. The field surveys consisted of measurements of the physical elements, observations of living factors, and interviews with users. The field surveys were carried out at 5 halls in February 2009. The measured elements were air temperature, relative humidity, $CO_2$, CO, PM10, TVOC, HCHO, and illumination. The results showed that the averages of indoor temperature for the hall was between $22.7{\sim}25.1^{\circ}C$, relative humidity was 22.0~48.2%, $CO_2$ level was 892.4~2066.7ppm, CO level were 0~0.4ppm, PM10 level were $22.3{\sim}31.4{\mu}g/m^3$, HCHO level was 0.00~0.24ppm, and illumination level was 94~391.6lux. TVOC level was detected at 0.00~0.54ppm in only one hall. The average clothing amount of the users was 1.18clo and activity was 0.7~1.6met. It was evaluated to be a comfortable state at indoor temperature, CO level, PM10 level, and TVOC level, but an uncomfortable state at relative humidity, $CO_2$ level, HCHO level, and illumination level. The main reason seemed to be lack of ventilation.