• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.713-716
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• 2008

This paper presents an automatic back-light brightness control system for mobile displays. One of the most important factors in mobile display is the power consumption due to the limited and movable power source. More than 80% of power of the LCD display is consumed by LED bark-light unit (BLU). The target brightness also becomes higher because of its moving picture and high resolution image, so there are some side effects for not only excessive power consumption but also ergonomic inconvenience in dark environment. To prevent this discomfort and reduce power consumption, this paper proposes automatic brightness control (ABC) technique in mobile displays. Developed system contains TFT-LCD panel with built-in photo sensor, driver IC capable of controlling photo sensor, and BLU. Since the photo sensor array built in panel detects automatically outdoor ambient light intensity, the power of BLU in dark environment is reduced. Developed ABC system showed reduced power consumption of 50% in dark environment. We believe that the proposed system is very useful to control power of mobile TFT-LCD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.84-91
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• 2012

This study evaluated three forces (lifting, pushing and twisting) required to maneuver the single-wheel barrows according to handle height, width, horizontal angle and vertical angle. The four independent variables were varied in two levels. Handle height was varies in two levels : 'knuckle height (KH)' and 'KH + 0.1 ${\times}$ stature'. The two handle widths were '1.5 ${\times}$ shoulder width (SW)' and '1.75 ${\times}$ SW'. Two angles of $0^{\circ}$ and $15^{\circ}$ were used for horizontal and vertical angles. The 24 factorial design was used in the experiment. Twelve healthy male students (undergraduate and graduate) participated in the experiment. Subjects exerted three forces (pushing, lifting, and twisting clockwise) in each experimental condition. The order of 16 treatment conditions was determined randomly. Results showed that the effects of the four factors were different according to three forces. While lifting and twisting forces were higher in 'knuckle height', the pushing force was higher in 'KH + 0.1 ${\times}$ stature' (p < 0.05). Lifting and pushing forces showed higher values in the horizontal angle $0^{\circ}$ than in $15^{\circ}$. Handle width and vertical angle showed no statistically significant main effects on three forces (p > 0.05). Results of this study could be used as basic data for the ergonomic design of handle variables of one- or two-wheel barrows.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.347-353
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• 2016

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relation between key strike forces and musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS). Moreover, this study presents a key strike force measurement method to be used in a workplace setting. The correlation between key strike force characteristics and MSS was previously studied, but the measurement methods used either a single-key switch or force platforms applied under the keyboard. Most of the studies were conducted in a laboratory setting. The uniqueness of measurement methods in the current study is their ability to measure forces applied to a specific key in a workplace setting and to provide more information about specific key strike forces during typing. Methods: Twenty-four healthy computer workers were recruited for the study. The demographic questionnaire, and self-reported questionnaires for psychosocial status (General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work) and for detecting MSS were filled up, which later helped in dividing the participants into two groups (12 participants with pain and 12 without pain). Participants typed a predetermined text that utilized the instrumented keys multiple times. The dynamic forces applied to the keys were recorded and collected, using four thin and flexible force sensors attached to the preselected keys according to their location. Results: The results demonstrated that participants with high levels of MSS, specifically in the back and neck, in the last year exerted significantly higher key strike forces than those with lower levels of symptoms (p < 0.005). Conclusion: The key strike force exerted while typing on a keyboard may be a risk factor for MSS, and should therefore be considered in ergonomic evaluations and interventional programs.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.94-102
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to review existing assessment tools for patients with low back pain and improve them through combination. A total of 314 patients with low back pain participated. Their condition was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ), the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPD), and the Back Pain Functional Scale (BPFS). Rasch analysis was applied to identify inappropriate items, item difficulties, and the separation index. In this study, the 'sex life' item of the ODQ (10 items) and the 'sleeping' item of the BPFS (12 items) showed misfit statistics, whereas all items of the QBPD (20 items) were appropriate. After combining the ODQ, QBPD and BPFS, Rasch analysis was applied. The 'pain intensity', and the 'sex life' item of the ODQ and the 'throw a ball' item of QBPD showed misfit statistics. These 3 items were retained for further analysis. The remaining 42 combined ODQ-QBPD-BPFS items were arranged according to difficulty. For all subjects, the most difficult item was 'pain intensity', whereas the easiest was 'take food out of the refrigerator'. As the separation index of 42 combined ODQ-QBPD-BPFS was higher than that of the three questionnaires separately, difficulty of items varied with some need for rearrangement. The results of this study confirmed the possibility and need for a new back pain disability assessment tool, and produced one. Further study is needed to refine the questionnaire in consideration of psychosocial and occupational factors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.22 no.2 s.80
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• pp.59-66
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• 2007

As the need of handling heavy materials increases, various cranes are used in industries. However, the effectiveness of crane also entails industrial accidents such as falling, constriction etc. In fact, the number of fatal accidents caused by crane is still high in Korea. To find out the causes of the accidents in terms of human error, we developed a man-machine system model that consists of two axes; human information processing and crane life cycle. In the human information processing dimension, we simplified it as five functions; sensing and perception, decision making and memory, response etc. In the crane life cycle dimension, we divided it into nine phases; design, production, operation etc. For the 152 fatal accident records during 1999-2006 years, we classified them into 45 cells made by two axes. Then we identified the preceding causes of the classified crane accident based on performance shaping factors. As the results of statistical analysis, the overall trend of crane fatal accidents was described. For the cause analysis, wrong decision making in work plan phase shows the highest frequency. Next, the poor information input in crane operation followed in accident frequency. In ergonomics view, the problems of interface design in displays and controls made 11.8% of fatal accidents. Following the analysis, several ergonomic design guidelines to prevent crane accidents were suggested.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.149-156
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• 2011

Considerable evaluation is needed to design a new longitudinal tunnel in advance because it damaged drivers' driving safety and heightened the possibility of traffic accidents with its physical characteristics. Specifically, considering traffic psychological and ergonomic factors was very important to prevent the difficulty of maintaining safe speed, the increase of the drowsy driving, the fatality of traffic accidents, and subjective feelings such as anxiety while driving a car through the tunnel, from design to construction. This study dealt with driving safety evaluation of an original road alignment design for the longitudinal tunnel (length: above 10km) with a driving simulator, and helped us to improve an original road alignment design and make an alternative road alignment design with presenting risky districts. The results of experiment showed that inflection points were revealed more risky districts, because they impaired driving safety and elevated driver workload while driving a car through around the inflection points of two-way route. Finally, the limitations and implications of this study were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.63-76
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• 2015

This study conducted a survey to gauge the buying and wearing propensities of wearers of leg guards made for baseball catchers, as well as product characteristics of preferred leg guards. Data from the survey were analyzed to obtain basic data for the development of an advanced leg guard design. Degree of compression, horizontal distance, cross section view and outline 3D sketch were also analyzed from the 3D data of leg guards; in addition, mobility and kinematic analysis were conducted through a wearing test. The survey indicated that imported products dominate the current retail market because they are appreciated by customers in terms of fit, price, brand, and protection. Representative complaints of products were discomfort, pressure, and the heavy-weight of the leg guards in general attributed to overall structure and 3D shape. When the pressure was lower on the front area of knee, it feels better to wear and the average knee angular velocity during the up and down motion increased, which suggests a better design from a kinematic point of view. The knee is the primary part of the body responsible for any movement of the lower limbs; consequently, the degree of compression and support stability of the leg guards near the knee area are important factors to evaluate the performance of leg guards. The results of our study indicate significant opportunities for improvement in product design and the development of baseball leg guards along with an ergonomic design that considers the mobility of the knee, skin deformations is necessary to improve performance. The process followed in this study will be applicable to studies on other personal protective equipment for sports.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.35-42
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• 2011

Efficient space plans are built upon relations of both human and physical compositions, and the standard of the interaction is basically the human scale. Especially in medical areas, the character of the users within human scale design environment is quite significant. Unlike large hospitals with great plans and scalability performed by experts, mid-sized clinics tend to have limited space, designed by non-specialists who highlight aesthetics over functionality in floor plans which leads to poor quality in medical service. For this reason, this study will include the application of human scale based therapy rooms within the clinic from a physical standpoint and will further analyze and pinpoint any room for improvement to further enable more efficient ergonomic space planning. In this study, theoretically will contemplate over human scale, mid-sized clinic, therapies, and therapists, while the case study will include status of the recent human scale based mid-sized clinic from a physical viewpoint, classification and analysis amongst human and physical compositions chosen by discretion from either a newly opened or a newly re-modeled clinic within the last 2 years, which has 15 beds or more, minimum 3 physical therapists, with more than 5 different therapy facilities in the metropolitan area in order to measure the human scale of therapy rooms in a mid-sized clinic. As a result, the area where improvement can practically be applied is the physical composition, which does not include human scale like human composition factors as therapists and patients, and hence, I suggest the human scale applied efficient medical space plan become the base of this study and look forward to subsequent improvement in the quality of medical services.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-110
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• 2007

This study was performed to find out hazardous factors in the loaded works of muscular skeletal disorders(MSDs) for four company attached to dining workers from October 2005 to June 2006. The results are summarized as follows. 1. 42.5% of workers in study group were 40-50 years old, and females were higher than males, and the average of body weight was 70kg, 57kg in males and females, respectively. Working time per day was mostly 7-9hours, and the rate of worker who had never education and training was 46%. 2. The upper part and right part of body were higher than lower part and left part in symptoms of muscular skeletal disorders. Body parts which complained of symptoms were the order of right shoulder(55%), right arm(54%), right hand,(40%) waist(35%), leg(25%), and neck(24%). 3. The results of evaluation in the loaded works of muscular skeletal disorders to cooking, dish supply, preparing side dish, and washing the dishes and cleaning the floor of cooking room using RULA and OWAS checklists was action level 4(potential hazards, needs of change workplace), and the result of evaluation using back compressive force needed control measures as 779.27 lbs~1,274.04 lbs. In a view point of the result of this study, large dining rooms should be designed by ergonomic technology for the work surface height, width, and depth. The height of carrying car should be lower to 70cm, and repetitiveness and handling weight should be reduced by mechanical means, and education and training also should be performed for all of workers positively.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.427-435
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• 2011

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate a work of building cleaners using the ergonomic methods. Background: Previous studies about cleaning worker describe typical physical demands of this work. They found that the most significant risk factors associated with the physical work of cleaners are static loads and repetitive movements and high output of force. Method: A head of ergonomics estimation was work analysis(define of combined task, work tool, work time and frequency of combined task) and posture analysis of worker. Results: The results showed that combined task of building cleaners was classification sweeping, mopping(wet), mopping(oil), moving barrels/carts, dumping trash bags, scrubbing, arrangement of cleaning tool, arrangement of circumferential, moving of cleaning tool, and waiting. The work time of combined task such as mopping(wet) and scrubbing indicated high ratio. The posture analysis of building cleaners indicated high value in bending of the head, lower arm, and hands. Conclusion: The findings appear to indicate that building cleaner were related to high risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. So, building cleaner would be required an interventional strategy, improvement of cleaning tools and working environment. Application: If ergonomics rule can be integrated into existing cleaning tools and work environments, the risk of occupational injuries will be reduced.