• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.97-108
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• 2014

Objective:The present study is intended to evaluate the usability of a console chair for a weapon locating radar by comparing with different kinds of chair design. Background: Console chairs need to be ergonomically designed to reduce physical workload of operators and improve mission capability; few studies have been reported which systematically evaluate usability of military console chairs. Method: Ergonomic design of a console chair, a bus seat, and an office chair was evaluated in terms of headrest, seatback, seatpan, armrest, and controller on a 7-point scale. Ten males in their 20s and 30s were recruited considering the demographic characteristics of console operators. Results: The satisfaction scores of the console chair for headrest, seatback, and seatpan were significantly higher than those of the bus seat (mean difference [MD] = 0.9) and office chair (MD = 1.3). Meanwhile, the satisfaction scores of the console chair for armrest and controller were significantly lower than those of the office chair (MD = -1.4) and bus seat (MD = -2.2). Conclusion: The armrest and controller of the console chair needs ergonomic improvements for better comfort. Application: The evaluation results of the console chair would be of use for ergonomic console chair design.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.153-160
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• 2007

Due to the high occurrence rate of musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs), many Korean companies adopted various assessment tools to evaluate workers' musculoskeletal stress. Using the results of this evaluation, tasks were selected for improvements. However, there are still many workers who complained of musculoskeletal stress of their tasks. Their tasks usually consist of repetitive activities and a short rest cycle. This prompts a concern of reliability of the evaluation tools and especially RULA. Thus in this study, OCRA(The Occupational Repetitive Action tool) was used to check whether RULA(Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) evaluates workers' musculoskeletal stress reasonably well since OCRA has been known to be a good evaluation tool for repetitive tasks and tasks with short recovery periods. The evaluation was conducted on 142 tasks. It was found that 65 tasks showed higher action levels by OCRA than by RULA. However, 13 tasks showed the reversed result and 64 tasks showed the same level regardless of the evaluation tool. It was concluded that either RULA or OCRA alone cannot evaluate all types of tasks very well. It is suggested that OCRA needs to be used with RULA together for the evaluations of musculoskeletal stress at workplaces where repetitive activities and short recovery periods exist.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.765-773
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• 2011

Objective: This study aims towards exploring a model of the HCI evaluation methods to improve the usability of mobile device, based on a case of a Mobile PDA system in a Museum context. Background: Mobile PDA systems in a Museum context is widely utilized for the educational purposes, but it is criticized for low usability that the device only play a role in textbooks on legs without any interactive educational activities. Therefore, the usability improvements on the mobile PDA system should be considered. Method 1: This model was developed with a combination of the expert review and the user testing, and with a combination of the qualitative and quantitative studies. In more details, first of all, a qualitative study was conducted as a combination of three different methods: 1) expert review with heuristics, 2) interviews with persons working in a museum, and 3) contextual enquiry. Results 1: The experts review provided with critical usability issues, and the semi-constructive interview helped to understand the background of the mobile device. Lastly, the contextual enquiry showed user experience problems and directions of improving the device from user's perspective. Method 2: Based on the results of the qualitative study, a questionnaire was designed. Results 2: The analysis of the quantitative study was conducted to generalize the problems, and prioritize the direction of improving the device within the limitation of the cost and time in a museum. Conclusion: This study has implications in developing an example of a HCI evaluation model to improve the user experience of the mobile device as well as finding problems and directions of how to improve the mobile PDA systems in the museum. Application: In fact, most of the studies related to the evaluation of the mobile device have been conducted in a laboratory context due to the cost and time. This paper, however, attempted to apply to various HCI research techniques from different constituents in real context.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.63-73
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• 2015

Objective: The goal of this study is to evaluate the comprehensibility of the newly introduced water-sport prohibitive signs by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE, later merged into the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy) among Koreans and westerners, and to check whether the comprehensibility is affected by cultural differences. Background: The Ministry of Knowledge Economy had newly introduced fourteen water-sport prohibitive signs at the end of 2011 to alert people to potentially dangerous situations. However, no studies had been found so far to review or assess their comprehensibility. Method: Comprehensibility tests of fourteen water-sport prohibitive signs were conducted with forty Koreans and forty Westerners in two sequential sessions. In session I, participants were asked to guess the meaning of each sign verbally in an open-ended test. In session II, participants were encouraged to provide feedback for each sign after its intended meaning was given. Results: Only two out of fourteen signs satisfied the comprehension rate (67%) recommended by ISO standard for both groups (Koreans and Westerners). Cultural difference between Koreans and westerners significantly affect the comprehension rates of the investigated signs, and Westerners exhibit better overall comprehension than Koreans. Five poorly comprehended signs for both Korean and Western groups were identified. Conclusion: The recently introduced water-sport prohibitive warning signs by MKE still need a lot of improvements in order to be implemented nationally or internationally. There were significant differences in the signs' comprehensibility between Koreans and westerners. Application: The findings may serve as a useful input for researchers and watersport sign designers in creating easy-to-comprehend safety signs.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.185-190
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• 1996

Navigation system is regarded as the interface border line between the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and the driver as the prospective information provider of the ATIS (Advanced Traveler Information System). Following theory, if the navigation system appropriately designed and utilized, that can maximize the transport efficiency, contribute to improvements of the environments and road safety. To accomplish these dinds of objectives of the navigation system use, human factors plays an important roles specially focused on the driver's safety, performance and system usability. Because the effectiveness of the system depends on the acceptance of the system, and the extent to which the system conforms to driver physical and cognitive limitations and capabilities. Therefore, the ergonomic design vaniables must be seriously selected and reflected in early design step for more effective and appreciate product design. As the first step of this aim, this study selected and categorized the human factors design variables of the navigation system.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.643-652
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• 2007

This study identifies visible/invisible factors and analyzes facilities, structure, and visible perceptive contents in the aspects of operation and efficiency with a focus on the interfaces between interior design of the subway and users. More specifically, it diagnoses the requirements and empirically presents improvements. In addition, this study aims to diagnose the interfaces between trains and users by reinterpreting and evaluating factors from the perspectives of users, and to elicit the universal interface and an objective form of conceptual, structural, and formative relations in regard to the conditions required to the design. As the interior design in the subway trains is for the public reflecting the value, consciousness, and behaviors of users, it should be approached through the application of the concept of universal design that considers the potential needs and psychological satisfaction of users. In arranging the indoor of the vehicles, the conditions for the facilities should be specified through the interdisciplinary approach from professional fields including ergonomics and psychology, the path of flow should be induced through the use of space and the analysis of passengers' behaviors, an integrated planning should be re-established, and continuous evaluations of basic guidelines, manuals, and requirements should be made.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.779-785
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• 2007

This study identifies visible/invisible factors and analyzes facilities, structure, and visible perceptive contents in the aspects of operation and efficiency with a focus on the interfaces between interior design of the subway and users. More specifically, it diagnoses the requirements and empirically presents improvements. As the interior design in the subway trains is fur the public reflecting the value, consciousness, and behaviors of users, it should be approached through the application of the concept of universal design that considers the potential needs and psychological satisfaction of users. In arranging the indoor of the vehicles, the conditions for the facilities should be specified through the interdisciplinary approach from professional fields including ergonomics and psychology, the path of flow should be induced through the use of space and the analysis of passengers' behaviors, an integrated planning should be re-established, and continuous evaluations of basic guidelines, manuals, and requirements should be made.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.326-333
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• 2018

Background: Echocardiography involves strenuous postures of the upper limbs. This study explored the physical workload in the neck and upper limbs in sonographers performing echocardiography, and the extent to which the workload differs from than in other work tasks (other sonographic examinations, and nonsonographic tasks). Methods: The physical load was assessed by inclinometry, goniometry, and electromyography methods in 33 female sonographers during authentic work using three different echocardiography techniques and other work tasks. Results: Echocardiography was characterized by low velocities of the head, arms, and wrists, and a low proportion of muscular resting time in the forearms, in the transducer limb, and the computer limb. The transducer limb was more elevated in one of the techniques, but this technique also involved a higher proportion of muscular resting time of the trapezius muscle. We also found a high proportion of awkward wrist postures in the transducer wrist in all three techniques; in one due to prolonged flexion, and in the others due to prolonged extension. Other work tasks were less static, and were performed with higher upper arm and wrist velocities. Conclusion: None of the three echocardiography techniques was optimal concerning physical workload. Thus, to achieve more variation in physical load we recommend that the equipment be arranged so that the sonographer can alternate between two different techniques during the workday. We also propose alternation between echocardiography and nonsonographic tasks, in order to introduce variation in the physical workload. Clinical expertise should be used to achieve further improvements.