• Journal of Multimedia Information System
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2018

Recently, ways for accurately measuring the three dimensional movements of hand are actively researched so as to utilize the measurement data for therapeutic and rehabilitation programs. This research paper aims to introduce a product called Myo Armband, a wearable device comprised of a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3 axis gyroscope, and electromyographic sensors. We compare Armband's performance with that of the Motion Capture System, which is known as a device for providing fairly accurate measurements for angular movements of objects. Dart throwing and wrist winding motions comprised movement scenarios. This paper also discusses one of Armband's advantages - portability, and suggests its potential as a substitute for previously used devices. Decent levels of measurement accuracy were obtained which were comparable to that of three dimensional measurement device.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of providing visual feedback and auditory stimulation using a robotic device on balance and gait abilities in stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled pilot trial. Methods: Fifteen subjects were randomly divided into three groups where five subjects were in the visual feedback robotic device assist gait training (VRGT) group, five subjects in the auditory stimulation robotic device assist gait training (ARGT) group, and five subjects in the control group. Subjects received visual feedback and auditory stimulation while undergoing robotic gait training for 45 minutes, three times a week for 2 weeks, and all subjects had undergone general physical therapy for 30 minutes, five times a week for 2 weeks. All subjects were assessed with the Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go (TUG) test, and 10-meter walking test (10MWT) pre- and post-intervention. Results: All subjects showed that BBS, TUG test, and 10MWT scores significantly improved post-intervention (p<0.05), and the control group also had significantly improved post-treatment (p<0.05). The VRGT and the ARGT showed significant improvements in BBS, TUG, and 10MWT scores compared with the control group (p<0.05). The VRGT group showed a significant improvement in BBS, TUG, and 10MWT scores compared with the control group (p<0.05). In addition, it has been confirmed that VRGT had significantly improved in BBS, TUG test, and 10MWT scores compared with the auditory stimulation and control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study showed improved balance and gait abilities after VRGT and ARGT groups compared with general physical therapy and was found to be effective in enhancing the functional activity of persons affected with stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.99-109
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• 2013

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the current state of training in assistive technology(AT) for pediatric physical therapists(PPTs) and pediatric occupational therapists(POTs), in addition, investigate therapists' preferred training methods and contents. The eventual purpose was to suggest the essential fundamental factors to adapt the assistive technology in clinics. METHODS: The subject of this study were 167 therapists(98 PPTs and 69 POTs) who work at general hospitals, welfare center, facilities for the disabled, and special education school in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. Frequency analysis and Chi-squared test were used. RESULTS: Significant numbers of PPTs(66 therapists, 67.3%) and POTs(50 therapists, 72.5%) answered that they had received training in AT. More than 48% answered no training experience or low adequacy in each classification scheme for questions. The most difficulty in the training was indicated by lack of education opportunity(90 therapists, 53.9%). The most required device training was seating and position device training(43 therapists, 21.9%) for PPTs and orthosis and prosthesis device training(29 therapists, 21.0%) for POTs. In assistive technology service, PPTs needed evaluation to AT device training(69 therapists, 35.2%) and POTs needed evaluation to disabilities for AT training(41 therapists, 29.7%). Both therapists answered that the most effective training is continuous education(52 therapists, 31.1%) and college education(48 therapists, 28.7%). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that PPTs and POTs need more opportunities for training in AT. For effective clinical app lication of AT, there should be continuous education such as on-the-job training, mentoring program, technical manual, and college education.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2014

Almost of alternate computer access devices which assist people with disabilities to utilize the computer connected to computer by some cables or installed in as a S/W program. These devices have some spatial limitations to the people with disabilities, it can't guarantee the free and diverse access to the computer. For these reasons, in this paper, an Android-based mouse program for alternative computer access was developed. A people with physical disabilities who has some limitation of hand movements can use it in anywhere and anytime using only the fine motor skill of the upper limbs. The developed device recognizes the user's point touch and transforms it into the location of mouse cursor. The location information transferred to the computer via Bluetooth communication module equipped in smart devices. Also the group scanning method which can reduce the user's fatigue degree was employed and click, double click, drag & drop functions by hand's movements were equipped. The developed device will help the people with disabilities to use computer with brief touch and convenient operation without spatial limitation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.33-39
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study examined the status of the efficient supply of assistive devices for students with disabilities. METHODS: A complete investigation was conducted on the request and supply of assistive devices for students with disabilities at the Korea National University of Welfare. The subjects were 112 students with disabilities who applied for assistive device rental. The status of the supply of assistive devices according to the type of disability was investigated. The overall satisfaction with learning support was measured. The questionnaire content was categorized into the following three factors to determine learning support satisfaction: support overall (role, staff, facilities) learning support (learning support, learning counseling, life consultation), assistive device supply (counseling, rental, uses, rental period, maintenance services). RESULTS: The most common type of students with disabilities was physical disabilities 62 (29.38%) and hearing impairments 62 (29.38%). Students with physical disabilities and brain lesions rented manual and electric wheelchairs the most. Learning support satisfaction was evaluated considering the factors support overall, learning and assistive device supply effects. satisfaction of learning support for students with disabilities 83.5 points. CONCLUSION: The satisfaction with assistive device supply appears to be relatively lower than support overall. Each university will gradually secure assistive devices that suit the characteristics of students with disabilities.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.16-25
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• 2011

This study aimed to evaluate factors related to the ability of ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy (CP) to walk over vertical and horizontal obstacles. Twenty patients with spastic CP who were able to walk independently for at least 10 m with or without walking devices were recruited for the study. Participants were required to walk over small obstacles (1, 4, and 8 cm in height or width; total of 6 conditions). A 'fail' was recorded when either the lower limbs or the walking device contacted the obstacle. Linear regression analyses were used to determine the effects of age, sex, walking devices, eyeglasses, subtype (hemiplegia or diplegia), ankle foot orthoses, functional level, and score of body mass index on the ability of obstacle crossing. Fifteen participants (75%) failed to adequately clear the foot or walking device over obstacles in at least 1 condition. The chance of failure in crossing vertical obstacle was affected by the use of ankle foot orthoses, eyeglasses, gender, and CP subtype (p<.05). The failure rate crossing horizontal obstacle was affected by CP subtype. These findings suggest that rehabilitation procedures should (1) consider the clinical characteristics of patients in order to prepare them to be more independent while performing daily activities, and (2) incorporate environmental conditions that patients encounter at home and in the community.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2015

In this paper, we proposed the fabrication methodology of orthotic device using 3D Computer-Aided Design programme and 3D printing technology based on images acquired from 3D scanner. We set the process and methodology of its fabrication method and confirmed whether it is available for clinical by fabricating four kinds of orthotic device for a patient with cerebral palsy. 3D printing technology method was indicated quantitatively and qualitatively about duration, tensile strength stronger comparing with conventional method, and we could propose that the 3D printing technology for the orthosis could be the proper method to mediate and compensate with reported problems related to orthosis.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2008

This paper presents a portable tele-assessment system designed for remote evaluation of the hypertonic elbow joint of neurologically impaired patients. A patient's upper limb was securely strapped to a portable limb-stretching device which is connected through Internet to a portable haptic device by which a clinician remotely moved the patient's elbow joint and felt the resistance from the patient. Elbow flexion angle and joint torques were measured from both master and slave devices and bilaterally fed back to their counterparts. In order to overcome problems associated with the network latency, two different tele-operation schemes were proposed depending on relative speed of tasks compared to the amount of time delay. For slow movement tasks, the bilateral tele-operation was achieved in real-time by designing control architectures after causality analysis. For fast movement tasks, we used a semi-real-time tele-operation scheme which provided the clinicians with stable and transparent feeling. The tele-assessment system was verified experimentally on patients with stroke. The devices were made portable and low cost, which makes it potentially more accessible to patients in remote areas.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.7 no.10
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• pp.239-249
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to analyse various laws and systems to support IT assistive devices for persons with severe disabilities and draw suggestions for laws and systems on the support of IT assistive devices for the ones in Korea. This study identified the details of laws and systems to provide conveniences for the engagement of the daily life and rehabilitation by persons with severe disabilities in New Freedom Initiative policy of President Bush, the Rehabilitation Assistive Technology Act, the US Disabilities Act and the Assistive Technology Act, and analysed the implementation process therefrom. To increase conveniences and introduce rehabilitation technology for facilitating life conveniences of persons with disabilities, it is necessary to establish the arrangement and application of systems and professional personnel through the demand survey on the need for IT assistive devices of persons with severe disabilities in Korea, the support on the developers of IT assistive device program and hardware, the analysis on the roles of rehabilitation professionals and service experts with respect to the distribution system.

• Journal of Korea Game Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2013

This paper proposes a serious game for rehabilitation training targeting old persons and patients for rehabilitation. The serious game suggested for rehabilitation training provides the whole body movement recognition-based interface using the 3D depth camera. When the user stands before the camera, it distinguishes the user from the background and then recognizes the user's whole body with 15 joints. By analyzing the changes of location and direction of each joint, it recognizes gestures needed for the game. The game contents consist of the games for upper limb training, lower limb training, whole body training, and balance training, and it was realized in both 2D and 3D games. The system suggested in this article works robustly even with the environmental changes using the 3D depth camera. Even with no separate device, the game recognizes the gestures only using the whole body movement, and this enhances the effect of rehabilitation.