• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.189-196
• /
• 2015

As the number of children's libraries has increased in Korea, it has been discussed to improve the quality of design in the libraries. In a reading room of children's library, spatial consideration should be focused on the children under 10 years old since they are in important points to learn Hangul and to develop reading habits. This study is aimed to examine the characteristics of a floor-sitting reading room, where children can feel like a home, stay in clean and safe and play while reading. The seven case studies of floor-sitting reading rooms are analyzed from the viewpoint of each factor of physical environment, including structure, furniture, and decoration. The following is the summary of findings of this study. First, floor-sitting reading rooms tend to compose main reading areas around bookshelves. Reading areas create the characters by changing floor levels and arranging furniture associated with windows, columns, and wall-type bookshelves. In the reading areas, movable low-level tables are frequently placed for flexible space uses, and seats for reading tend to put together with fixed bookshelves. Second, the central areas of the reading rooms are often shaped in the forms of pods, storytelling areas, sculptures, and unique furniture. Especially storytelling areas and pods play the cores of the reading rooms with the varying steps of floors and pictorial graphics on walls. Third, decoration elements in the reading rooms are designed with graphics, visual displays, and sculptural decorations. In my case studies, spatial elements such as reading nooks, attics, tunnels, and shelters are not often found in the floor-sitting reading rooms even though children like to have them. Since it is the advantage of floor-sitting reading rooms where children can take off shoes and act freely, we should look for the design of such spatial elements in the floor-sitting reading rooms.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.493-509
• /
• 2013

This study investigated the sitting areas preferred to use by assisted living residents in the U.S., compared the perceptions of staff and residents, and analyzed the effects of residents' and spatial characteristics on the preference for use of main sitting areas such as lounge, dining area, activity room and outdoor area. A total of 102 participants(66 residents and 36 staff) from eight facilities in the seven counties of southern Texas were asked about two sitting areas residents like to spend time at. The results of the study were as follows: The most frequently mentioned sitting areas were the activity and outdoor area as per the residents, but the dining area and lounge as per the staff. It might be due to that the view of staff might have been limited to sitting areas usually used by the severely frail residents. Residents using higher level of mobility assistance such as wheelchairs and walkers, or living in the facility having more dispersed sitting areas were less likely to prefer to use the lounge. The residents who were younger or having good centralized outdoor area were more likely to prefer to use the outdoor area. The preference for use of dining area was affected by its proximity from the residents' individual rooms. Diverse survey methods need to be developed for a more in-depth collection and analysis of data from functionally frail older residents and staff caring for them.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.425-437
• /
• 2016

Objective:The objective of this study is to develop an ergonomic toilet system along with constituent facilities that can be used with the front-entry sitting method when transferring from wheelchair to the toilet stool, instead of using the back-entry sitting method which is currently used. This system can offer more ease, convenience and safety for wheelchair users when using the restroom. Background: For users with disabilities, even a dedicated handicapped toilet requires maneuvering, especially when in a wheelchair. To transfer from wheelchair to the current back-entry sitting toilet, users need to get closer to the toilet and then turn or twist after erecting their body to get onto the toilet. This method induces inconvenience as well as secondary injury by falling when transferring to/from toilet. Method: To design a front-entry sitting toilet system, an ergonomics approach was applied which introduces a new design concept for people using wheelchairs. Using this toilet system, the wheelchair users don't need to turn or twist but can simply slide forward off the wheelchair directly onto the toilet stool in an easier and safer way. Results: The newly developed front-entry sitting toilet system is easier and safer for wheelchair users, and also space efficient requiring only two-thirds of the space of existing handicapped toilet. It is also usable by both individuals with disabilities and the general population. Conclusion: With the spread of the front-entry sitting toilet system developed in this study, wheelchair users can benefit from enhanced convenience and safety as well as significant restroom space savings. Additional effects can also be achieved such as improved self-esteem of people with disabilities by enabling to use the toilet on their own. Application: The newly developed front-entry sitting toilet system should enhance toilet accessibility to wheelchair users and the elderly. Introduction is needed with efforts at the national policy level and a macroscopic objective to promote the health and safety of the handicapped.

• Journal of architectural history
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.83-98
• /
• 2012

The starting point of this study is the concerning of simple behavioral pattern that whoever enters the inner space with taking off his shoes should go out from the position where he laid his shoes. The using of Ondol (floor heating room) and Maru (lifted wood floor) had changed the architectural space from chair-sitting to floor-sitting space, and it also made the behavior of taking off the shoes at the entrance of building and stepping on the lifted floor. This simple behavior has possibility to make lots of changes to the culture of architectural design. With this noticeable point, this paper is talking about the cultural feature of Korean traditional architecture, especially about the influence of tanking off and putting on shoes. The matter of shoes has changed diverse aspects of building and layout planning. It maximized the difference between front and rear part of building and characterized the lateral extension of Korean traditional house. The ritual space also had evolved from chair-sitting to floor-sitting space according to the type of ritual behavioral pattern. The change on the single building level had influenced on the layout planning of architectural complex. For examples, the parallel layout of ChangDeok-gung palace and the long sequential process to the main pavilion of Buddhist temple are the result of the matter of shoes. And NuGak(樓閣), the double-storied pavilion, on the axis of entering sequence's node is one of the unique planning elements that makes possible to go through the building without taking off the shoes and also makes upper level space for staying. In short, Korean traditional architecture that has the chair-sitting spatial origin of the East Asian cultural sphere has pursued new architectural issues and planning methods according to evolution to the floor-sitting culture.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.10-16
• /
• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this was to find out the muscle activity of the quadriceps femoris by gender when sitting on a chair while performing stairs gait (US; Up-stairs, DS; Down-stairs). Method: 13 male subjects (age: 22.00 ± 1.68 yrs, height: 174.85 ± 6.10 cm, weight: 68.15 ± 9.83 kg) and 15 female subjects (age: 21.17 ± 1.58 yrs, height: 168.20 ± 5.55 cm, weight: 55.73 ± 6.94 kg) participated in this study. The study used wireless three channel EMG. Results: In this study, there was no gender difference in quadriceps femoris activity during the US and DS periods, and there was no significant difference between the male group before and after postural maintenance during the US and DS periods. The quadriceps muscle of the female group also did not show a significant difference before and after US sitting. However, the vastus medialis muscle activity during DS in the female group was significantly lower after application than before application of maintaining a sitting posture (p<.05). There was no interaction effect between the 15-minute sitting position application and gender. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that sitting in a chair affects the transient functioning of the quadriceps muscle in women. Therefore, emphasize the need for active rest when sitting in a chair for long periods of time.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.77-83
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the relative effectiveness of immediate feedback and informational prompt on safe sitting behaviors that may cause VDT syndromes. Participants were three white color workers and an ABCB within-subject design was adopted. Safety Posture System was developed specifically for the present study. The system could detect participants' unsafe sitting postures using sensors and provide feedback and prompt on the computer monitors. The results indicated that both immediate feedback and informational prompt considerably increased safe sitting behaviors. More importantly, the immediate feedback was more effective than the informational prompt in increasing safe sitting behaviors.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.129-134
• /
• 1994

The purpose of this study is to conduct a retrospective chart audit of initial physical therapy evaluation to determine the incidence of sitting imbalance and its relationship to the side of weakness in hemiparetic patients. A review of the records of 36 patients revealed that the left side was predominantly affected in 17 patients and the right side in 19 patients. Ages, time since onset, and proportion of men and women did not difer between the left and right hemiparetic patients. About half patients(52.8%) could sit independently, but 64.7% of those with left-sided weak-ness and 31.6% of those with right-sided weakness could not. A chi-sequare analysis revealed a significant relationship between the side of weakness and independent sitting balance(p<0.1). Patients with left hemiplegia are more likely to have difficulty with independent sitting balance(p<0.1). Patient with left hemiplegia are more likely to have difficulty with independent sitting than patients with right hemiplegia, which may affect their progress in rehabilitation.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2003.07d
• /
• pp.2789-2791
• /
• 2003

Today, many people are sitting on chair in their life. If a sitting posture is not correct, there is some trouble with the waist. And if it goes on long time, sometimes it cause the hurts of waist or the deformded spinal column. A crouched posture is an obstacle to breath and it give rise to drowsiness because the lack of oxygen. Sitting posture is a habit so people can't feel it oneself and look over some kind of risks. It analyzes a condition of muscles by measuring EMG of spinal both side of spin al-bones. It can have a right sitting posture by the analyzing that increasing of muscles tention in one or the other side of muscles when the posture inclines on one side or ahead.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.52-57
• /
• 2020

Purpose: This study compared the muscle activities of the Vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and the Vastus lateralis (VL) at three different knee extension angles: 90°, 135°, and 180° in the sitting position. Methods: Twenty subjects between 20 and 30 years of age participated in the study. A mobile phone application called the Clinometer was used to measure the knee joint angle. Electromyography (EMG) was performed to measure the muscle activities of the VMO and VL muscles during knee isometric extension exercises. The pulling sensor was used to maintain 70% of the maximum strength of the knee extensor continuously in the sitting position. After attaching the EMG sensor, the subjects were asked to perform isometric knee extension exercises randomly among three knee extension angles (90°, 135°, or 180°) in the sitting position. One-way repeated measures analysis of the variance and a Bonferroni post hoc test was used to identify the VMO and VL muscle activity during knee extension angles among 90°, 135°, and 180°. Results: The VMO and VL muscle activities increased with increasing knee extension angle in the sitting position (p<0.01). Conclusions: Knee extension exercise at a 180° angle in the sitting position can be recommended to increase the muscle activity of the VMO and VL muscle activities efficiently.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.29-33
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of navicular drop measurements by clinicians in sitting and standing positions. Methods: Fourteen subjects with pronated foot were recruited. Two physical therapists randomly assessed the same patients on different occasions but on the same day. Almost all patients were assessed on more than one day. The intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of navicular dropwas estimated by calculation of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The intra-rater reliability of navicular drop measurements ranged from 0.93 to 0.87, the inter-rater reliability from 0.98 to 0.70 with the patient in standing and sitting positions. These results showed good reliability for calculated variables. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of navicular drop in standing position was higher than those of sitting position. Conclusion: Although inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of navicular drop in the sitting position was lower than in the standing position, measurement of navicular drop in the sitting position showed good reliability and was acceptable for patients who could not stand alone without assistance. We recommend that having the patient in the standing position is appropriate in navicular drop measurement.