• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2017

Wearable robots are receiving great attention from the public, as well as researchers, because its motivation is to improve the quality of lives of people. Above all, complete paraplegic patients due to spinal cord injury (SCI) might be the most adequate target users of the wearable robots, because they definitely need physical assistance due to the complete loss of muscular strength and sensory functions. Furthermore, the medical care of complete paraplegics by using the wearable robots have significantly reduced the mortality rate and improved the life expectancy. The requirements of the wearable robot for complete paraplegics are actuation torque, locomotion speed, wearing sensation, robust gait stability, safety, and practicality (i.e., size, volume, weight, and energy efficiency). A WalkON Suit is the wearable robot that has satisfied the requirements of the wearable robot for complete paraplegics and participated in the powered exoskeleton race of Cybathlon 2016. In this paper, configuration of the WalkON Suit, human-machine interface, gait pattern, control algorithm, and evaluation results are introduced.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2014

In this paper we propose a wearable elbow rehabilitation robot applied the mirror therapy for elbow rehabilitation. To implement the mirror therapy, a data suit for measuring healthy elbow motion is developed. A powered elbow exoskeleton wearing in paralyzed arm is controlled by the measured data from the healthy elbow motion. In experiments, the elbow rehabilitation exercise by the mirror therapy is performed. From the experimental results we show the wearable exercise robot including the data suit is applicable to the mirror therapy for elbow rehabilitation.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.110-116
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• 2023

In this study describes the design of Exo-suit to assist those who work in unstructured positions. The present study aimed to analyze various types of work, especially those performed in unstructured postures by heavy industry workers. Based on the motion capture analysis results, an attempt was made to develop a shoulder muscle-assistive Exo-suit capable of assisting a wearer who is working using shoulder muscles. In the present study, as the first step of developing a shoulder muscle-assistive Exo-suit, different working scenarios were simulated, and the corresponding motion data were estimated using motion capture devices. The obtained motion data were reflected in the design of the Exo-suit. The main structure of the shoulder muscle-assistive Exo-suit was made of a carbon fiber-reinforced composite to obtain the weight reduction. The shoulder muscle assistive Exo-suit was designed to fully cover the range of motion for workers working in unstructured postures.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.478-487
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• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to analyze the effect of wearable complex muscle support system on energy efficiency during walking in elderly. Design: Cross sectional study Methods: Twenty healthy elderly participated in this study. All subjects performed a 6 minuteswalk test(6MWT) and stair climbing test in dual, slack and no suit conditions. In each condition, oxygen consumption(VO₂), metabolic equivalents(METs), energy expenditure measures(EEm), physiological cost index(PCI), walking velocity and heartrate were measured. Through repeated measured ANOVA, it was investigated whether there was a statistically significant difference in the measurement results between the three conditions. Results: In over-ground walking, VO₂, METs and EEm showed significant differences between no suit and slack conditions(p<0.05). In stair climbing, VO₂ showed significant difference between slack and dual conditions(p<0.05). Also, METs and EEm showed significant differences between no suit and slack, and between slack and dual conditions(p<0.05). Conclusions: Wearing the wearable complex muscle support system for elderly does not have much benefit in energy metabolism efficiency in over-ground, but there is a benefit in stair walking.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.32-42
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• 2021

Innovative developments in wearable and artificial intelligence technologies are accelerating the emergence of a soft suit that can autonomously augment a body's own strength and protect the human body. In this paper, we define the concept of "Exoskin," a new concept specifically derived from the "Road to an Intelligent Information Society" (Technology Development Map 2035) as predicted by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute. In addition, we analyze the development status of each element of this technology and forecast its future development.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2019

This study developed smart fashion prototypes that provide utilitarian functionality by combining Fashion and Electronics regarding the IT focused convergence tendency in modern industries. A convergence R&D workshop was performed by Fashion design majors and Engineering majors for the study. As a result, 5 functional smart fashion prototypes were developed and the outline of each prototype are as follows. The $1^{st}$ prototype, 'Hidden Camera Detecting Coat' focused on gender-related crimes. The coat uses infrared lighting and LED technologies to provide a function to detect hidden cameras in suspicious public spaces such as toilets. The $2^{nd}$ prototype, 'Heating-massage Suit' targeted patients with musculoskeletal system difficulties. The suit uses heating and vibration technologies to provide a heating massage treatment for patients with ongoing difficulties in their daily lives. The $3^{rd}$ prototype is an air-bag jacket to prevent sexual molestation on public transportation. The jacket extends its volume through pressure sensing, air compressing, motors and 3D-printing technology to secure the wearer's personal preventive space between the user's body and others. The $4^{th}$ prototype is a town wear for people suffering from synesthesia. People with synesthesia inadvertently see colors when exposed to certain sounds. This town wear uses sound sensing, air compressing, motors and 3D-printing technology to provide sound prevention and a comfortable sound playing function. The $5^{th}$ prototype is a set of a vest and a gloves for visually impaired people. The vest and gloves uses DMS, voice playing, vibration technology to provide distance measuring and warning functions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Computer Information Conference
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• 2022.07a
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• pp.75-77
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• 2022

본 논문에서는 복합 개체 센싱(다축 멀티 센서)이 적용되고 수중 다이빙 시 몸통, 핀 부분의 동작 정보를 수집하여 수중 활동 시 발차기, 몸통 회전, 몸통 위치, 이동 속도 등의 움직임 정보를 수집 할 수 있도록 구성하여 다이빙 시 발생되는 다양한 동작 정보를 실시간 수집 할 수 있는 웨어러블 시스템 개발을 제안한다. 다이빙 Suit, 몸에 탈부착이 가능하도록 구성하여 개인의 수중 다이빙 상황을 실시간 정보 수집을 통하여 객관적으로 다이빙 자세, 공기소모와 의 관계 분석, 다이빙 습관 교정, 속도 조절 등 자가 진단 체계화 정보 구축하고, 다이빙 포함 다양한 해양 스포츠의 훈련 이슈는 수중에서 발생되는 문제를 객관화된 정보 없이 강사, 훈련생의 느낌으로만 교정 한다는 의미에서 보다 객관화된 센싱 정보와 복합적으로 수집 분석된 정보를 학습된 정보의 비교분석에 의하여 수중 다이빙의 문제점을 교정 할 수 있다.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to delve into what type of expression mode of fashion design could suit the life style of digital nomads, as the appearance of nomadic life style was concurrent with people's modified way of thinking and sociocultural changes in today's digital society. It's basically meant to define the roles of fashion design, which was discussed as a way of improving the quality of life as a sort of 'culture,' and to suggest some of the right directions for fashion design in the future. The culture of today's digital era is marked by a pursuit of high mobility and high speed, and by nomadic disposition that is built on flexible thinking. The kind of design that lets people carry nomadic things with them and thereby improve their mobility can satisfy their needs for mobility, and body-friendly design that functions as a device of information in itself can meet their needs for mobility as well. The leading example of the latter is a wearable computer, and wearable scientific technology will be taken to another level, thanks to the advance in digital technology. In the future, that will be more accessible to people in general, and subminiature digital equipment will gain popularity in fashion industry as part of textiles and clothing or as an accessory. And specific kinds of design will be widespread, including variable design, multi-functional design and modular design. The first serves as a tool to protect the human body and to facilitate the adaptability of it to the given circumstances, and the second is characterized by a superb physical and psychological protectability. The third lets wearers bring design to completion at their own option, owing to an increase in the number of open-minded people and the development of interactive media. All these types of design could be called a wearer-friendly, human-oriented design that is specifically appropriate for the digital age. Wearers can actively be involved in design process as productive consumers, which is expected to help increase opener practices in fashion design sector.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.69-78
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• 2021

The development of smart healthcare wearables for health is accelerating. Among them, many wearable products using EMS electrical stimulation, which is one of the active research fields, have been released. However, the EMS wearable, which has been studied or released, is released in a comprehensive full-body suit that does not focus on muscle segmentation or a belt that covers the entire abdomen. Therefore, this study intends to use two breathing methods by applying an EMS pattern that subdivides specific muscles and attach a stretch sensor that can measure breathing to the abdominal pressure belt. The measurement method was conducted by inhaling and exhaling, and the subjects were 10 men in their 20s with healthy bodies. As a result of this study, the sensor's sensitivity was 5 and 3 mm, and the basic sensor in both thoracic and abdominal breathings and the EMS abdominal pressure belt showed improved respiration activation after applying electrical stimulation before and after application. It is concluded that, because of the two patterns produced based on the physical function, the difference in respiration activation effect and sensitivity between sensors could be confirmed with three sensors rather than not applying electrical stimulation suitable for the respiration method. Based on the results of this study, a follow-up study aims to develop breathing smart clothing that can be monitored in real time in clothing-type wearable products that incorporate EMS patterns and stretch sensors.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to develop smart bags that combining fashion-specific trends and smart information technologies such as light-emitting diodes(LED) and optic fibers by grafting marquage techniques that have recently become popular as part of eco-fashion. We applied e-textiles by designing leather tote bags that could show off LED luminescence. A total of two tote bags, a white-colored peacock design and a black-colored paisley design, divided the LED's light-emitting method into two types, incremental lighting and random light-emission to suit each design, and the locations of the optical fibers were also reversed depending upon the design. The production of circuits for the LEDs and optical fibers was based on the design, and a flexible conductive fabric was laser-cut instead of wire line and attached to the circuit-line location. A separate connector was underwent three-dimensional(3D)-modeling and was connected to high-luminosity LEDs and optic fiber bundles. The optical fiber logo part expressed a subtle image using a white-colored LED, which did not offset the LED's sharp luminous effects, suggesting that using LEDs with fiber optics allowed for the expression of each in harmony without being heterogeneous. Overall, the LEDs and fiber optic fabric were well-harmonized in the fashion bag using marquage techniques, and there was no sense of it being a mechanical device. Also, the circuit part was made of conductive fabric, which is an e-textile product that feels the same as a thin, flexible fabric. The study confirmed that the bag was developed as a smart wearable product that could be used in everyday life.