• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.28 no.11
• /
• pp.147-154
• /
• 2023

In this paper, we propose a barrier-free course route navigation service named "Theme Road" aimed at improving the mobility and convenience for elderly electric wheelchair users with walking disabilities. To achieve this goal, we conducted a user survey through shadowing and in-depth interviews to gather insights on the challenges experienced by elderly electric wheelchair users. We identified potential solutions for each inconvenience through co-creation workshops, resulting in a set of design considerations and app functionalities. Using persona development and service scenarios, we designed and implemented the "Theme Road" service as a dedicated navigation application for barrier-free course navigation. Unlike conventional route navigation and mapping services, our study stands out by offering a unique approach that combines recommended destinations and safe routes based on experiential analysis from elderly electric wheelchair users.

• Archives of design research
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.209-218
• /
• 2003

The increase of wheelchair users due to the rapid growth of elderly population, traffic accidents, and industrial disaster etc. becomes a major issue in our society. Thus, the Convenience Promotion Law was enforced to facilitate the use and installation of convenient facilities for the disabled, the elderly and pregnant women. Currently, not only newly built buildings but also roads and parks are accessed and used by all the people without any hindrance. In contrast to this, so far not many studies on residential space design for wheelchair users have been carried out except for public facilities. So, wheelchair users have to bear the inconvenience in their houses made upon the standards of the general people. Therefore, it is necessary to develop design guideline considering the physical characteristics of wheelchair users and their family members to lead a convenient life. This study was conducted in universal design perspective and intended to establish design guideline of convenient residential space for wheelchair users and general people. To accomplish the objective, surveys for wheelchair users' actual conditions and needs, and video observation were carried out.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2019

In the rapidly aging society, the number of wheelchair users is increasing steadily. On the other hand, it is almost impossible for a disabled person using a wheelchair to use express buses. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an express bus that can secure the rights of wheelchair users. For these special types of express buses, it is required to develop a special entrance and lift system. The development of a wheelchair entrance system for the express buses requires design modification, retrofit, and reinforcement of the bus frame. This study evaluated the structural integrity of an entrance system for wheelchair users using a finite element method. Torsional stiffness and modal analysis were performed through structural analysis. Through sensitivity analysis, optimization was performed to reduce the weight of the frame. These results on the wheelchair entrance system are expected to be utilized in the vehicle modification and welfare industries.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
• /
• 2008.10a
• /
• pp.331-339
• /
• 2008

Nowadays with advancement in technology and aging society, the number of disabled citizens is increasing. The disabled citizens always need a caretaker for daily life routines especially for mobility. In future, the need is considered to increase more. To reduce the burden from the disabled, various devices for healthcare are introduced using computer technology. The power wheelchair is an important and convenient mobility device. The demand of power wheelchair is increasing for assistance in mobility. In this paper we proposed a robotic wheelchair for mobility aid to reduce the burden from the disabled. The main issue in an autonomous wheelchair is the automatic detection and avoidance of obstacles and going to the pre-designated place. The proposed algorithm detects the obstacles and avoids them to drive the wheelchair to the desired place safely. By this way, the disabled will not always have to worry about paying deep attention to the surroundings and his path. User has a handheld bio-sensor monitoring system for get user's bio-signal. If user detects unusual signal, alarm send to protector.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.38 no.10
• /
• pp.1109-1116
• /
• 2014

The wheelchair mechanism for a car that is proposed in this study primarily consists of a transfer mechanism and storage mechanism. The wheelchair transfer mechanism consists of a manipulator installed in the roof of a car, and performs the function of transferring the wheelchair from the driver's seat to the trunk. The wheelchair storage mechanism consists of a lifting hoist installed in the trunk of car, and performs the function of storing the transferred wheelchair in the trunk and safely fastening it in place. This study analyzed and reviewed various manipulators, including a vertical type, Scara type, and telescopic type, with the goal of selecting the best type of manipulator for the wheelchair transfer mechanism. The telescopic type was selected and applied because of its good load support and storage capabilities. In addition, with regard to the wheelchair storage mechanism, a slide hoist type that used a slide rail and lift wire and a rotating link hoist type that used a rotating mechanism consisting of a worm gear and link were analyzed and reviewed. The slide hoist type was selected and applied because it had an advantage in relation to trunk space utilization. This study proposed a wheelchair transfer mechanism for a car to support a conventional wheelchair user's movements, and in order to conform to the structure of a domestic welfare car for the disabled.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.84.6-84
• /
• 2002

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.21 no.11
• /
• pp.851-860
• /
• 2020

With an increase in the aging population and a rising social interest in health and welfare, studies to improve healthcare in the elderly are being actively conducted. This study attempted to improve the current design and manufacture of elevating electric wheelchairs to enhance user safety and convenience. Seat design based on the user's body shape, convenience while boarding or alighting, caster turning radius and, safety and stability features that prevent shaking when the user gets up or sits down were improved. A driving experiment was conducted to evaluate the operation of the indoor electric wheelchair designed and manufactured with these additional functionalities. During the test, the performance parameters evaluated were continuous driving time, turning radius, maximum lifting and lowering load, maximum lifting height, noise level, minimum distance sensing by the driving auxiliary sensor, ability to interact with server and app programs, and the duty cycle maximum error rate. The test confirmed that this improved electric wheelchair successfully met target parameters. In a future study, we will evaluate this improved electric wheelchair from a user's perspective for its usability parameters, such as satisfaction, convenience and stability.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.625-634
• /
• 2014

This study develops a sizing system of mass-customized male suits for wheelchair users. One hundred and three male wheelchair users' 21 anthropometric dimensions were measured to identify body shapes and develop a sizing system. The measured wheelchair users' body sizes were compared with the average body sizes of Korean males from the $6^{th}$ Korean Body Size Survey to understand the body size differences between two groups. As a result of body shape classification using the KS's Drop method, wheelchair user body shapes were classified into four shapes for upper-body (A: 32%, B: 26%, BB: 24%, and Y: 18%), and two shapes for lower-body (B: 70% and A: 30%). The upper-body of wheelchair users was relatively developed than Korean males; however, the lower-body was relatively stunted. The key dimensions of a sizing system were selected as chest circumference, waist circumference, and trunk length, outside leg length based on the correlation analysis between anthropometric measures. The top sizes were determined considering chest and waist circumferences for horizontal sizes, and additionally the trunk length was divided into short, medium, and long groups for vertical sizes. The bottom sizes were selected considering the waist and hip circumferences for horizontal sizes, and additionally their outside leg length was divided into short, medium, and long groups for vertical sizes.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.251-257
• /
• 2010

This paper reports a noble instrument that helps physically disabled people to access computers. There have been numerous attempts to develop such a methodology, but most of them require an additional space for workstation often including access program installation. The additional space also needs to be carefully designed to consider each specific disabled area. This study aims to develop a system that removes the spacial limitation by putting the integrated computer interface using the wheelchair controller. The implementation of the computer workstation is performed by utilizing an USB interface. The developed equipment will take an important role to support various social lives for the users and eventually to improve their quality of life.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
• /
• 2002.06e
• /
• pp.261-264
• /
• 2002

In this study, we used a 16-bit microprocessor, 80C196KC for a control part in order to develop a multi-functional wheel-chair system, and implemented a joy-stick to control this system. For the complete system, we used a commercial electromotive wheelchair as a basic plant, and applied an encoder to get the rotating number of the motor to transfer data to the MCU to control the motor. We used PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) method to control the wheel-chair motor where a H-bridge circuit was configured. We used the fuzzy control algorithm for the operation of DC motor, which was attached to the electromotive wheelchair and manipulated following the change of the joystick position while a user was controlling the joystick. He also could control the speed and direction of DC motor as well as control position information.