• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2012

The study was intended to evaluate common spaces of office building in view point of universal design. The common spaces were access road, main entrance, parking lot, corridor, and restroom. Two office buildings in Centum city of Busan were evaluated by their workers, each 100 ones. The check list for evaluating them consisted of 36 universal design elements which related to five common spaces. First, there were many universal design elements which need to be improved. Second, among five common spaces, restroom has the most elements to be rated low. First of all, at least one restroom for wheelchair should be provided each floor. Third, even though both of two office buildings were recently built, there were significant difference between their users' evaluations. This implies that the concept of universal design is not applied to office buildings well. Fourth, there were significant difference among users' evaluations according to age, especially in case of design related elements. This means that users' age is an important factor to be considered.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.53-61
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• 2011

As the standard of living has raised and the local self-governing body has enforced, cultural facilities have been increased in local areas. These cultural facilities should be designed to consider various users. However, most facilities were designed to focus on size or visual expressions. Therefore, this study was intended to evaluate common spaces of two cultural centers in local area from the universal design point of view. Two cultural centers located in large apartment complex were selected. The evaluating tool consisted of 46 elements related to universal design. The common space were pathway to entrance, parking lot, entrance, all over building, corridor, and restroom. Each 100 users of these two cultural centers evaluated them using by 5-point Likert scale. The results were as follows; The users rated them positively, but not highly. This means that some improvement were needed. Generally, the consideration for upgrading the quality of design such as material, pattern and color needed, and for various users including wheelchair users and seniors were needed. Also, when considering the users' behavior pattern and purposes, installing canopy over entrance, and providing seating places at corridor or pathway were needed.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.39-48
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• 2014

Purpose : Balanced meal service is very important for the elderly to maintain good physical health. Good food and comfortable dining environment is also important for the elderly to prevent emotional depression. The purpose of this study is to investigate current problems of dining space in Korean elderly welfare facility. De-institutionalizing dining environment of elderly welfare facility will bring more meaningful social interactions among elderly users. Methods : Through literature research and case studies of welfare centers in the US and Japan, Elderly Dining Space Checklist was developed. Dining spaces of 11 welfare facilities in Seoul was analyzed by this checklist. It was administered by interior designers as well as facility staffs to achieve more credible results. Questionnaire for the elderly users of those dining space also prosecuted to broaden knowledge for creating improved environment. Results : Dining spaces of elderly welfare centers are lack of privacy and furnitures are not comfortable enough for the general users as well as wheelchair users. Elderly dining space users are seeking more private and comfortable spaces for the social communications. Implications : Dining environment for the elderly in Korea should develop more de-institutionalized design concepts.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.33-39
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• 2013

When the eldery with limited mobility and disabled use a wheelchairs to move, it can cause decreased exercise ability like decline muscular strength in upper limb and lower extremities. The disabled people suffers with spinal cord injuries or post stroke hemiplegia are easily exposed to secondary problems due to limited mobility. In this paper, We designed intelligent wheelchair robot system for upper limb and lower extremities exercise/rehabilitation considering the characteristics of these severely disabled person. The system consists of an electric wheelchair, biometrics module for Identification characteristics of users, upper limb and lower extremities rehabilitation. In this paper, describes the design and configurations and of developed robot. Also, In order to verify the system function, conduct performance evaluation targeting non-disabled about risk context analysis with biomedical signal change and upper limb and lower extremities rehabilitation over wheelchair robot move. Consequently, it indicate sufficient tracking performance for rehabilitation as at about 86.7% average accuracy for risk context analysis and upper limb angle of 2.5 and lower extremities angle of 2.3 degrees maximum error range of joint angle.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1963-1970
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• 2014

It is a research study to look at the satisfaction of disabled persons are using a specific transportation system, and displays to see what effect the quality of life and the acceptance of disability. The survey of disabled persons in a moving vehicle assistance support Jeju vulnerable road users, using the final 81. Analysis, STS reason to use that vehicle wheelchair lift is the most common response, STS safety-related satisfaction was highest in the wheelchair. However, satisfaction of convenience associated with the use of the procedure was the lowest. The more stable satisfaction of STS is high, a positive impact on the quality of life(satisfaction and the food, clothing and housing)was confirmed. Therefore, in order to increase the satisfaction of STS and to improve the quality of life, it is necessary to improve the utilization procedures and safe operations and additional support of the wheelchair lift car to ensure rights of mobility.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.161-167
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• 2016

Recent technological advances in sensor fabrication and bio-signal processing enabled non-constraint and non-intrusive measurement of human bio-signals. Especially, non-constraint measurement of ECG makes it available to estimate various human health parameters such as heart rate. Additionally, non-constraint ECG measurement of wheelchair user provides real-time health parameter information for emergency response. For accurate emergency response with low false alarm rate, it is necessary to discriminate quality levels of ECG measured using non-constraint approach. Health parameters acquired from low quality ECG results in inaccurate information. Thus, in this study, a machine learning based approach for three-class classification of ECG quality level is suggested. Three sensors are embedded in the back seat, chest belt, and handle of automatic wheelchair. For the two sensors embedded in back seat and chest belt, capacitively coupled electrodes were used. The accuracy of quality level classification was estimated using Monte Carlo cross validation. The proposed approach demonstrated accuracy of 94.01%, 95.57%, and 96.94% for each channel of three sensors. Furthermore, the implemented algorithm enables classification of user posture by detection of contacted electrodes. The accuracy for posture estimation was 94.57%. The proposed algorithm will contribute to non-constraint and robust estimation of health parameter of wheelchair users.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.375-382
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• 2021

Purpose: The objectives of the present study were to investigate the disadvantages of tire pressure asymmetry of a wheelchair tire and recommend the criterion for appropriate tire pressure without generating negative changes in the musculoskeletal system in asymptomatic participants. Methods: Fourteen asymptomatic participants were asked to sit in pressure-controlled wheelchairs and perform desk work for 20 minutes in each tire condition. The asymmetry of the tire conditions was set as 0% difference, 25% difference, and 50% difference from the recommended pressure. The pelvic alignment and muscular recruitment represented as a flexion-relaxation ratio (FRR) were measured at pre-test, and after each condition of desk work. The displacement of the center of pressure (COP) was measured during the desk work. Results: The tire air pressure condition significantly affected the FRR and COP (P < 0.05). Both sides of the FRR values were significantly higher under the symmetrical tire conditions (0% difference) and pre-test, compared with the asymmetrical tire condition of 50% difference (P < 0.05). The mediolateral COP displacement of the asymmetrical tire conditions (25% and 50% difference) was significantly higher than that of the symmetrical tire conditions (0%) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Asymmetrical tire conditions could cause changes in the muscle recruitment pattern of the erector spine and mediolateral COP displacement. Tire pressure asymmetry higher than 50% could be a risk factor for prevalence of back pain, so this level of asymmetry in tire pressures should be cautioned against for wheelchair users.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1791-1800
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• 2001

연구의 목적은 지체장애인들의 신체적 특성을 고려하여 움직이기 편하면서 외관이 보기 좋은 기능성 의복을 제작하는데 있다. 휠체어, 크러치를 사용하는 여성 장애인을 대상으로 쟈켓, 바지, 휠체어 랩을 제작하여 외관상 기성복과 차이가 나지 않으면서 보조기구를 사용하는데 불편함이 없는 디자인을 제시하였다. 연구의 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 휠체어사용자 쟈켓은 어깨와 팔의 동작을 쉽게 하기 위해서 뒤 bodice 소매둘레부위에 artion pleats를 주었으며 팔꿈치 부위에 주름으로 처리하여 당김과 움직임을 수월하게 하였다. 바지는 허리선 위치를 수정하고 굽혀져 있는 무릎부위에 앞은 주름, 뒤는 다아트로 처리하였다. 둘째, 크러치 사용자는 전체적으로 외관이 올라간 것처럼 보이는 것을 막기 위하여 쟈켓 길이를 길게 하고 쟈켓 위에 조끼를 덧입은 것처럼 보이게 하였다. 바지의 허리선은 고무벨트를 달았으며 양쪽 옆트임을 하여 지퍼를 달았다. 셋째, 휠체어 랩은 방수와 방한을 대비하여 만든 옷으로 전체적인 외관이 롱 원피스 형이며 발부위에 사각형 발판을 만들어 바람이 들어오지 못하도록 하였고, 양쪽 옆 지퍼를 사용하여 여밈 처리하였다.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical features, strength, function, and upper extremity musculoskeletal pain during rehabilitation of manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The degree and frequency of upper extremity musculoskeletal pain were measured in persons with spinal cord injuries using manual wheelchairs with the use of questionnaires. The pain scores of the hand, wrist, and shoulder joints were calculated by multiplying the seriousness and frequency of pain. We collected data on the manual muscle test, Spinal Cord Independent Measure-III, and the Body Mass Index. Statistical analysis was performed by descriptive analysis and Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: A total of 47 patients participated in this study and the neurological level of the injuries ranged from C2 to S5. Pain in the shoulder joints was the most common in persons with tetraplegia and paraplegia. Pain was experienced as mild to moderate, and occurred one or more times a week. Of the 32 persons with paraplegia, the most common area of complaint was the shoulder. Of the 15 persons with paraplegia, the shoulder joints were the most common site of pain. The independence levels of the persons with spinal cord injuries were highly correlated to muscle strength levels (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study investigated upper extremity musculoskeletal pain during rehabilitation of manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries and the relationship between physical features, strength, and function. In most persons with spinal cord injuries, pain and frequency of shoulder joints were high and pain levels were also related to functional levels.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.127-132
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• 2020

In this study, the process of providing information necessary to remove physical barriers such as road slopes that obstruct the activities of the disabled is in progress. Through experiments, we implement a quantified road surface roughness index that enables the implementation of IoT-based systems necessary for the elderly and the disabled to safely move to their destination. As a preliminary study, a road surface measurement device using a gyroscope was devised. To check the roughness and flatness of the road surface, X, Y displacement, and acceleration displacement were measured using a gyroscope. By calculating the measured data, the roughness and flatness of the road surface were quantified from 0 to 100. We implemented an algorithm that divides this index into 4 stages, displays it on a map, and provides it to users. Finally, a system for the disabled and elderly electric wheelchair users to secure basic mobility was established.