• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2017

Objective: The objective of this study is to understand the effect of angle and curvature of push-return switches, which are external factors in the operation environment inside the cars, on the feel of operation and to propose optimum alternatives. Background: Customers' needs for products are changing from functional and performance aspects to customer-led type where customers can reflect on their needs on the products. The operation inside cars is executed by HMI. The push-return switch is utilized as the most intuitive mode of HMI; therefore, this push-return switch, which is widely used, has to be developed by assessing the preference and satisfaction of the customer. Method: The angle and curvatures, which are external factors that affect the feel of operation, are drawn through surveying the preceding research literatures. The stages to construct alternatives in experiments are as follows: (1) the tactile switch is replaced after dismantling the switch assembly to evaluate the internal characteristics proposed by preceding researches, (2) a drawing is prepared by using a design software, is printed using 3D printer, and then it is attached on the switch assembly, and (3) evaluation for satisfaction of operation is carried out by using a driving simulator. Results: Both the angle and curvature that are external factors of switch significantly affect the feel of operation. However, interaction between the two factors is found insignificant. Therefore, an optimum alternative is proposed considering the experimental outcomes. Conclusion: This study evaluates the satisfaction in operation that affects the feel of operation environment inside the cars. Based on the study results, a guideline for switch design in the center fascia is proposed. Application: This study is expected to be used as basic data for designing automotive switches, as well as switches in the industries similar with the operation environments of cars.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 2017.04a
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• pp.143-143
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• 2017

산업이 고도화됨에 따라 자동화 기계 및 로봇에 의해 대량 생산 되는 품목과 달리, 작업 절차의 비정형성, 비연속성 등으로 인해 여전히 농업에 많은 인력이 투입되고 있다. 국제노동기구에 따르면, 세계 인력의 절반이 농업 인력에 해당하고 작업 중 부상이나 사망 등으로 인해 가장 위험한 직업군 중 하나에 해당하는 것으로 나타났다. 시설 재배 농업의 경우, 노동집약적인 온실 내 작업 특성상 잘못된 자세로 작업하거나 지나친 작업량 등으로 인해 작업자에게 근골격계 질환이 발생할 수 있다. 근골격계 질환으로 인해 작업효율이 감소하거나 생산비용의 증가로 이어질 수 있으며, 농가 수익에 손실이 발생할 수 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 현행 시설 재배 농업에서 사용되는 레일 전동 작업차를 이용하여 작업자가 토마토를 수확할 때의 신체에 대한 농작업의 부하를 평가하고자 하였다. 작업차를 이용한 주요 작업 절차는 작물로부터 과실 수확, 과실 상자에 과실 투입, 빈 과실 상자와 가득 찬 과실 상자의 교대, 작업차 위의 과실 상자를 운반용 파레트에 하역하는 순서로 이루어지는 것을 확인하였다. 비디오장비로 촬영된 일련의 농작업 과정을 OWAS, RULA, REBA와 같은 체크리스트형 인간공학적 작업 부하 평가 도구를 이용하여 평가한 결과, 기존 레일 전동 작업차를 이용한 농작업의 근골격계 질환 유발 가능성을 확인하였다. 동작별 위험성을 토대로 근골격계 질환 유발 가능성이 높아 개선이 필요한 농작업 동작을 선정하였다. 선정된 동작은 실험실 내 환경에서 피실험자를 통한 모의 동작의 생체 신호 계측을 통해 신체 부하 정도를 정량적으로 측정할 수 있으며, 보조가 필요한 신체 부위를 특정하거나 안전성 확보가 필요한 동작에 대한 증거가 될 수 있다. 본 연구를 통해 향후 토마토 온실 내 신선도 유지를 위한 레일 전동 작업차의 개발에 작업자의 안전과 효율성 향상을 위한 인간공학적 설계를 적용할 수 있을 것으로 기대한다.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.231-240
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• 2015

Objective : This study is for providing data about men's functional sport underpants. It provides the fundamental data of biomechanics by measuring and analyzing the functionality of various underpants using infrared thermal image camera. Method : Then author drew a conclusion based on the final analysis of 965 questionnaire survey results about issues on men's functional sport underpants after discarding invalid questionnaires, as following. Change in body temperature while wearing functional underpants compared to general briefs or boxer pants showed lower temperature by approximately 1~2 degrees Celsius. In the case of general underpants, wearer sweats and feels hotter due to the friction of penis, scrotum and thigh. However functional sport functional underpants improved this issue with ergonomic 3D design by putting penis towards the lower part of the abdomen(below the navel) while putting the scrotum comfortably on the testicles, which enables to make room between the penis, scrotum and thigh of a wearer. Results : This was analyzed to lower the temperature of penis and scrotum. The survey results about the quality of functional underpants showed that 78% of the respondents felt comfortable while driving; 68.5% replied that frictional heat decreased while working out; 78.7% felt less sweat and humidity; 81.7% replied as highly wearable and comfortable; 77.1% replied functional sport underpants were the most comfortable in routine lives or in workout times. Putting all such results together, it is possible to conclude that functional sport is an excellent product. Conclusion : This can be evaluated as an excellent functional sport underpants, towards the penis abdomen (under the navel) in 3D human engineering design, by the scrotum to wearing to be easier to scrotum of pocket, the penis and scrotum and thighs were separated and analyzed with a function that will lower the body temperature of the penis and scrotum.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.555-563
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• 2010

With recent advances in 3D scanning technology, three-dimensional (3D) patternmaking is becoming a powerful way to develop garments pattern. This technology is now applicable to the made to measure (MTM) system of both ordinary and tightly fitting garments. Although the pattern of fitted clothing has been developed using 3D human data, it is still interesting to develop cycling pants by considering while-cycling body posture and fabric elasticity. This study adopted the Garland's triangle simplification method in order to simplify data without distorting the original 3D scan. Next, the Runge-Kutta method (2C-AN program) was used to develop a 2D pattern from the triangular pixels in the 3D scanned data. The 3D scanned data of four male, university students aged from 21 to 25, was obtained using Whole body scanner (Model WB4, Cyberware, Inc., USA). Results showed the average error of measurement was $4.58cm^2$ (0.19%) for area and 0~0.61cm for the length between the 3D body scanned data and the 2D developed pattern data. This is an acceptable range of error for garment manufacture. Additionally, the 2D pattern developed, based on the 3D body scanned data, did not need ease for comfort or ease of movement when cycling. This study thus provides insights into how garment patterns may be developed for ergonomic comfort in certain special environments.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2011

Foot posture is important in the development of the musculoskeletal structure in the lower limbs because it can change the mechanical alignment. Although foot orthotics are widely used for the correction of malalignments in the lower extremities, the biomechanical effects of wedges have not yet been cleared. The aim of this study was to investigate whether medial wedges affect the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the knee and hip joints in healthy adults that are performing one leg standing. Seventeen healthy volunteers performed the one leg standing under two foot conditions: A level surface, and a $15^{\circ}$ medial wedge. The subjects' EMG data for the gluteus maximus (Gmax), gluteus medius (Gmed), tensor fasciae latae (TFL), biceps femoris (BF), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis oblique (VMO) were recorded, along with the surface EMG, and all were analyzed. The EMG activity of the Gmed and TFL had significantly decreased under the medial wedge condition during one leg standing. Further study is needed in order to investigate whether medial wedges influence the EMG activity and kinematic data of the knee and hip joints as well as the ankle joints in adults with flexible flatfoot, while they are performing one leg standing.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.105-114
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• 2012

This study was performed to compare the muscle activity of lumbar stabilizers between stoop and semi-squat lifting techniques at different lifting loads. Twenty healthy subjects (9 males, 11 females) were recruited for this study. Muscle activity of external obliques (EO), internal obliques (IO) and lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle was measured by surface electromyography during stoop and semi-squat lifting at different lifting loads (10%, 20%, and 30% of the subject's body weight). A one-way repeated measure ANOVA was applied. The results showed that EMG activity of EO was significantly increased with a load of 30% of body weight compared to 10% and 20% of body weight in both lifting techniques (p<.05). Muscle activity of LM was significantly increased in 20% compared to 10% and 30% compared to 10% of subject's body weight in stoop lifting and the muscle activity of LM was significantly increased in 20% compared to 10%, 30% compared to 20%, and 30% compared to 10% of the subject's body weight in semi-squat lifting (p<.05). However, there was no significant difference in activity of IO according to lifting loads in both lifting techniques. There were no significant differences in muscle activity of EO, IO, and LM between stoop and semi-squat technique (p>.05). Therefore, the results of this study suggested that the EO can contribute to increase the lumbar stability during stoop and semi-squat lifting at 30% of body weight rather than at lower loads, and the LM seems to act as counteractor to imposed loads during stoop and semi-squat lifting with increasing loads.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.94-102
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to review existing assessment tools for patients with low back pain and improve them through combination. A total of 314 patients with low back pain participated. Their condition was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ), the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPD), and the Back Pain Functional Scale (BPFS). Rasch analysis was applied to identify inappropriate items, item difficulties, and the separation index. In this study, the 'sex life' item of the ODQ (10 items) and the 'sleeping' item of the BPFS (12 items) showed misfit statistics, whereas all items of the QBPD (20 items) were appropriate. After combining the ODQ, QBPD and BPFS, Rasch analysis was applied. The 'pain intensity', and the 'sex life' item of the ODQ and the 'throw a ball' item of QBPD showed misfit statistics. These 3 items were retained for further analysis. The remaining 42 combined ODQ-QBPD-BPFS items were arranged according to difficulty. For all subjects, the most difficult item was 'pain intensity', whereas the easiest was 'take food out of the refrigerator'. As the separation index of 42 combined ODQ-QBPD-BPFS was higher than that of the three questionnaires separately, difficulty of items varied with some need for rearrangement. The results of this study confirmed the possibility and need for a new back pain disability assessment tool, and produced one. Further study is needed to refine the questionnaire in consideration of psychosocial and occupational factors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.2
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• pp.195-201
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• 2020

A forest operation is considered as one of the riskiest environments for the development of musculoskeletal disorders because operators are exposed to harmful environmental conditions such as rough terrain, inclement weather, and poor working postures. In weed and kudzu removal operations, manual application is still common in Korea. In this study, we evaluated the ergonomic conditions of weed and kudzu removal in regeneration forests and the associated risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The risk of musculoskeletal disorders was evaluated using the Ovako Working Posture Analysis System and postural risk index. Postural risk was significantly higher for kudzu compared with weed removal operations. This suggests that kudzu removal operations must be improved to decrease postural risk.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.30 no.9_10 s.157
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• pp.1378-1388
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• 2006

We conducted a questionnaire survey of 481 Korean female college students and measured anthropometrically 2 girth of their bodies(bust, under bust girth) in order to understand the psychological needs about brassiere and the physical characteristics of consumers aged between 19 and 25(the 1924 generation). There were two major problems to be solved to improve the fit of brassiere in aspect of size. First, most brands for this age group aimed at product differentiation mainly on visual design not on brassiere size. According to the body measurements, the distribution of brassiere size had 6 sections '70AA, 70A, 70B, 75AA, 75A and 75B cups' showing a rate of 63.8% but most brands for this age group were producing '75A, 80A, 85A, 75B, 80B and 85B cups' showing a rate of 24.7%. Second, most subjects of this survey didn't know their own breast size and the sizing system of brassiere which are necessary in order to select the proper brassiere size. And most subjects were wearing a bigger size brassiere than their own body size even though one was in the range of '75A, 80A, 85A, 75B, 80B and 85B'. It might be possible that the dimensions of brassiere products in the market and the sizes indicated on the labels do not correspond. For increasing the consumer satisfaction it is necessary to adjust the production rate of brassiere sizes and to develop ergonomic brassiere products with proper dimensions and shapes for each brassiere size.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.17-29
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• 2016

To develop baseball catcher leg guards, 3-dimensional (3D) methodologies, which are 3D human body data, reverse engineering, modeling, and printing, optimized guard design for representative positions. Optimization was based on analysis of 3D body surface data and subjective evaluation using 3D printing products. Reverse engineering was used for analysis and modeling based on data in three postures: standing, $90^{\circ}$ knee flexion, and $120^{\circ}$ knee flexion. During knee flexion, vertical skin length increased, with the thigh and knee larger in anterior area compared to the horizontal dimension. Moreover, $120^{\circ}$ knee flexion posture had a high radius of curvature in knee movement. Therefore, guard designs were based on increasing rates of skin deformation and numerical values of radius of curvature. Guards were designed with 3-part zoning at the thigh, knee, and shin. Guards 1 and 2 had thigh and knee boundaries allowing vertical skin length deformation because the shape of thigh and knee significantly affects to its performance. Guard 2 was designed with a narrower thigh and wider knee area than guard 1. The guards were manufactured as full-scale products on a 3D printer. Both guards fit better in sitting than standing position, and guard 2 received better evaluations than guard 1. Additional modifications were made and an optimized version (guard 3) was tested. Guard 3 showed the best fit. A design approach based on 3D data effectively determines best fitting leg guards, and 3D printing technology can customize guard design through immediate feedback from a customer.