• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2014

Objective: The present study is intended to objectively classify upper- & lower-body sitting strategies and identify the effects of gender and OPL type on the sitting strategies. Background: A sitting strategy which statistically represents comfortable driving posture can be used as a reference posture of a humanoid in virtual design and evaluation of a driver's seat. Although previous research has classified sitting strategies for driving postures in various occupant package layout (OPL) types, the existing classification methods are not objective and the factors affecting sitting strategies have not been identified. Method: Forty drivers' preferred driving postures in three different OPL types (coupe, sedan, and SUV) were measured by a motion capture system. Next, the measured driving postures were classified by K-means cluster method. Results: Sitting strategies of upper-body were classified as erect (33%), slouched (41%), and reclined (26%) postures, and those of lower-body were classified as knee bent (42%), knee extended (32%), and upper-leg lifted (26%) postures. Significant differences at ${\alpha}$ = 0.05 in the upper-body sitting strategy by gender and lower-body sitting strategy by OPL type were found. Application: Both the classified sitting strategies and the identified factors would be of use in ergonomic seat design and evaluation.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2010

This research is to evaluate the arousal level by using cardiovascular response. PPG was used in this study as one of the method of measuring it rather than ECG (Electrocardiography) for the purpose of solving ergonomic problem of sensing. The participants were in the age group of 20 (mean=24, standard deviation=1.25): five men and five women. Each experiment composed with four identical sets. First, a black screen was displayed for 30 second rest. Then, the prepared 6 pair images were randomly presented for 10 second stimulation and for 30 second non-stimulation. PPG was measured on the earlobes of experimenters at 200Hz sampling frequency. PPG amplitude, PPI(Pulse to Pulse Interval), and PRV(Pulse Rate Variability) were analyzed according to arousal level. T-test was performed to compare between the PPG variables of rest and relaxation, rest and arousal, and relaxation and arousal. Relative to the rest state, PPG amplitude decreased in relaxed state and increased in aroused state. Relative to the rest state, PPI decreased in both emotional states. However, more significant decline was observed in aroused state. PRV's LF and HF were used in the form of LF/HF to compare between the relaxed and the aroused state. Therefore, PPG signal showed significant differences between relaxed and aroused state. In conclusion, evaluation of human arousal level used in the PPG analysis demonstrated that PPG has better usability and comforter measurement than ECG and is clearly an alternative method of measuring arousal level.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-110
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• 2007

This study was performed to find out hazardous factors in the loaded works of muscular skeletal disorders(MSDs) for four company attached to dining workers from October 2005 to June 2006. The results are summarized as follows. 1. 42.5% of workers in study group were 40-50 years old, and females were higher than males, and the average of body weight was 70kg, 57kg in males and females, respectively. Working time per day was mostly 7-9hours, and the rate of worker who had never education and training was 46%. 2. The upper part and right part of body were higher than lower part and left part in symptoms of muscular skeletal disorders. Body parts which complained of symptoms were the order of right shoulder(55%), right arm(54%), right hand,(40%) waist(35%), leg(25%), and neck(24%). 3. The results of evaluation in the loaded works of muscular skeletal disorders to cooking, dish supply, preparing side dish, and washing the dishes and cleaning the floor of cooking room using RULA and OWAS checklists was action level 4(potential hazards, needs of change workplace), and the result of evaluation using back compressive force needed control measures as 779.27 lbs~1,274.04 lbs. In a view point of the result of this study, large dining rooms should be designed by ergonomic technology for the work surface height, width, and depth. The height of carrying car should be lower to 70cm, and repetitiveness and handling weight should be reduced by mechanical means, and education and training also should be performed for all of workers positively.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2013

Objective: The present study developed an estimation method of boundary zone representative humanoids(hereafter, EBZ method) using descriptive statistics on the design target population. Background: The boundary zone method(hereafter, BZ method) generates representative humanoids at a boundary zone that statistically accommodates a designated percent of the design target population; however, the BZ method has a practical limitation because it requires a large scale anthropometric database on the design target population. Method: The EBZ method developed in the present study consisted of 3 steps. In the first step, the boundary zone of accommodating a designated percent(e.g., 90%) is formed under the assumption of normal distributions for anthropometric sizes. In the second step, cases that fall within the boundary zone are estimated using descriptive statistics(mean, standard deviation, and covariance) on the design target population. In the last step, K-mean cluster analysis is conducted for the cases, and representative humanoids are selected from each of clusters. Results: Evaluation results showed that mean accommodation percent of the EBZ method was 90.9%(range: 90.8~91.1%) which is similar to the target percent(90%). In addition, standard deviation of accommodation percent for 100 repetitions was 0.1%. Lastly, the number of representative humanoids generated by the EBZ method(n = 20) was similar to the BZ method(n = 16). Conclusion: The EBZ method can generate representative humanoids which accommodate a designated percent of the design target population using descriptive statistics. Application: The EBZ method can be utilized in the generation of humanoids for ergonomic design and evaluation of products when the large scale anthropometric database on the design target population is not existed.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.281-292
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• 2017

Objective: This study aims to identify important physical design variables in designing a necklace type wearable device, and to present design guidelines to maximize comfort that a user feels upon wearing the device. Background: Interests in fitness culture and personal health are on the rise recently. In such a situation, demand for necklace type wearable devices is projected to increase a lot, as the devices enable users to use their hands freely and to enjoy various contents through connection with mobile devices. However, the necklace type wearable device's comfort was assessed to have the lowest comfort in a running situation, where human body moves up and down and left and right more than other devices wearable on other human body parts. Therefore, the usability of a necklace type wearable device was low. In this regard, studies on identification of the variables affecting user comfort upon wearing a necklace type wearable device and on physical design direction maximizing comfort and usability are needed. Method: A pretest and a main test were carried out to draw the direction of necklace type wearable device design. In the pretest, wearing evaluation on the diverse types of devices released in the market was conducted to draw physical design variables of the devices affecting comfort. Furthermore, variables significantly affecting the comfort of a device were selected through an analysis of variance (ANOVA). In the main test, anthropometry was performed, and information on anthropometric items corresponding to the design variables selected in the pretest was acquired. Based on the pretest results and the anthropometric information in the main test, the present study produced design guidelines maximizing the comfort of a necklace type wearable device with regard to major design variables upon dynamic tasks. Results: According to the pretest results, the variables having effects on comfort were the angle of side points, width, and height. Due to interactions between variables, those need to be simultaneously considered upon designing a device. Upon dynamic tasks, the angle of side points and width of a device was designed to be smaller than mean angle of the trapezius muscle and neck width, and thus attachment to human body was high. As height was designed to be larger than mean neck front and rear point width, comfort was higher due to feeling of stability. Conclusion: Because user sensitivity to comfort was high at human body's inflection points, a device needs to be designed for users not to feel high pressure on specific body parts with the device fitting human body shape well. A design considering user's situation is also required in further studies.

• International Journal of Railway
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.143-148
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• 2008

This paper is the output of a collaborative European project concerning the barrier free accessibility for disabled persons to regional and long distance trains in Europe. Disabled people represent around 13% of the population in Europe. This is approximately 63 million people. The range of disabilities includes people with reduced mobility including wheel chair users, viewing and hearing impaired people and other forms of impairment. Improving accessibility aims at contributing to the provision of public transport services to all citizens in an equitable way. The purpose of the project was to analyse and to evaluate the existing solutions at selected European railways for all required modules at the entrance (doors, information and safety solutions), to derive a design concept, to develop a mock-up in meeting the needs of rail travellers with the above mentioned impairments and to test it with user groups. The project also aims at deriving components for the determination of standards. The EUPAX Design Mock-up test was performed to verify the advantages of the layout of the train segment including the different modules such as access area (including the access door, gaps between platform and train as well as boarding aid devices), entrance vestibule, information systems inside and outside the train, emergency facilities, toilet with all conveniences and the additional test arrangements regarding push buttons, steps and emergency equipment. For this purpose a questionnaire was developed for the assessment of the EUPAX segment and the additional test arrangements. With the help of this questionnaire it was possible to execute a quantitative and qualitative evaluation. During three test phases 67 experts and handicapped persons from 6 countries have evaluated the Industrial Design mock-up based on this questionnaire. The test group covered persons from North (Denmark) to the South (Italy) and from the West (Spain) to the Middle of Europe (Germany). This is especially important for the generalization (harmonisation) of the results for all European countries. According to COST 335 the information for people with reduced mobility should be clear, concise, accurate and timely. So that all information can be received from persons, they must be transferred on at least two of the three possible ways (acoustical, visual, tactile), a so called "2-sense-principle". Based on the results ergonomic specifications/ solutions for the ergonomic design of the access area, the acoustic, visual and tactile information and the emergency devices including the emergency communication system were developed, related to the benefiting passenger groups.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.48-59
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• 1999

Objectives. This study was conducted to evaluate the association between upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment(RULA) in vehicle assembly line workers. The goal of this study is to show the feasibility of RULA as a checklist for work related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMSDs) in Korean workers. Methods. The total number of 199 people from the department of assembly and 115 people from the department of Quality Control(QC) in automotive plant were subjects for this cross sectional study. A standard symptom questionnaire survey has been used for the individual characteristics, work history, musculosketal symptoms and non-occupational covariates. The data were obtained by applying one-on-one interview for the all subjects. RULA has been applied for ergonomic work posture analysis and the primary ergonomic risk sure was computed by RULA method. Association between upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and RULA were assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results. A total of 314 workers was examined. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms by NIOSH case definition was 62.4%. The distribution of musculoskeletal symptoms by the part of the body turned out to be following; back:41.4%, neck: 32.8%, shoulder: 26.4%, arm: 10.5% and hand:29.3%. The relationship of the individual RULA scores were statistically significant for the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. As the result of the multiple logistic regressioin analysis, grand final score (OR=2.250 95% CI: 1.402-3.612) was associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in any part of the body.; upper arm score(OR=1.786 95% CI: 1.036-3.079) and posture score A(OR=1.634 95% CI: 1.016-2.626) in neck; muscel use score(OR=3.076 95% CI:1.782-5.310) and posture score A(OR=1.798 95% CI: 1.072-3.017) in shoulder; upper arm score(OR=1.715 95% CI: 1.083-2.715) and muscel use score(OR=2.057 95% CI:1.303-3.248) in neck & shoulder; muscle use score(OR=10.662 95% CI: 3.180-35.742) in arm; writst/wist score(OR=2.068 95% CI: 1.130-3.786) and muscle use score(OR=2.215 95% CI: 1.284-3.819) in hand & wrist.; muscle use score of trunk (OR=2.601 95% CI: 1.147-5.901) in back. Conclusions. Musculoskeletal symptoms of the extremities were strongly associated with individual RULA body score. These results show that RULA can be used as a useful assessment tool for the evaluation of musculoskeletal loading which is known to contribute to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. RULA also can be used as a screening tool or incorporated into a wider ergonomic assessment of epidemiological, physical, mental, environmental and organizational factors. As shown in this study, complement of the analysis system for the other risk factors and characterizing between the upper limb and back part will be needed for future work.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.401-407
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• 2013

In parallel with the development of ship equipment, bridge systems have been improved, but marine accidents due to human error have not been reduced. Recently, research in nautical bridge equipment has focused on suitable ergonomic designs in order to reduce these errors due to human factors. In a bridge of a ship, there are numerous auditory signals that deliver important information clearly to the sailors. However, only a few studies have been conducted related to the human recognition of these auditory signals. There are three types of auditory signals: voice alarms, abstract sounds, and auditory icons. This study was conducted in order to design more appropriate auditory icons using a sensibility evaluation method. The auditory icons were rated to have five warning situations (engine failure, fire, steering failure, low power, and collision) using the Semantic Differential Method. It is expected that the results of this study will be used as basic data for auditory displays inside bridges and for integrated bridge alarm systems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.84-91
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• 2012

This study evaluated three forces (lifting, pushing and twisting) required to maneuver the single-wheel barrows according to handle height, width, horizontal angle and vertical angle. The four independent variables were varied in two levels. Handle height was varies in two levels : 'knuckle height (KH)' and 'KH + 0.1 ${\times}$ stature'. The two handle widths were '1.5 ${\times}$ shoulder width (SW)' and '1.75 ${\times}$ SW'. Two angles of $0^{\circ}$ and $15^{\circ}$ were used for horizontal and vertical angles. The 24 factorial design was used in the experiment. Twelve healthy male students (undergraduate and graduate) participated in the experiment. Subjects exerted three forces (pushing, lifting, and twisting clockwise) in each experimental condition. The order of 16 treatment conditions was determined randomly. Results showed that the effects of the four factors were different according to three forces. While lifting and twisting forces were higher in 'knuckle height', the pushing force was higher in 'KH + 0.1 ${\times}$ stature' (p < 0.05). Lifting and pushing forces showed higher values in the horizontal angle $0^{\circ}$ than in $15^{\circ}$. Handle width and vertical angle showed no statistically significant main effects on three forces (p > 0.05). Results of this study could be used as basic data for the ergonomic design of handle variables of one- or two-wheel barrows.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.339-347
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• 2011

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate of various material of pillows by using biomechanical variables such as the cervical stability, head pressure distribution, and muscle activity. Method: Eight subjects participated in the experiment. Three different materials such as polyester sponge, memory foam and the buckwheat shell used for Korean traditional pillow were tested. Electro-goniometer, six channels of electromyography(EMG), ten channels of the head pressure sensors were used to measure the biomechanical responses. Surface electrodes were attached to the right/left semispinals capitis(RSC, LSC), the right/left sternocleidomastoid(RSM, LSM), the right/left upper trapezius(RUT, LUT). The cervical stability was evaluated by the angle deviated from the standing neck position. The head pressure distribution was evaluated by the pressure per unit area recorded on the sensors and the intensity of peak pressure. Electromyography(EMG) data were analyzed by using root mean square(RMS) and mean power frequency(MPF). Results: The buckwheat shell material showed a higher stability in the cervical spine then the other pillows during spine position. In terms of head pressure distribution, the memory form indicated the lowest pressure at supine position, buckwheat shell material indicated the lowest pressure during lying down to side, and polyester cushion recorded the highest pressure at all postures. Conclusion: The buckwheat shell material has a biomechanical advantage to maintain a healthy neck angle and reduce the pressure on the head, which means the buckwheat shell is a potential material for ergonomic pillow design. The pillow with memory form showed second best biomechanical performance in this study. Application: The shape of the buckwheat shell pillow and the characteristics of materials can be used to design the pillow preventing neck pain and cervical disk problems.