• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.109-124
• /
• 2014

Objective: This study was conducted for one-hand users including hemiplegic clients currently using general folding manual wheelchairs, so as to analyze their specific problems and recommend solutions regarding usage. Background: Traditional manual wheelchairs require considerable use and control of both hands for operation, thus adaptations become necessary for individuals with asymmetrical use of hands. Method: Thirty hemiplegic clients who were admitted to rehabilitation and convalescent hospitals participated as subjects. The research tools were general folding manual wheelchairs commonly used by people with impaired gait, and the Wheelchair Skills Tests (WST) WST-M/WCU 4.1 version was adopted as the assessment tool. All participants were asked to fill out questionnaires on demographics and wheelchair usage characteristics. Assessment procedures were performed with currently used manual wheelchairs and with/without the use of foot to control the wheelchair. Results: When the participants drove folding manual wheelchairs without the use of foot, even the lowest failure rate among the WST items tested recorded 96.7%. On the contrary, with the use of foot in maneuvering the wheelchairs, failure rates dropped noticeably and success rate among the WST items tested was as high as 86.7%. Conclusion: These findings imply that the use of one-arm (hand) propellable (drivable) wheelchair can be an active and effective solution in resolving problems for hemiplegic clients using existing manual wheelchairs. As such, the government should provide institutional support to further develop and distribute this device or technology, and promote relative research in tandem. For now, the supply of commercially available device to hemiplegic clients is deemed urgent and also a mechanism to provide the devices and relevant services. Application: This study offers viable solutions for hemiplegic clients who rely on existing manual wheelchairs to increase their mobility and occupational performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
• /
• 2002.05a
• /
• pp.215-218
• /
• 2002

In this paper, we applied composite material of high specific stiffness and strength to the fabrication of a folding wheelchair frame for the replacement of conventional metal wheelchair frames. A one-body composite frame was designed and the finite element analysis was performed on this design. Some specimens of joint parts were manufactured and strength test was done. With the results of analysis and test, some modification was done and a prototype was produced.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.2 s.179
• /
• pp.172-180
• /
• 2006

Although there existed many types of manual/power hybrid wheelchairs, their use was not widespread because of their inconvenience in converting drive system and in folding frames. To carry a wheelchair in the car or to convert driving methods, some hard work of disassembling or exchanging wheels was required for most of currently available hybrid wheelchairs. In this study, the standard foldable manual wheelchair was reformed to a power wheelchair by installing the newly developed Axial Flux Permanent Magnet(AFPM) type of brush less direct current(BLDC) motor on each rear hub of wheelchair. This wheelchair could be driven by manual or electric power without exchanging. wheels, thus no additional work was needed for carriage or for power conversion. The developed wheelchair was evaluated for durability, stability, maneuverability, cost, and reliability in accordance with the Korean standards. The results indicated that the developed hybrid wheelchair was good enough for commercialization comparing to other imported wheelchairs.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1990 no.05
• /
• pp.63-65
• /
• 1990

The main concepts in the design and construction of an motorized wheelchair for loading in the car which is intended to drive a disabled to long distance. The wheelchair is basically a powered and folding, so it is designed to motorized manual wheelchair by modularity method. The wheelchair has been installed with a power motor module, battery module, and drive & control module. The goal of this project is to develop a wheelchair that has multifunction and operated disabled who has variety impairment. So we are currently working.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.105-112
• /
• 1990

The main concepts in the design and construction of an motorized wheelchair for loading in the tar which is intended to drive a disabled to long distance. The wheelchair is basically a powered and folding, so it is designed to motorized manual wheel- chair by modularity method. The wheelchair hrs been installed with a power motor module, battery module, and drive & control module. The goal of this project is to develop a wheelchair that has multifunction and operated disabled who has variety impairment. So we ave currently working. Experimental results of the system approach our purpose, which is improved maneuverability, safety and can be loaded.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.177-184
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate caretakers' demands and request in electric wheelchairs. The survey included the usability questionnaire (safety, operability, satisfactions) which were selected by opinions of caretakers and specialist of rehabilitation for electric wheelchairs. The survey also included questionnaires consisting of such questions as to demographic information, care experience, care time, and care burden, and demand for folding electric wheelchairs. Participants were fifty caretakers of electric wheelchair users. Caretakers' average age was 54.54years, and the average duration of their care experience was 80.98 months with average care time 9.80 hours per day. In safety and operability, most of participants were mostly satisfied. However, in satisfaction of weight and clean of electric wheelchairs was dissatisfied. They reported that the biggest problem of electric wheelchairs were too heav and difficult to control and that the greatest difficulty in helping electric wheelchair users was helping them with transfer to and from the wheelchair. They also need their prefer to develop folding electric wheelchairs. In this study, caretakers emphasized necessity of development light, easy to storage and clean electric wheelchairs. In conclusion, it is required to develop folding electric wheelchairs to reflect caretaker's opinions.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.1243-1250
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to compare government guidelines and foreign guidelines related to furniture design for elderly. Future elderly will increasingly accustomed to the provisions of improved housing, education and welfare in comparison with our forebears. Also, there will be upgrading and different need for elderly furniture in our market. The results were as follows. The height of bed was based on the height of wheelchair seat, commonly. A adjustable bed was recommended for abled and disabled elderly. A pull-down shelf, drawer, empty space under chest, folding or sliding door in wardrobe and so on were recommended as a elderly furniture. It were good adjustable sink on human scale. There were need the empty space under sink for wheelchair users, one-touch or lever faucet, etc. There have given a little furniture design guidelines for elderly in Korea until now. But those guidelines haven't been considered enough human scale of elderly including wheelchair user. Because the close investigations have not made about abled and disabled elderly for their furniture design. So first of all, the government should be examined elderly physical size more accurately for elderly furniture design. The guideline for elderly furniture design should be for abled elderly and the disabled, too.