• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.340-347
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• 2008

Ubiquitous services are high quality and differentiated services which are provided for users by recognizing the context of users and environmental conditions actively. In this case, context-aware middleware is one of the most important technologies required to implement the ubiquitous services. In this paper, we propose a method for providing ubiquitous services in a specific user space effectively and monitoring human bio-sensors. That is, the design and implementation of intelligent home service middleware and monitoring bio-sensors based on context awareness is discussed here. Context information from various sensors is gathered, and suitable services are inferred and provided to users by the middleware system. In our approach, user services can be modelled easily by using facts and rules, and the system can be extended easily to support various ubiquitous services other than intelligent home services also. The system can be integrated with external applications and legacy systems effectively by using various protocols such as RMI, socket and HTTP, XML and etc. We have designed and evaluated various facts and rules for intelligent home services in real environments. Functionality evaluation with the system shows that ubiquitous services can be provided to users effectively in a home environment.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.471-478
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• 2004

Electromyogram (EMC) signal generated by voluntary contraction of muscles is often used in a rehabilitation devices such as an upper limb prosthesis because of its distinct output characteristics compared to other bio-signals. This paper proposes an EMG-based human-computer interface (HCI) for the control of the above-elbow prosthesis or the wheelchair. To control such rehabilitation devices, user generates four commands by combining voluntary contraction of two different muscles such as levator scapulae muscles and flexor-extensor carpi ulnaris muscles. The muscle contraction is detected by comparing the mean absolute value of the EMG signal with a preset threshold value. However. since the time difference in muscle firing can occur when the patient tries simultaneous co-contraction of two muscles, it is difficult to determine whether the patient's intention is co-contraction. Hence, the use of the comparison method using a single threshold value is not feasible for recognizing such co-contraction motion. Here, we propose a novel method using double threshold values composed of a primary threshold and an auxiliary threshold. Using the double threshold method, the co-contraction state is easily detected, and diverse interface commands can be used for the EMG-based HCI. The experimental results with real-time EMG processing showed that the double threshold method is feasible for the EMG-based HCI to control the myoelectric prosthetic hand and the powered wheelchair.

• 재활복지
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.191-216
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• 2017

Recently, according to demands for a mobility right of people with disabilities, the use of powered mobility device has been rapidly increased and recharging facilities have been set up in many places of country. But the standards for the installation and management of the facilities are not clear and many problems are brought up in operating the facilities. Therefore, regulations and realities of recharging facilities were investigated and the user survey was progressed. On the basis of the research results, a rational and efficient installation and management plan was drawn up. The plan suggests that the recharging facilities should be installed in a building managed by government and many kinds of public building like library, theater, sports facilities, department store, museum, etc. Further, the recharging facilities should secure independent place which have specified area for protecting of privacy and provide some amenities for people with disabilities to enhance the conveniences.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.14 no.6 s.53
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• pp.148-156
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate spatial characteristics and using behavior of activity room in skilled nursing facilities for the elderly and to provide basic guidelines about its space planning. The activity rooms in the most of the research facilities were arranged by usage modification of unnecessary spaces after the foundation of the facility, and were used not only for the program service but for the staff lounge. It decreased space speciality and resulted in limited area of the space and crowded furniture arrangement. The design guidelines for activity room were as follows. First, the space plan of activity room is based on the use of once to twice per week and for 30 minutes per use, and is mainly for the human knowledge and art programs that are appropriate for small group. Second, the activity room of the facility with less than 3 stories needs to be in the same floor as elderly individual room, but should be independent and easy to be controlled by the staff. On the other hand, in more than 4 stories facility, it is better to be in the different floor as the elderly living area such as administrational area close to the lounge and garden. Third, at least $5.9m^{2}$ per user for the area of the activity room is recommended including the elderly, staff, furniture, equipments and restroom. Fourth, the furniture of activity room includes the shelves, big table with enough knee space, wheel, and stopper, and stackable chairs. Toilets and water closet are needed for the emergency, and the windows to the corridor and curtain door should be avoided for soundproof and easy access of wheelchair users.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.20-30
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• 2013

This study was intended to suggest that new small-sized apartment houses should be designed and provided on the base of the concept of universal design. This is based on the diversity of each resident, that is, resident of not as a family, but as an individual. On the background of this, this study evaluated the small-sized apartment house in aspects of universal design. The walk-through and the residents' evaluation were carried out by using 60 items related to the principles of universal design. The 18 pyung apartment complex and housing unit in Jangyou new town area was evaluated. Also, 100 residents living in that apartment housing unit were asked to evaluate these 60 items by using 5 point Likert scale. The walk-through with measuring and taking pictures was carried out by researchers. In general, the apartment house was not met the fundamental elements of universal design. Thus, it was not appropriate for the disabled or the elderly to live in. Specially, the door width of bathroom and kitchen balcony was too narrow to pass through. Also, the floor of entrance and bathroom was not flat, so that the wheelchair user cannot enter by alone. The residents evaluated negatively many items related to design, such as shape, color, and material. Therefore, in order to provide the living environments for diverse residents such as the elderly, or the disabled to live together, the new small-sized apartment houses should be designed on the base of the principles of universal design.

• The Journal of Sustainable Design and Educational Environment Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2021

Elementary schools in Korea need to create an environment for integrated education and transform into school facilities that are central to the local community. This study assessed the level of universal design application in the physical environment of elementary schools based on the seven principles of universal design in order to create an environment in which all users, including elementary school students, can access and use school facilities equally. For this aim, field research was conducted on 243 elementary schools, and facilities with low application level were analyzed. As a result of the analysis, in order to apply the principle of 'flexibility in use', the rotating handle on the side of the toilet, which is used by the wheelchair user in the way the toilet is accessed, must be installed in a top-to-bottom rotational manner. In order to improve the applicability of the 'low physical effort' principle, it is necessary to select land and apply the plan from the beginning of the design.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.171-183
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• 2022

The purpose of this paper is to study the direction of improving kiosk design for convenient use by all users by increasing the usability of kiosks based on universal design principles. The direction of design improvement was studied by deriving essential improvements through additional surveys verifying the results of age-specific surveys and analysis related to the use of kiosks. The results of the study are as follows. High contrast between kiosk screen background and design elements, yellow color, and outline design elements increase readability. Then, reduce and enlarge the font based on 10pt. In addition, in consideration of wheelchair passengers, the area where the lower part cannot be designed and the minimum height of adjusting the height of the kiosk were derived. In the future, kiosk design requires a design and system that can diversify the functions of kiosks according to individual characteristics, and design should be focused on the application of universal design. Since this study has limited research subjects, further studies on various samples are required, and verification studies related to color and readability will also be conducted.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.66-76
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• 2023

The government recently implemented policies to improve transportation for the disabled passengers. On the other hand, metropolitan public transport still lacks adequate services for these individuals. Many new cities lack urban rail lines and focus on high-floor buses for expansion. Wheelchair users can only access to double-decker low-floor seat express buses for intercity travel. This study examined the necessity and rationale for introducing low-floor seat buses by estimating the user's willingness to pay through a contingent valuation method. Two methods for eliciting the willingness to pay were adopted: open-ended and dichotomous choice questions. The binomial logit model was used to estimate the willingness to pay. The results indicated that the general public is willing to pay an additional 126.7 Korean won, while the disabled passengers are willing to pay an additional 117.5 Korean won. When translated into annual economic benefits, this amounts to approximately 35 billion Korean won.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.213-221
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• 2014

Since 2005, when "The Mobility Enhancement for the Mobility Impaired Act" was enacted, special transport systems(SPS) has been introduced by each responsible local entity. For its efficient operations and service enhancements, a clear understanding of travel patterns of SPS users is required. Yet we currently have a very limited understanding about them due to a lack of necessary data. This study represents an attempt to provide a better understanding of SPS user's travel patterns with the data generated by Gyeongsangnam-do SPS Call Center. The data include the number, time and day of calls, origins and destinations of callers, types of callers' impairement etc. The data thus allow one to analyze users' travel patterns, including area-wide O-D patterns. There were a number of interesting findings. For example, wheelchair users are only about 42% and the trips are made mostly on non-peak daytime periods. The results are expected to provide a helpful information not just for Center's SPS operations, but for other local entities that are interested in developing similar call centers as well. By refining the SPS system, periodic patterns of callers could be identified in the future.

• Journal of Platform Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.10-19
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• 2022

Moving assistant devices for people who are difficult to move are becoming electric-powered and automated. These moving assistant devices are not suitable for moving stairs at which the height between floor surfaces is different because these devices are designed and manufactured for flatland moving. An electric-powered and automated moving assistant device should change direction or stop when it approaches stairs in a movement direction. If the user or automatic control system does not change direction or stop in time, a moving assistant device can roll over or collide with stairs. In this paper, we propose a stairs detection method by using oblique distance measured by one sensor tilted to flatland. The method proposed in this paper can detect upward or downward stairs by using a difference between a predicted and measured oblique distance in considering a tilted angle of a sensor for measuring an oblique distance and installation height of the sensor on a moving object. Before the device enters a stairs region, if our proposed method provides information about detected stairs to a device's controller, the controller can do adequate action to avoid the accident.