• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.571-577
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• 2019

This study examined the usability of express buses for wheelchair users to identify the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction of wheelchair boarding systems. The usability of 11 manual wheelchair users and nine powered wheelchair users was evaluated using the following three scenarios: boarding the wheelchair accessible bus, moving inside, and alighting the bus. The results showed that 20 wheelchair users completed three scenarios, which was distributed between 0.33 and 1.36 in the difficulty rating scale of the efficiency. The task effort of the efficiency was measured from 8.36 to 11.78. The acceptability of the satisfaction was distributed between 1.00 and 2.00, and the system usability scale was measured in an acceptable boundary of the C grade at 70.7 points with manual wheelchair users and a B grade at 73.1 points with powered wheelchair users. This study has academic significance because it provides basic evidence for accessibility, securing the right to movement and research methods of public transportation for people with disabilities. To improve the quality level of usability in the future, more study with a larger number of research participants and various wheelchair types should be studied.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.23-33
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• 2017

This study was aimed to assess accessibility situation of pedestrian environment of University-C focusing on accessibility of manual wheelchair users and to develop accessibility campus map. During March and April 2016, barrierfree design application situation of pedestrian environment and building entrances were investigated using a structured checklist and a digital distance and slope meter. Major findings are as follow. (1) Except one case, widths of all pedestrian routes (both sidewalk and non-sidewalk routes) exceeded 2 meters. (2) As for sidewalk and driveway contact point condition, there were many spots lacking curb ramp or alterative ramp that are accessible for manual wheelchair users. (3) More than half of non-sidewalk pedestrian routes did not have bollard to separate pedestrian and vehicle flows, and more than 92% of the bollards installed were too close for wheelchair users to pass or too far to prevent vehicle access. (4) More than 59 percent of the building entrances were found impossible for manual wheelchair users to access without any assistance, and one third of the buildings did not have any single accessible entrance. Based on the study findings, campus accessibility map was developed by the researchers and disseminated through university homepage. Using the campus accessibility map, users can plan their accessible paths ahead the trip.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

In the rapidly aging society, the number of wheelchair users is increasing steadily. On the other hand, it is almost impossible for a disabled person using a wheelchair to use express buses. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an express bus that can secure the rights of wheelchair users. For these special types of express buses, it is required to develop a special entrance and lift system. The development of a wheelchair entrance system for the express buses requires design modification, retrofit, and reinforcement of the bus frame. This study evaluated the structural integrity of an entrance system for wheelchair users using a finite element method. Torsional stiffness and modal analysis were performed through structural analysis. Through sensitivity analysis, optimization was performed to reduce the weight of the frame. These results on the wheelchair entrance system are expected to be utilized in the vehicle modification and welfare industries.

• Journal of the HCI Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.5-14
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• 2016

Wheelchair users found difficulties in living independently in their houses due to the lack of accessibility. The state of the art smart home technology may enable wheelchair users to live independently. In this study, we built a smart home, and tested its usability with three community dwelling wheelchair users. Three evaluation methods such as scenario-based test, K-IADL(Korea instrumental activity of daily living) test, and in-depth interview were used. All three users responded positively for using the smart home. Through this study, we also found several necessary amendments in building smart homes for wheelchair users.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.120.1-120
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• 2001

This paper proposes a prototype of a safe and reliable wheelchair robot with Human Robot Interaction (HRI). Since the wheelchair users are usually the handicapped, the wheelchair robot must guarantee the safety and reliability for the motion while considering users intention, A single color CCD camera is mounted for input user´s command based on human-friendly gestures, and a ultra sonic sensor array is used for sensing external motion environment. We use face and hand directional gestures as the user´s command. By combining the user´s command with the sensed environment configuration, the planner of the wheelchair robot selects an optimal motion. We implement a prototype wheelchair robot, MR, HURI (Mobile Robot with Human Robot Interaction) ...

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2005

Electromyogram (EMG) signal generated by voluntary contraction of muscles is often used in rehabilitation devices because of its distinct output characteristics compared to other bio-signals. This paper proposes a novel EMG-based human-computer interface for electric-powered wheelchair users with motor disabilities by C4 or C5 spine cord injury. User's commands to control the electric-powered wheelchair are represented by shoulder elevation motions, which are recognized by comparing EMG signals acquired from the levator scapulae muscles with a preset double threshold value. The interface commands for controlling the electric-powered wheelchair consist of combinations of left-, right- and both-shoulders elevation motions. To achieve a real-time interface, we implement an EMG processing hardware composed of analog amplifiers, filters, a mean absolute value circuit and a high-speed microprocessor. The experimental results using an implemented real-time hardware and an electric-powered wheelchair showed that the EMG-based human-computer interface is feasible for the users with severe motor disabilities.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.936-940
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• 2013

As the ageing population grows around the world, the demand for electric wheelchairs, an important mobility assistance device for the disabled and elderly, is gradually increasing. Therefore, a number of studies related to intelligent wheelchairs are actively underway to improve safety and comfort for wheelchair users. However, previous collision avoidance studies for intelligent wheelchairs have concentrated on collision avoidance methods with the shortest distance and by only changing either velocity or heading angle, rather than considering the forces exerted on the user. If a collision avoidance algorithm that does not consider these forces is applied to an intelligent wheelchair, there is a possibility of an accident due to falling as wheelchair users are generally disabled and elderly people. In this paper, we propose a collision avoidance algorithm which minimizes the forces exerted on a wheelchair user by minimizing the variation of the wheelchair's velocity and heading angle when the sizes, positions, velocities, and heading angles of a wheelchair and a moving obstacle are known.

• Journal of Urban Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate accessibility condition of buildings in a college from manual wheel chair users' perspective in order to suggest improvements, and to develop 3D accessibility maps in order to assist manual wheelchair users' prior planning for the building use. In May 2020, on-site investigation was held to three buildings in Chungbuk National University. Major findings were as follows. (1) There were some building entrances that showed level difference over 2cm without proper ramp with slow slope 1/8 or less. (2) Some rooms were found to have accessibility issues to have floors with height more than 2cm, and/or to have no height-adjustable desks. (3) Although accessible restrooms were in good condition for manual wheelchair users' access and use, it is suggested to install accessible restroom for each gender in each floor for better access. Using the study results, 2-dimensional accessibility maps for each floor were developed in color and grayscale, which were further developed into 3-dimensional accessibility maps for each building.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.251-258
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• 2014

A wheelchair is a typical mobility aid for the physically disabled or the old and the weak, and is the most commonly used rehabilitation aid. In general, most of users of manual wheelchair have difficulty though vocational rehabilitation and independent living is possible. The reason is that long-distance movement is always accompanied with wheelchair transfer problem because a wheelchair is used as direct means of transport. Hence, the wheelchair transfer problem should be first solved in order that a wheelchair user can independently live. Therefore, this study examined and analyzed the domestic and overseas launched products and patented technologies of wheelchair transfer system for vehicle, and proposed a wheelchair transfer mechanism of a new system for vehicle. This study proposed a wheelchair transfer mechanism for vehicle in order to remove the disadvantage of wheelchair transfer system for vehicle to support the conventional wheelchair user's movement, and in order to conform with the structure of domestic welfare vehicle for the disabled. Because a difference between storage space installed in the roof of vehicle and storage space for leisure, which is generally utilized, gets to disappear by applying this proposed mechanism, popularity among users can be increased. And storage space that has become smaller like this will be capable of decreasing the disadvantage of air resistance in traveling. Besides, because of getting to conform with the structure of welfare vehicle, restrictions on the application range will disappear from small sedan to SUV. Therefore, users can have more choices.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.7-17
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• 2004

Individuals who propel wheelchairs have a high prevalence of upper extremity injuries (i.e., carpal tunnel syndrome, elbow/shoulder tendonitis, impingement syndrome). Musculoskeletal injuries can result from overuse or incorrect use of manual wheelchairs, and can hinder rehabilitation efforts. To better understand the mechanisms of upper extremity injuries, this study investigates the motion of the wrist during wheelchair propulsion. This study also examines changes in the variables that occur with fatiguing wheelchair propulsion to determine how the time parameters of wheelchair propulsion and the state of fatigue influence the risk of injury. A two dimensional (2-D) analysis of wrist movement during the wheelchair stroke was performed. Twenty subjects propelled a wheelchair handrim on a motor-driven treadmill at two different velocities (50, 70 m/min). The results of this study were as follows; The difference in time parameters of wheelchair propulsion (cadence, cycle time, push time, recovery time, and PSP ratio) at two different velocities was statistically significant. The wrist kinematic characteristics had statistically significant differences at two different velocities, but wrist radial deviation and elbow flexion/extension had no statistically significant differences. There were statistically significant differences in relation to fatigue in the time parameter of wheelchair propulsion (70 m/min) between initial 1 minute and final 1 minute. The wrist kinematic characteristics between the initial 1 minute and final 1 minute in relation to fatigue had statistically significant differences but the wrist flexion-extension (50 m/min) had no statistically significant differences. According to the results, the risk of musculoskeletal injuries is increased by fatigue from wheelchair propulsion. To prevent musculoskeletal injuries, wheelchair users should train in a muscle endurance program and consider wearing a splinting/grove. Moreover, wheelchair users need education on propulsion posture, suitable joint position, and proper recovery patterns of propulsion.