• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 2001

This study was conducted to develop a prototype of adjustable desk and chair for students from elementary to high school. The development process started with identifying the problems of existing adjustable desks and chairs that are currently available in the market. The following fundamental design criteria were established and then applied to develop the prototype. The criterion of minimization of production cost yielding lower the market selling price was the most critically considered in view of the school furniture buyers' price-consciousness. Other design criteria used in this development were designing for stable and solid structure, requiring few motions and no tools to adjust, requiring the use of only one hand to adjust, unrestricting the adjustable interval, providing extra space for foot and knee area, reducing weight to move easily, and requiring not to move around for cleaning up floor. To evaluate the performance of the prototype, the adjustability of prototype was specifically compared with both dimensions suggested by KS G 2010(Korean Standards for desks and chairs for students) and current anthropometric dimension in terms of the flexible range of accommodation. Results of this study illustrate that the prototype developed in this study could be accommodated for the both dimensions. As a concluding mark, appropriate adjustable range for various grades and age groups were presented.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.459-465
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• 1999

A new-concept VDT workstation chair with adjustable keyboard/mouse support was proposed to minimize physical discomfort and the risk of cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) at work sites in this study. First, a three-dimensional human modeling tool $(SAFEWORK^{(R)})$ was used to design the new chair satisfying the anthropometric specifications of Korean population. Second, based upon the result of 3-D graphical simulation, a mock-up chair was constructed with an adjustable keyboard/mouse support directly attached to the chair body. Third, muscle fatigue and subjective discomfort were measured to evaluate the newly developed chair. An experiment was conducted to compare the new workstation chair to the traditional computer chair without keyboard/mouse support. Six volunteer subjects participated in six one-hour word-processing sessions with two different chairs and three different postures. Statistical results indicate that the new-concept VDT chair generally improved subjective comfort level and reduced fatigue in finger flexor/extensor and low back muscle. In conclusion, this new VDT workstation chair is expected to reduce physical discomfort and prevent occupational CTD problems in the long run. Implications of the new design and suggestions for the further development are also addressed.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.115-131
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• 1992

The purpose of this study is the investigation of the physically handicapped childrens' residentical life, using furniture and opinion of auxiliary furniture ot find out alternative forms of desirable furniture. This study consists of two parts: a survey of residential life and furniture usage and a new chair design based on the survey. Documentary research, observational investigation and questionaire survey methods were used. According to the survey, a chair was chosen as the most needed piece of furniture. The alternative chair was designed to accomodate to the individual physical needs of each child. The structural charasteristics of the chair form consist of four parts: 1) basic seat 2) supporting metal frame 3) detachable chair legs 4) detachable table top. Auxilliary options include adjustable parts such as a head rest, seat belt, arm rest and pedestal.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.668-673
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• 2011

This paper presents design and control of a wheelchair robot for handicapped or elderly persons. Novel multi-functional design concepts are introduced. The first function is to balance the chair always parallel to the flat ground so that the driver feels comfortable when he/she drives on the slope. The second function is to help the driver to stand up by pushing the chair so that the driver can get out from the chair with ease. The third design is to make it foldable for easy carrying for automobiles. The last function is an immediate stop and start protection. Experimental studies are conducted to demonstrate the feasibility and functionality of each mechanical design.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.243-249
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• 2009

In modern society, people spend most of their time on various types of chairs. However, it is not easy for a designer to design a comfortable chair because satisfaction with the chair depends not only on the quantitative elements such as size, but also on the qualitative element such as the user's feeling. To deal with these problems, there have been many studies on designing ergonomic chairs. This paper proposes the haptic-aided design (HAD) system to design an ergonomic chair. Based on the HAD system, the designer can experience whether the chair is comfortable or not through the haptic device, and also can modify the design parameters instantaneously. The haptic chair capable of controlling the design parameters in real time was proposed as a haptic simulator. The controllable parameters, such as seat height, reclining angle, stiffness of the backrest, and so on were selected based on the previous research related to ergonomic chairs. The proposed methodology will help reduce the development cost and time by replacing the process of making the real mock-ups and prototypes with the haptic chair.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• no.32
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• pp.82-89
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• 2002

This study is focused on the chairs for students, especially, middle school students who grow rapidly compared with other group. We make a certain definite possibilities by the scientific and medical comparison of the approved chair with existing chair about the function of feet-height control & the application of the flexible back. The object of this test is middle & high school student (ratio of gender is the same) in Inchon. And the study types are two. One is to bring a matter and to suggest a design as alternative, the other is to verify propriety of the alternative. The major finding from the research are summarized as follows: 1) K·S standards for existing chairs are not proper to the growth rate of present juveniles, and they don't cope with proactive the discrepancy of growth pace. 2) Existing chairs have caused troubles by using only the fixed back of a chair. This troubles made bad influences on juveniles in a growth period. 3) Even existing chairs can adjust the back of a chair, they can be easily broken , and if they adjusted once, they can't be easily controled. Furthermore, it is Impossible to manage them because of the rust of control parts. 4) In the case of supplying the same sizes of them, juveniles who are different to growth rate respectively, can't accept the chairs. Even supplied adjustable chairs, they cant be ideal types of chairs in Open Classroom mode.

• Archives of design research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.73-80
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• 1999

Many domestic users complain about severe pain to the waist, neck, and shoulder as well as work performance because the domestic chair design was developed with western anthropometry dimension and design criteria. Ergonomic design standards are needed for office chair design to reduce stress and poor physical posture for various user body types. In this study, we have suggested design dimensions recommended from previous studies and Korean anthropometry data. We also have reviewed users' preference dimension through measured subjects and analyzed differences between users' preference dimension and the previous design criteria to verify physical appropriateness. We evaluated general office chairs and adjustable chairs which can adjust to fit each person. we also analyzed how each design dimension was reached and affected the human body by evaluation of physical discomfort and comfort. We have found seat height is very important in a workstation. If the seat height is high, it effects the thigh. If width, height, and angle of the backrest are wrong, fatigue to the shoulder, neck, and waist, etc.. As a result of this experiment, we suggested that the height of a seat for Koreans be 425mm for the fixed type and 365-484mm for the adjustable type. Also other design recommendations were suggested in the thesis. In conclusion, our research will be very important in the database because it provides adjustable ranges to fit user's body types in the various design fields.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.357-363
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• 2011

Objective: The aim of this study is to set the design direction of the lift chair's tilting seat for development. Background: Great attention has been shown to the development of senior friendly product, because of increasing elderly population rapidly in Korea. Therefore, we need to study on sit-to-stand(STS) motion of elderly systematically for developing lift chair that is one of senior friendly products. Method: In this study, we analyzed joint moment(knee, hip) and muscle activity (Erector spinae, Rectus femoris, Vastus lateralis) on STS motion of elderly(female, 60~70: 7) and young people(female, 20~30: 7) using 3 dimension motion capture camera, force plate, wireless EMG. Results: The results of muscle activity showed a similar trend but the results of joint moment were a lot of differences between the young and the elderly. Conclusion: The results of knee joint moment suggest the angle(10~30deg)-adjustable seat that can be better than to find the optimal seat's angle. Application: The method and results of this study are expected to develop senior friendly product and verification as well as be available to various application.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.29-39
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• 2005

우리의 식생활 및 주거 환경이 향상됨에 따라 과거에 비해 학생들의 체격이 커지고 체형 또한 점차 서구화 되가는 경향을 보이고 있으나 아직까지도 초${\cdot}$중${\cdot}$고등학교에서는 학생 자신의 체격에 적합하게 조절하여 사용할 수 없는 고정형 의자를 사용하고 있다. 이에 따라 학생들의 신체발육에 지장을 초래 할 수 있으며 특히 요통과 같은 허리에 문제를 일으킬 수 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 학생 자신의 체격에 맞게 높낮이를 자유롭게 조절하여 사용할 수 있는 학생용 의자를 개발하였다. 개발된 조절형 의자는 일반적으로 사용하는 학생용 의자의 다리부분에 풀림과 조임이 가능한 금속제 나사형식의 높이조절봉을 도입하여 공구가 필요 없이 손으로 회전시켜 좌판의 높이를 자유롭게 조절하여 사용할 수 있게 설계하였다. 또한 의자 등받이는 전${\cdot}$후${\cdot}$상${\cdot}$하방향으로 이동되게 함으로써 착석 시 좌판의 깊이와 등받이의 높낮이를 동시에 한번의 동작으로 조절 가능하게 하였다. 한편 개발된 조절형 의자는 현재 우리나라에서 채택하여 사용하고 있는 ISO 5970(Standards for tables and chairs for educational institutions)과 비교하여 수용능력에 따른 적합성 여부를 평가하였으며 피실험자 40명을 대상으로 fitting trials를 실시하였다. 평가결과 개발된 조절형 의자는 두가지 평가 기준에 적합하였으며 실용화 가능성을 발견하였다. 향후 이를 각급 학교 및 학원에 보급 활용함으로써 학생들의 이상체형 형성을 억제하여 신체 발육과 안전을 도모할 수 있으며 학습효과 또한 높일 수 있다고 판단된다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1524-1526
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• 2002

It is very difficult to measure the fluid viscosity at the critical point, there are seldom found experimental values of fluid viscosity at the critical point. Few theories can explain the critical viscosity quantitatively. A theory of viscosity previously proposed by authors10 is applied to the fluid at the critical point. This theory can be simplified as a simple form with no adjustable parameters, allowing for easy calculation. Viscosities at the critical point for some substances have been calculated, and calculated results are satisfactory when compared with the observed values.