• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.223-234
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate accident cases involving electronic assistive devices, to determine how these accidents can be avoided and to devise preventative instructions for the handicapped who use these devices. Methods : This study was carried out from July 20 to October 3, 2015. A consent-based survey was conducted via mail and mobile phones targeting 700 electronic assistive device users, of which questionnaires from 290 users were collected and used in the analysis. Results : Accidents involving electronic assistive devices were investigated, especially the causes of the accidents and accident prevention education, as well as the status of the electronic assistive devices. The most common accident types were collision and falling, and it was found that the victims of the accidents usually suffered severe injury to their lower limbs. Most users used electronic assistive devices every day but rarely wore a safety belt because of discomfort. There were more incidents of collision and falling for older aged handicapped users, and the injury rate to the lower limbs was highest in handicapped elderly aged 50 years or older. Conclusions : In order to prevent accidents with electronic assistive devices in the future, a or management organizations must prepare specific safety guidelines and manage these accidents.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.664-673
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• 2015

The assistive devices for disabled people are being highlighted even in industrial aspects through the policy and support for disabled people, enactment of regulation for the improvement of accessibility of disabled, technological innovation and product development. Recently, internet access with the sense of touch and hearing and utilizing electronic publishing contents and e-mailing are being convenient through the product of ICT development such as screen reader for visually impaired people, braille display, screen enlarger, text converter and others. Even so, in rapidly changing digital media smart era, the accessibility of visually impaired people is still poor and assistive devices and alternative formats are in need of improvement. Therefore, in aspect of the research and development innovation, this study proposes the implementation directions for improvement of accessibility by analyzing the current situation and structure of alternative formats and assistive devices for visually impaired people. As a result, in the future, various types of digital information are expected to be converted into a customized and realistic forms and distributed through a dedicated disability products or smart devices.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.105-111
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• 2014

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) refer to various types of amplification equipment designed to improve the communication of individuals with hard of hearing to enhance the accessibility to speech signal when individual hearing instruments are not sufficient. There are many types of ALDs to overcome a triangle of speech to noise ratio (SNR) problems, noise, distance, and reverberation. ALDs vary in their internal electronic mechanisms ranging from simple hard-wire microphone-amplifier units to more sophisticated broadcasting systems. They usually use microphones to capture an audio source and broadcast it wirelessly over a frequency modulation (FM), infra-red, induction loop, or other transmission techniques. The seven types of ALDs are introduced including hardwire devices, FM sound system, infra-red sound system, induction loop system, telephone listening devices, television, and alert/alarm system. Further development of digital wireless technology in hearing instruments will make possible direct communication with ALDs without any accessories in the near future. There are two technology solutions for digital wireless hearing instruments improving SNR and convenience. One is near-field magnetic induction combined with Bluetooth radio frequency (RF) transmission or proprietary RF transmission and the other is proprietary RF transmission alone. Recently launched digital wireless hearing aid applying this new technology can communicate from the hearing instrument to personal computer, phones, Wi-Fi, alert systems, and ALDs via iPhone, iPad, and iPod. However, it comes with its own iOS application offering a range of features but there is no option for Android users as of this moment.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.186-200
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• 2023

This study aims to improve the usability of the white cane, which is walking equipment that most local visually impaired people use and carry when going out, and to contribute to the prevention of safety accidents and the walking rights of visually impaired people by providing improvement and resolution measures for the problems identified. Also, this study is a study on the visually impaired, primarily targeting the 1st to 2nd degree visually impaired people, who cannot go out on their own without walking equipment such as a white cane, corresponding to 20% among approximately 250,000 blind and low vision people in the Korean population. In the study process, the concept has been developed from the user's point of view in order that the white cane becomes a real help in the walking step of the visually impaired and the improvement of usability of the white cane, the main walking equipment for the visually impaired, are done by problem identification through the Double Diamond Model of Design Thinking (Empathize → Define → Ideate → Prototype → Test (verify)). As a result of the investigation in the process of Empathy, a total of five issues was synthesized, including an increase in the proportion of the visually impaired people, an insufficient workforce situation to help all the visually impaired, an improvement and advancement of assistive devices essential for the visually impaired, problems of damage, illegal occupation, demolition, maintenance about braille blocks, making braille block paradigms for the visually impaired and for everyone. In Ideate and Prototype steps, situations derived from brainstorming were grouped and the relationship were made through the KJ method, and specific situations and major causes were organized to establish the direction of the concept. The derived solutions and major functions are defined in four categories, and representative situations requiring solutions and major functions are organized into two user scenarios. Ideas were visualized by arranging the virtual Persona and Customer Journey Map according to the situation and producing a prototype through 3D modeling. Finally, in the evaluation, the final concept derived is a device such a smart cane for guidance for the visually impaired as ① a smart cane emphasizing portability + ② compatibility with other electronic devices + ③ a product with safety and convenience.