• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.447-454
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• 2015

Objective: The purposes of this study are to survey general and ergonomics relevant patents of major foreign countries, to classify the ergonomics patents into some categories frequently found in the patents lists surfed and to compare the results with those of Korea. Background: Under today's severe competitions between countries and between companies, the intellectual property has never been more important. It is needed to investigate Korea's positions and worldwide status of patent applications and grants for general and ergonomics patents. Method: This study was mainly based on relevant websites surfing such as KIPRIS, FPO, EPO, WIPO, etc. Results: The results showed that while Korea placed fourth in patent applications and grants in 2012, following US, Japan and China, Korea ranked seventh in the number of ergonomics patents. Of the overseas ergonomics patents, the proportion of tool/device was the second highest to category of others, followed by chair/desk, grip/handle and keyboard, etc. Compared to the overseas ergonomics patents, Korea showed a slightly different trend that there were less patents for specific fields of ergonomics such as grip/handle, keyboard, tool/device, etc. Conclusion: The number of ergonomics patents of Korea was behind most foreign countries surveyed in the number of patent applications and grants of, and there were many categories of overseas ergonomics patents. Application: This study would be used as a reference or guideline when developing varying ergonomic products or applying to ergonomics patents.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.437-445
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• 2015

Objective: The aims of this study are to investigate the trends of intellectual property in order to identify the ergonomic approaches on musculoskeletal disorders, harmful factors of musculoskeletal disorders, and to find the potential applicability of motion capture technology. Background: Ergonomic posture assessment tools often showed interrater variance, though the usage is easy and practical in industrial fields. Moreover new technologies such as motion capture showed the potential applicability in posture assessment. So ergonomists and practitioners became interested in the intellectual properties on musculoskeletal disorder and motion capture technology. Method: Intellectual properties were collected with the combination of keywords such as ergonomic, musculoskeletal disorder, and motion capture using the KIPRIS (Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service). Collected intellectual properties were classified into ergonomic area and non-ergonomic area, except unexamined intellectual properties. This study investigated the trend of application of intellectual properties and the probability of using motion capture technology. Results: Few intellectual properties with ergonomic approach on musculoskeletal disorders were founded, despite many products for rehabilitation and sports. One hundred twenty five patents in 1105 patents on musculoskeletal disorders and 138 patents in 1908 patents on motion capture technology were classified into the patents that ergonomic approach can be applied. The patents related to ergonomics area are rapidly increasing after 2010, and there are good opportunities for ergonomists to apply the patents. Conclusion: This study found opportunities on novel methodology in detecting the harmful factors of musculoskeletal disorders, and that the motion capture technology is applicable in ergonomic posture assessment. Application: The results of this study can help ergonomists prepare the ergonomic patents, and can show the potential use of motion capture technology in detecting the harmful posture of musculoskeletal disorders.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.501-517
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• 2015

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the technology trend on developing helmets based on the analysis of Korean, US, European and PCT patents. Background: The usage of the personal protective equipment such as the safety helmet would be essential for preventing injuries and reducing the severity of injuries depending on the type of activity and the exposed environment. Method: Database of WIPSON was used for searching the patents. The objects were the Korean, US, European and PCT patents registered or opened from January 2011 to December 2014. The keyword to investigate was helmet, and International Patent Classification (IPC) was used for investigating the technology trend of the patents. Results: The cases of US patents annually increased, but the cases of European patents decreased. US patents belonged to all sections but Korean and European patents and PCT patents did not. The largest number of IPC, to which four areas' patents belonged, was 'Headwear' and the second largest one was 'Hygiene'. In the subgroup level, the most common largest subgroups were 'Parts, details or accessories of helmets' and 'Masks, shields, or hoods for welders'. Korean patents had the lowest ratio of single_IPC at 11%, but the ratios of single_IPC for US and European patents were 52%, respectively. 'Human necessities', 'Mechanical engineering', 'Physics', and 'Electricity' were used as a single_IPC, but lower levels of 'Performing operations', 'Chemistry', 'Textiles' and 'Fixed constructions' were used as multi_IPC. Most main applicants had patents which belonged to 'Human necessities'. Conclusion: The cases of US patents annually increased unlike others. The common technologies for creating the helmet were Parts of helmets under Headwear and Shields for welders under Hygiene. Many Korean patents tended to be categorized as multi_IPC, different from others. Application: To know the technological characteristic of patents would be helpful to initial stage developers.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.473-485
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• 2015

Objective: This study provides strategies of how to effectively convert an invention, created at universities or government-funded research institutes, into a strong patent with the clear understanding of its unique technological characteristics. Background: Regardless of the amount of research funds available in our country and the decent number of intellectual property rights created using the funds, there was a deficit of more than KRW 6 trillion in the technology trade balance related with intellectual property rights in the year of 2014. One of the reasons was that the vast number of patents that were being produced by universities or by government-funded research institutes were merely performance-based patents, namely, so called "patents for patents". Another reason is that developed technology from research and development could not be transformed into a strong patent right properly due to the lack of related knowledge. Method: After reviewing various references mentioned on the patent strategies, the definition of a strong patent and the strategies of producing a strong patent for an invention drawn out from research performance will be supplied. Results: To produce a strong patent right at universities or government funded research institutes, one should use strategies for strong specifications, strategies of product patents and method patents, strategies of patent portfolios, strategies of know-how, strategies of inventions defined by numerical limitation and strategies of parameter inventions for a more strategic approach. Conclusion: Strong patent rights will be produced with the use of effective patent strategies provided in this study. Application: It is estimated that the results of this study will aid the establishment of strong patents for inventions developed by research performance at universities or government-funded research institutions.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of this study is to present a solution to problems in the services provided by the general hospitals by creating a user-centric environment through analyzing the User Journey Map and the User Context. Background: The rapid growth in aging population and the monopolization of superior medical staffs by the general hospitals increased demand for the general hospitals in Korea. But, often services provided by the general hospitals are provider-centric and low quality. Method: This study examines problems in the services provided by the general hospitals by analyzing the User Journey Map through stakeholder interviews(contextual interviews) and on-site observation. Based on the contextual analysis of the user(i.e. the patient), this study proposes new and improved user-centric services to be provided by the general hospitals. Results: Ten new user-centric services proposed by this study are: (1) "Booklet on Success Story", (2) "FAQs by Doctor", (3) "Designated Nurse", (4) "Patient Interview Record Card", (5) "Close relationship between doctor & patient", (6) "Thank You Notice Board", (7) "Step by Step", (8) "Green Cap", (9) "Patient Kit", (10) "RFID Direction Display System". Conclusion: The service design for the general hospitals proposed by this study is an important case-study on improving the environment of the general hospitals from provider(medical staffs)-centric to user(patents and its family)-centric. Application: This study is expected to be used in various areas to improve existing system(products and/or services) to be more user-centric.