• Journal of the HCI Society of Korea
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2006

Most of the commercialized wearable text input devices are wrist-worn keyboards that have adopted the minimization method of reducing keys. Generally, a drastic key reduction in order to achieve sufficient wearability increases KSPC(Keystrokes per Character), decreases text entry performance, and requires additional effort to learn a new typing method. We are faced with wearability-usability tradeoff problems in designing a good wearable keyboard. To address this problem, we introduced a new keyboard minimization method of reducing key pitch. From a series of empirical studies, we found the potential of a new method which has a keyboard with a 7mm key pitch, good wearability and social acceptance in terms of physical form factors, and allows users to type 15.0WPM in 3 session trials. However, participants point out that a lack of passive haptic feedback in keying action and visual feedback on users' input deteriorate the text entry performance. We have developed the One-key Keyboard that addresses this problem. The traditional desktop keyboard has one key per character, but the One-key Keyboard has only one key ($70mm{\times}35mm$) on which a 10*5 QWERTY key array is printed. The One-key Keyboard detects the position of the fingertip at the time of the keying event and figures out the character entered. We conducted a text entry performance test comprised of 5 sessions. The participants typed 18.9WPM with a 6.7% error rate over all sessions and achieved up to 24.5WPM. From the experiment's results, the One-key Keyboard was evaluated as a potential text input device for wearable computing, balancing wearability, social acceptance, input speed, and learnability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.67-76
• /
• 2009

In order to prevent upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders, effective keyboard selection is an important consideration. The aim of this study was to compare upper extremity muscle activity according to transverse plane angle changes during vertical keyboard typing. Sixteen healthy men were recruited. All subjects had a similar typing ability (rate of more than 300 keystrokes per minute) and biacromion and forearm-fingertip lengths. Four different types of keyboard (vertical keyboard with a transverse plane angle of $60^{\circ}$, $96^{\circ}$, or $120^{\circ}$, and a standard keyboard) were used with a wrist support. The test order was selected randomly for each subject. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure upper extremity muscle activity during a keyboard typing task. The collected EMG data were normalized using the reference contraction and expressed as a percentage of the reference voluntary contraction (%RVC). In order to analyze the differences in EMG data, a repeated one-way analysis of variance, with a significance level of .05, was used. Bonferroni correction was used for multiple comparisons. There were significant differences in the EMG amplitude of all seven muscles (upper trapezius, middle deltoid, anterior deltoid, extensor carpi radialis, extensor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi radialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris) assessed during the keyboard typing task. The mean activity of each muscle had a tendency to increase as the transverse plane angle increased. The mean activity recorded during all vertical keyboard typing was lower than that recorded during standard keyboard typing. There was no significant difference in accuracy and error scores; however, there was a significant difference between transverse plane angles of $60^{\circ}$ and $120^{\circ}$ with regard to comfort. In conclusion, a vertical keyboard with a transverse plane angle of $60^{\circ}$ would be effective in reducing muscle activity compared with vertical keyboards with other transverse plane angles.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.211-216
• /
• 2021

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of disinfection using environmental disinfectant after having assessed the extent of contamination through microbial culture testing and the Adenosine Triphosphate Bioluminescence method among the environmental management evaluation methods used for the environment in the hospital ward of patients infected by multidrug-resistant organisms. This study was conducted with the patient wards isolated due to multidrug-resistant organisms as the environmental surface. Specimens were collected from five locations including infusion pumps, IV poles, bedside cabinets, bed railings, keyboards, and blood pressure measurement cuffs. ATP and microbial culture testing were executed prior to, immediately after, and five minutes post-disinfection. According to the result contamination of the infusion pumps was statistically significantly reduced after disinfection. In addition, the bacteria before and after disinfection reduced in IV pole, bed railing, and keyboard. That is, regular environmental surface disinfection can provide safer environments to patients against infection. Therefore, it is necessary to establish guidelines including disinfection methods and intervals for environmental surfaces by evaluating the persistence of disinfectants at various institutions in the future.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.131-141
• /
• 2009

Purpose : In February 2007, an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin and soft tissue infections occurred in two newborns in the neonatal unit of Sahmyook Seoul Hospital. We performed this study to investigate the characteristics of MRSA nasal carriage among neonatal unit staffs and the effective infection control measures. Methods : Nasal swab specimens were obtained from the neonatal unit staff for the presence of MRSA. MRSA-colonized staffs were offered decolonization therapy with oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or 2% mupirocin ointment. Every 2-4months after decolonizaton, repeat nasal swab specimens were obtained. Also, samples from the neonatal unit environment and room air were collected. Results : Successful decolonization was achieved in 92% of the cases in 2 weeks after decolonization therapy, but most of the staffs were recolonized after several months. The nature of antibiotic susceptibility was changed from multi-drugsusceptible to multi-drug-resistant. The most frequently contaminated objects were dressing carts, computer keyboards, bassinets and washbowls. In environmental cultures using the settle microbe count method, the colony counts were decreased significantly at the last study period compared with the first study period in the neonatal room, breastfeeding room, service room, and dressing room (P <0.05). Conclusion : Effective control of sustained MRSA transmission within an institution may require prompt identification, treatment, and monitoring of colonized and/or infected staffs. However, nasal decolonization therapy may induce multi-drugresistant MRSA infection and had no effect on decreasing the MRSA nasal carriage rate in our study. Other factors might be more important, such as improving staff education, increasing hand hygiene practices, and environmental sterilization for controlling MRSA infections.