• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.62-75
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• 2022

In this study, experiential STEAM program using 3D printer was produced focusing on the content elements of 'solar' in the 2015 revised science curriculum, and in order to find out the effectiveness of the STEAM program, analyzed creative problem solving, STEAM attitude, and STEAM satisfaction by applying it to two middle school 77 students simple random sampled. The results of this study are as follows. First, a solar tactile model was produced using a 3D printer, and a program was developed to enable students to actively learn experience-oriented activities through visual impairment experiences. Second, in the response sample t-test by the difference in pre- and post-score of STEAM attitude tests, significant statistical test results were shown in 'interest', 'consideration', 'self-concept', 'self-efficacy', and 'science and engineering career choice' sub-factors except 'consideration' and 'usefulness / value recognition' sub-factors (p<.05). Third,, the STEAM satisfaction test conducted after the application of the 3D printer-based STEAM program showed that the average value range of sub-factors were 3.66~3.97, which improved students' understanding and interest in science subjects through the 3D printer-based STEAM program.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.260-271
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• 2020

Smartphones provide blind users with screenreader as an accessibility tool. However, blind users often experience difficulties accessing online shopping malls via smartphones due to their inconsistent and image-based layouts. To enable screenreader users to get access to the detailed information about products while they are shopping online, we have developed BarrierFreeShop, an accessible mobile shopping application for people with visual impairments. BarrierFreeShop has three accessibility features: (1) layout automation, (2) review summarization, and (3) optical character recognition. We conducted a user study with 80 participants with visual impairments where they were asked to use BarrierFreeShop for a month. The findings revealed the effectiveness of our app in terms of speed and post interview feedback. We have also discovered typical shopping experiences that participants had during the test. This research suggests that computer vision technologies can improve accessibility issues in online shopping malls. In addition, we have confirmed that extracting contents from images help people with visual impairments to get better access to product information.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2022

Background: This research was conducted to understand balance training in trunk control, balance, and walking in stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: The subjects included 40 stroke patients, of whom 20 undertook balance training using visual information and the other 20 undertook balance training using balance boards. Using visual feedback, the balance training group used a training program within the static balanced evaluation tool, while the balance training group trained using a balance board. All subjects underwent 20 mins of neurodevelopmental treatment, and both target groups underwent 10 mins each of balance training by using either visual feedback or a balance board. The treatment period lasted a total of 4 weeks, twice a day. Trunk control before and after training was evaluated with the Trunk Impairment Scale. Balance capability was assessed by the Berg Balance Scale, Functional Reach Test, Timed Up and Go test, and Static balance measurement tool. Walking capacity was measured using gait measuring equipment, and cadence and velocity were measured. Results: Both groups showed a significant improvement in their interstitial control, balance, and gait ability after the experiments compared to before the experiments (p<0.05). The difference between the two groups was not significant. The visual feedback balance training group showed a more substantial improvement than the balance board training group. Conclusion: In this study, we found that the balance training combined with visual feedback contributes to improving trunk control, balance, and gait in patients with hemiplegia due to stroke. In addition to this, I believe that balanced training combined with visual feedback can be used as a training method when considering patients who lack interstitial control, balance, and gait ability.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.2-9
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• 2023

Mammalian eyes have a limited ability to regenerate once neurons degenerate. This results in visual impairment that impacts the quality of life among adult populations as well as in young children leading to lifelong consequences. Various therapies are in development to restore vision, and these include gene therapy, stem cell therapy, in-vivo transdifferentiation, and transplantation of a patient's whole eye obtained from interspecies blastocyst complementation. This review discusses advances in the research as well as hurdles that need to be resolved to have a successful restoration of vision.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2023

Objectives: This case study was conducted to assess the changes in the oral health status of older individuals with hearing and visual impairments through home oral health care based on community care. Methods: The participants were two older adults with hearing and visual impairments. Through home visits, an oral health intervention program, including oral hygiene care and training on strengthening of oral function, was conducted once a week for 5 months. Dental hygienists performed special oral health interventions such as dental plaque control through individual tooth brushing and interdental care, training on strengthening of intraoral and extraoral muscle function, and denture care for the individuals with visual-hearing impairments. Results: The overall periodontal health status and oral muscle function improved in older adults with hearing and visual impairments. In the case of the visually impaired individuals, changes in the oral health status were oral mucosal moisture (30.1 and 37.2 points before and after intervention, respectively), salivary secretion (3.5 and 4.0 cm before and after intervention, respectively), and maximum tongue pressure (20.5 and 26.2 kPa before and after intervention, respectively). Changes in the oral health status of the hearing impaired individuals increased from 28.3 points before the intervention to 38.4 points after the intervention, and the maximum tongue pressure increased from 1.85 kPa to 23.5 kPa after the intervention. Conclusions: Oral health intervention activities contributed to improving the periodontal health and oral function of older adults with hearing and visual impairments. To improve their overall and oral health, it is necessary to prepare measures to activate customized oral health intervention programs.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.219-228
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand and explore the essences of Korean mothers' experiences of caring for visually impaired children. Methods: Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews using open-ended questions. Five mothers of children with visual impairments participated in the interviews. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using phenomenological analysis. Results: Analysis with Colaizzi's method showed two categories which included 14 themes in 4 theme clusters. The first category was 'surviving in the dark reality' included 2 theme clusters, of 'outcrying in the darkness' and 'enduring the darkness while caring for my child alone'. The second category was 'living as the light of maternal affection' including 2 theme clusters of 'preparing the light to shine in the darkness' and 'going through the darkness with the lights of love'. Conclusion: The findings from this study provide deep understanding of mothers' experiences of caring for visually impaired children. Based on the results of the study, health professionals can develop effective family nursing interventions to improve the quality of life for these families including the visually impaired children and their mothers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.115-126
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• 2022

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is among the most common causes of childhood blindness. Three phases of ROP epidemics have been observed worldwide since ROP was first described in the 1940s. Despite advances in neonatal care, the occurrence of ROP and associated visual impairment has been increasing somewhere on Earth and remains difficult to control. Conventional treatment options for preventing ROP progression include retinal ablation using cryotherapy or laser therapy. With the emergence of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment for ocular diseases, the efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF therapy for ROP have recently been actively discussed. In the advanced stage of ROP with retinal detachment, surgical treatment including scleral buckling or vitrectomy is needed to maintain or induce retinal attachment. At this stage, the visual outcome is usually poor despite successful anatomical retinal attachment. Therefore, preventing ROP progression by timely screening examinations and treatment remains the most important part of ROP management.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.55-67
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• 2018

There is a growing interest on and expansion of rights of people with disabilities. Among them, people with visual impairment show high adaptation to environments in comparison to people with other types of disabilities, thus a large percentage of them live in their own houses rather than residing in a care facility. According to the housing status of people with visual impairment, the ratio of their residence in rural areas is high. In rural areas people who have disabilities often live in poor residential environments, requiring much improvement. However, such improvement is too costly for them to pay, and home modification that does not fully consider the user, may cause less efficiency and another dangerous situation to people with disabilities. The purpose of this study is to delineate empirical lessons for direction of customized home modification for people with disabilities through analysis of process of home modification including the execution as a intervention. This study used qualitative method to examine and analyzed the entire customized home modification process. The conclusion of this study is as follows. First, home modification measures should be derived considering the suitability of the target building for the specific condition of residents. Second, discussions with various stakeholders from the early stage during which proper home modification measure is searched are essential for realizing appropriate customized home modification. This study has significance in that it provides the direction for customized home modification for people with disabilities as well as empirical data that could reduce trials and errors in the future.

• Journal of the HCI Society of Korea
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

In previous study, we developed a guidance system outdoors for person with visual impairment to be able to walk safely to the destination. The volunteers are exposed to dangerous situations since they are performed to the experiments in the outdoors. In order to solve the problem, we propose an interactive application that monitors the volunteer wearing guidance system and warns remotely the volunteer about dangerous situations. The application is used to remote wireless communication with guidance system through Bluetooth module that is built in a laptop computer, without additional device. Therefore, we can monitor in real time user's location and guided contents to user, and it is possible to check a path to the destination and POI (Point of Interest) coordinate values. As using a proposed monitoring application, it is possible to perform safe experiment with the rapid situation awareness and fast detection of dangerous.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.191-211
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• 2020

The main purpose of this research is to identify limitations and problems in access to information using reading aids devices for the visually impaired and to suggest ways to activate the use of alternative materials using reading aids devices. A survey was conducted on adults with visual impairment in order to identify the factors of limitation in using reading aids devices. The analysis resulted in six aspects of limiting factors in activating the use of reading aids devices. The approaches for activating the use of reading aids devices were proposed by dividing them into policy and operational aspects, focusing on the limiting factors derived. Policy aspects suggested developing low-cost reading aids devices, increasing awareness of the devices, and complying with Web standard guidelines for improving the applicability of the devices, while operational aspects suggested reinforcing hearing-use functions, expanding information services related to reading aids devices, and enhancing portability of the devices.