• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.797-810
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• 2010

This study examined perceived discomforts encountered in residential facilities such as individual houses and apartments, and suggested a procedure for improving the problems in the living residence. The participants consisted of two groups of people: normal and underprivileged people; the underprivileged group was classified into 3 sub-groups: elderly people (over 65 years old), handicapped people and pregnant women. To identify inconvenient places and design factors in the residential housing, a total of 200 subjects (50 for each group) participated in the survey using the 7-point Likert scale. As a result, all the user groups mainly answered a high degree of discomfort due to narrow parking places, doorsills, and height differences between floors. The elderly, the handicapped, and the pregnant women replied that it is uncomfortable to use ramps and utility rooms. In a follow-up study, one-to-one in-depth interviews were conducted with some of the participants to analyze the detailed causes of inconvenient places and design factors. This study also suggested the procedure for solving the problems in various design factors from perspective of universal design, by considering prior studies which focused on a certain user group like the elderly. This procedure was suggested to consider as many user groups as possible at the same time. The results can be used to understand the discomforts of various user groups on residential housing. The procedure can also be used to develop universal design guidelines for the living residence.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.411-426
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• 2015

Objective: The goal of this thesis is to design the interaction structure and framework of system to recognize sign language. Background: The sign language of meaningful individual gestures is combined to construct a sentence, so it is difficult to interpret and recognize the meaning of hand gesture for system, because of the sequence of continuous gestures. This being so, in order to interpret the meaning of individual gesture correctly, the interaction structure and framework are needed so that they can segment the indication of individual gesture. Method: We analyze 700 sign language words to structuralize the sign language gesture interaction. First of all, we analyze the transformational patterns of the hand gesture. Second, we analyze the movement of the transformational patterns of the hand gesture. Third, we analyze the type of other gestures except hands. Based on this, we design a framework for sign language interaction. Results: We elicited 8 patterns of hand gesture on the basis of the fact on whether the gesture has a change from starting point to ending point. And then, we analyzed the hand movement based on 3 elements: patterns of movement, direction, and whether hand movement is repeating or not. Moreover, we defined 11 movements of other gestures except hands and classified 8 types of interaction. The framework for sign language interaction, which was designed based on this mentioned above, applies to more than 700 individual gestures of the sign language, and can be classified as an individual gesture in spite of situation which has continuous gestures. Conclusion: This study has structuralized in 3 aspects defined to analyze the transformational patterns of the starting point and the ending point of hand shape, hand movement, and other gestures except hands for sign language interaction. Based on this, we designed the framework that can recognize the individual gestures and interpret the meaning more accurately, when meaningful individual gesture is input sequence of continuous gestures. Application: When we develop the system of sign language recognition, we can apply interaction framework to it. Structuralized gesture can be used for using database of sign language, inventing an automatic recognition system, and studying on the action gestures in other areas.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.297-310
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the user characteristics in different age groups by investigating the level of satisfaction and preference of design and function of mobile phone. 160 subjects participated in the experiment. Subjects with different ages were selected and divided into four groups: young age group (20 to less than 45), $1^{st}$ middle age group (45 to less than 55), $2^{nd}$ middle age group(55 to less than 65), and elderly group(over 65). A questionnaire was developed based on the previous design guideline, and additional questions were made to test newly developed function and design of the mobile phone. In particular, depth interviews were conducted in order to have a proper response from old subjects who have difficulties in completing written questionnaire. In result, it was found that except for price the major criterion to purchase mobile phone was the design, and the function of phone was the next except for elderly group. In the case of elderly group, the screen size is the first. Statistical results indicated that 37.5% of the young age group, 22.5% of $1^{st}$ middle age group, 22.5% of $2^{nd}$ middle age group and 10.0% of the elderly group preferred the design to function when they purchase mobile phones. Most elderly people were not satisfied with the supplementary function of the mobile phone. The $1^{st}$ middle age group did not know exactly how to use the supplementary service although they were willing to use it. Regarding the emotional preference on the type of phone, the sliding type was preferred most. Current results can be used to anticipate the future trend of mobile phone and design a user-friendly product for the aged population.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.383-391
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• 2010

The present study evaluated a preliminary control room (CR) design of radioactive waste facility using the $JACK^{(R)}$ human simulation system. Four digital humanoids ($5^{th}$, $50^{th}$, $95^{th}$, and $99^{th}$ percentiles) were used in the ergonomic evaluation. The first three were selected to represent 90% of the target population (Korean males aged 20 to 50 years) and the last to reflect the secular trend of stature for next 20 years in South Korea. The preliminary CR design was assessed by checking its compliance to ergonomic guidelines specified in NUREG-0700 and conducting an in-depth ergonomic analysis with a digital prototype of the CR design and the digital humanoids in terms of postural comfort, reachability, visibility, and clearance. For identified design problems, proper design changes and their validities were examined using JACK. A revised CR design suggested in the present study would contribute to effective and safe operations of the CR as well as operators' health in the workplace.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.203-210
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• 2010

For the development of a better product which fits to the target user population, physical workloads such as reach and visibility are evaluated using digital human simulation in the early stage of product development; however, ergonomic workload assessment mainly relies on visual observation of reach envelopes and view cones generated in a 3D graphic environment. The present study developed a quantitative assessment method of physical workload in a digital environment and applied to the evaluation of a Korean utility helicopter (KUH) cockpit design. The proposed assessment method quantified physical workloads for the target user population by applying a 3-step process and identified design features requiring improvement based on the quantified workload evaluation. The scores of physical workloads were quantified in terms of posture, reach, visibility, and clearance, and 5-point scales were defined for the evaluation measures by referring to existing studies. The postures of digital humanoids for a given task were estimated to have the minimal score of postural workload by finding all feasible postures that satisfy task constraints such as a contact between the tip of the index finger and a target point. The proposed assessment method was applied to evaluate the KUH cockpit design in the preliminary design stage and identified design features requiring improvement. The proposed assessment method can be utilized to ergonomic evaluation of product designs using digital human simulation.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.103-114
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• 2009

This study investigated perceived discomfort and reasons related to use three information technology products (personal computer, mobile phone and digital television remote controller), and extracted the universal design factors. 240 people (30 females and 30 males for four age groups) participated in the one-to-one interview type of questionnaire, and replied to degree of discomfort at level of items and the reasons of discomfort at level of detailed elements for each product. As a result, almost all age groups answered that using input buttons of mobile phone and remote controller and watching display of mobile phone caused discomfort. Binary logistic regression of the detailed elements showed that response rate of discomfort mostly increased with age, except for specific elements such as shape of mouse and remote controller, and location of function button of mobile phone. Some of the detailed elements had high response rate of discomfort from all age groups. The age groups also showed similar tendency for the elements to select one alternative for the reason of discomfort, but not for sound volume and size of mobile phone and button sensitivity of remote controller. Finally, the universal design factors were extracted for each product based on the results, and divided into common factors and factors classified by the age group. Through this study, we identified using practices of various age groups and their demands for the products. It is expected that extracted detailed elements can be considered as important design factors to design the products universally.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.831-841
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• 2010

Usability evaluation of physical products involves characterizing complex physical interactions between humans and products. Human models known as manikins have been widely utilized as usability evaluation tools for automobile interior package design. When combined with computer-aided design software programs, such manikins can be used to simulate driving postures and evaluate driver-interior fits early in the design process, and therefore, may greatly facilitate achieving high-quality design in a cost-efficient manner. The purpose of this study was to define a set of manikins for designing automobile interior packages for the South Korean male population. These manikins were conceptualized as "boundary" manikins, which represent individuals lacking in certain physical capacities or having usability-related issues (e.g., an individual with the 5th percentile forward reach capability, an individual with the 95th percentile shoulder width). Such boundary manikins can serve as an efficient tool for determining if an automobile interior design accommodates the majority of the population. The boundary manikins were selected from the large sample of Korean males whose anthropometric dimensions were described in the recent Size Korea anthropometric database. For each male in the database, his comfortable driving posture was represented using a kinematic body linkage model and various physical capacity measured and usability-related characteristics relevant to driver accommodation were evaluated. For each such measure, a boundary manikin was selected among the Korean males. The manikins defined in this study are expected to serve as tools for ergonomic design of automobile interior packages. The manikin selection method developed in this study was implemented as a generic software program useful for various product design applications.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.51-59
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• 2009

These days mobile phone which were used mainly by grown-up persons are now widely used among children as well due to new social demands. Despite this trend, existing mobile phones are still being designed and produced according to the taste of people in their 20s and 30s, even the elderly, not satisfying physical, emotional and cognitive characteristics raised by children. This study aimed to extract the design factors of mobile phones for children by reflecting functional factors requested by children and parents in QFD's customer demands. First, functional and design factors requested in mobile phones for children were extracted from existing products and documentary records and some functional factors were selected through a process of integration and omission. The survey research was conducted on children and parents, based on the selected functional factors. Based on the survey research, functional factors were analyzed using AHP, and key functional factors considered by children and parents in mobile phones for children were investigated. Finally, in order to reflect the results in QFD, the correlation between functional factors and design factors was constructed as HOQ through experts' evaluation. The results showed that both children and parents recognized the basic functions such as telephoning, text messaging and phone directory as high priority functional factors, even though the relative importance was different between children and parents. Therefore, it is likely to satisfy the desires of both children and parents by designing mobile phones for children in consideration of design factors such as menu depth, button independence and button arrangement. It is expected that this study will promote experiments on design factors and propose basic data for and guidelines to mobile phone design for children.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2013

Objective: The present study developed an estimation method of boundary zone representative humanoids(hereafter, EBZ method) using descriptive statistics on the design target population. Background: The boundary zone method(hereafter, BZ method) generates representative humanoids at a boundary zone that statistically accommodates a designated percent of the design target population; however, the BZ method has a practical limitation because it requires a large scale anthropometric database on the design target population. Method: The EBZ method developed in the present study consisted of 3 steps. In the first step, the boundary zone of accommodating a designated percent(e.g., 90%) is formed under the assumption of normal distributions for anthropometric sizes. In the second step, cases that fall within the boundary zone are estimated using descriptive statistics(mean, standard deviation, and covariance) on the design target population. In the last step, K-mean cluster analysis is conducted for the cases, and representative humanoids are selected from each of clusters. Results: Evaluation results showed that mean accommodation percent of the EBZ method was 90.9%(range: 90.8~91.1%) which is similar to the target percent(90%). In addition, standard deviation of accommodation percent for 100 repetitions was 0.1%. Lastly, the number of representative humanoids generated by the EBZ method(n = 20) was similar to the BZ method(n = 16). Conclusion: The EBZ method can generate representative humanoids which accommodate a designated percent of the design target population using descriptive statistics. Application: The EBZ method can be utilized in the generation of humanoids for ergonomic design and evaluation of products when the large scale anthropometric database on the design target population is not existed.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.23-25
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• 2004

Present status of picture quality and the future target status for FPD TV's are shown based on the evaluated result of FPD TVs and CRT TVs. FPD TV will be required to be design under ergonomics concept and to be revised some of the definition for to enrage the market.