Currently, agriculture in Korea is facing a manpower shortage due to a decrease in the population and an aging workforce. Involving disabled people in agriculture as a solution to the problem of manpower shortage in agriculture can help both farmers and people with disabilities. For this, it is necessary to develop agricultural tools that disabled people can use in agricultural activities. This study tried to design agricultural work equipment for the disabled by applying a design technique using a digital human body model. To this end, in this study, a human body model for the disabled was created using anthropometric data for the disabled. After that, the agricultural work simulation using human body models was used to identify the problems in agricultural work of the disabled, and design supplementation was performed to solve the problems. As a result, design dimensions such as the height of the farm work bench for the disabled, the length of the fruit harvester, the length of the sprayer, and the height of the starter switch were determined. This study has significance in that the digital human body model-based design method was applied to the design of agricultural work equipment for the disabled.

물체의 무게감은 감각 측면에서 중요하게 다뤄진 연구 주제로 물체의 무게뿐만 아니라, 크기, 색상, 재질 등의 영 향을 받아 크기-무게, 색상-무게 그리고 재질-무게 왜곡 현상을 갖는 것으로 알려져 있다. 온도는 우리의 일상생활에 매우 중요한 환경적 요소이나, 물체의 온도가 무게감에 어떤 영향을 미치는지에 대해 충분한 연구가 되어 있지 않다. 본 연구는 물체의 온도가 무게감에 미치는 영향을 파악하고자 하였다. 이를 위해 본 연구는 물체의 온도, 무게를 조정하기 용이한 스테인리스 컵을 무게감 측정 물체로 선정하였고, 온도 5 수준(0, 9, 20, 40, 70℃), 무게 2 수준(250, 400g)의 조합으로 10개의 스테인리스 컵을 준비하였다. 무게감 실험에는 건강한 20대 남여 40명이 참여하였고, modulus 방법에 따라 기준 컵 대비 주어진 컵의 무게감을 평가하였다. 실험 데이터의 분석 결과, 온도, 무게 모두 무게감에 유의한 영향을 주는 것으로 나타났다. 온도가 무게감에 주는 영향은 물체의 무게에 따라 다르게 나타났는 데, 적은 컵 무게(250g)로 컵의 무게감이 작은 경우 컵의 온도는 무게감에 영향을 주지 않았다. 반면, 큰 컵 무게 (400g)에서 낮은 온도에서 무게감이 커지는 것으로 나타났다. 이의 결과는 온도의 물체 무게감의 영향이 크기-무게 왜곡에 따라 달라짐을 의미한다.

The difficulties in opening and closing a sport utility vehicle (SUV) tailgate is important aspect of JD (James David) power’s Initial Quality Survey (IQS) assessment, and affective quality has a big impact on the the success of thesedays products. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the perceived difficulty and satisfaction of customers by the opening and closing of the tailgate and to grasp the relationship between them and the opening and closing reaction force. The mechanical force required to open and close 42 domestic and overseas SUV tailgates was measured with the help of an auto company. In the experiment, 100 male drivers in their 20s to 50s evaluated perceived difficulty and satisfaction with opening and closing the tailgate. The results of the analysis showed that perceived difficulty and satisfaction were statistically different depending on the vehicle, but did not depend on the personal characteristics of the participants. The perceived difficulty and satisfaction regression model of tailgate opening and closing was developed by mechanical force variables and had a relatively high adjusted R2 ranging from 0.62 to 0.73. The models showed that the the initial close and open force, the difference between initial and maximum close force and the difference between initial and auto-fall angle should be small for the low perceived exertion and high satisfaction. In addition, the correlation analysis between IQS score of tailages and perceived difficulty and satisfaction showed that the IQS scores were more related to the perceived difficulty and satisfaction of closing than those of opening. The results of the study will be helpful to design and test mechanical open and close structure of SUV tailgates.

The purpose of this study was to explore olfactory sensitivity of odors from injection molding processing. To do this, the experiment was carried out in an injection molding factory, and participants were exposed to the environment where odor-substances (Formaldehyde, Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene, Styrene) exist. In addition, we used the subjective scale using semantic adjectives as an olfactory sensitivity. As a result, the assessment structure of olfactory sensitivity was composed of eight factors (irritant, thermal, tense, unique, like-dislike, active, stable, masculine), and the main factor which was irritant characteristics explained 20% of the total olfactory sensibility. These results suggested that odors from injection molding processing would cause more negative emotional responses than the flavor which is mainly used in olfactory sensitivity. This study, as a basic study of the improvement in a factory environment for the efficiency of work, has limits in that it was conducted to the extent of identifying the olfactory sensitivity structure of those who were at a laboratory and who were exposed to the environment of odor substance induced in the injection molding processing. Therefore, for the method of removing malodorous substance, the effect of materials which can neutralize it, and the comparison of a direct performance in the environment where negative sensitivity structure exists, a series of studies which aim to improve the environment of injection molding factories, such as performance assessment in the environment of a factory and an office need to be conducted. It is expected that when these studies are put together, the improvement guidelines will be provided as a type that can maximize the effectiveness of work in the factory environment where injection molding processing is done.

This study aimed to evaluate the perceived exertion and satisfaction in opening and closing SUV tailgates and explain them with the mechanical force. The study measured the mechanical open and close force for 42 SUV tailgates and evaluated perceived exertion and satisfaction of opening and closing with 100 male participants from 20’s to 50’s. The regression models of perceived exertion and satisfaction showed that small initial closing and opening force, difference between initial and maximum closing force and difference between initial and auto-fall angle have positive effect. The results of the study will be helpful to design and test mechanical open and close structure of SUV tailgates.

In this study, the masking effect of olfactory stimulus on the awakening state due to sound stimuli while driving using Graphic Driving Simulator was observed through the response of autonomic nervous system. The test was conducted for 11 males in their twenties. The siren of ambulance car was presented to them as auditory stimulus for 30 secs while driving in a situation of high way in the condition of both peppermint and control, respectively, and LF/HF ratio of HRV (Heart Rate Variability), the activity index of sympathetic nerve, and GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) response were examined. The test was proceeded in the order of three stages, that is, sound stimuli (test 1), driving performance, and sound stimuli (test 2), and fragrance stimulus, driving performance, and sound stimuli (test 3), and the physiological signal of GSR, HRV was measured in the whole stages. As a result of test, comparing the results of before and after auditory stimulus test (1) (p < 0.01), test (2) (p < 0.05), and test (3) (p <0.01), driving performance test (2) (p < 0.01), test (3) (p < 0.01), and olfactory stimulus test (3) (p < 0.05), respectively, GSR response increased, showing significant difference in all the tests. It indicates that when auditory stimulus was presented to the subjects, they were in the awakening state as sympathetic nervous system got activated. As a result of comparing auditory stimulus while driving before and after presenting olfactory stimulus, there was no significant difference in GSR response. The LF/HF ratio of HRV increased, showing a significant difference only in test (2) (p < 0.05), and in driving performance test (2) (p < 0.05) in auditory stimulus, however, it showed no significant difference in olfactory stimulus. As a result of comparing auditory stimulus while driving before and after presenting olfactory stimulus, there was a decrease, showing significant difference (p < 0.05) in LF/HF ratio of HRV. That is, it means that the activation of sympathetic nervous system decreased, and that parasympathetic nervous system got activated. From these results, it was observed that while driving, the awakening level due to auditory stimulus was settled with olfactory stimulus. In conclusion, it was drawn that while driving, olfactory stimulus could have the masking effect on auditory stimulus.

In this study, it was observed through the ability of performing secondary tasks and baseline fetal heart rate how the supply of lavender, peppermint and highly concentrated oxygen (40%) affected distraction due to the performance of secondary tasks in the driving environment. Twelve male university students conducted secondary tasks while driving in the environments (6 in total) mixed and designed with oxygen concentration (21%, 40%) and the condition of odors (Normal, Lavender, Peppermint). The test was proceeded in order of stable state (5mins), driving (5mins), and secondary tasks (1min), and by extracting ECG data from every section by 30secs, the mean value of baseline fetal heart rate was calculated. As a result of analysis, in the ability of performing secondary tasks, a percentage of correct answers showed no difference in oxygen concentration and the condition of odors (p > 0.05). In performance completion time, a percentage of correct answers decreased showing a statistically significant difference in the condition of odors compared with the condition where odors were not provided (p < 0.05). As for baseline fetal heart rate, in the comparison between sections, while performing secondary tasks, it increased showing a significant difference compared with stable state and driving state (p < 0.05). The effect of interaction was observed in oxygen concentration and the condition of odors. When odors were not provided, baseline fetal heart rate decreased in 40% oxygen concentration compared with 21% oxygen concentration (p < 0.05), however, when peppermint was provided, it increased in 40% oxygen concentration compared with 21% oxygen concentration (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the fact that the condition of odors increased the ability of calculation, and when only the highly concentrated oxygen was provided, parasympathetic nerve system was activated, however, when highly concentrated oxygen was provided with peppermint at the same time, sympathetic nervous system (sns) was activated, which had a negative effect on the autonomic nervous system was drawn.

Dentists are known to be highly exposed to the musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The present study investigated the prevalence of MSD among Korean dentists and association between their MSD and physical workload. In addition, detailed causes related to the physical workloads were identified in dental operation, and needs for improvement of dental instrument and environment were collected from Korean dentists. The standardized Nordic questionnaire was used to survey body troubles and three types of questionnaires were made to investigate the physical workloads, causes of the physical workloads and improvement priority of dental equipments, respectively. A total of 104 Korean dentists were participated in the survey. Neck trouble (82%) was the most prevalent in Korean dentists, and shoulder (68%) and low back trouble (56%) followed, while low back trouble was reported to be most frequent in previous studies. The body troubles were related to the physical workload of the corresponding body parts, although they were not associated with personal characteristics. Most Korean dentists selected ‘to keep direct view inside patient’s mouth’ and ‘no support of the hand with dental instruments’ as the causes of awkward and strenuous work postures. They wanted design improvement for some equipment in their operating room such as operating light and arrangement of workplace.

Of many approaches to reduce motion analysis errors, the compensation method of anatomical landmarks estimates the position of anatomical landmarks during motion. The method models the position of anatomical landmarks with joint angle or skin marker displacement using the data of the so-called dynamic calibration in which anatomical landmark positions are calibrated in ad hoc motions. Then the anatomical landmark positions are calibrated in target motions using the model. This study applies the compensation methods with joint angle and skin marker displacement to three lower extremity motions (walking, sit-to-stand/ stand-to-sit, and step up/down) in ten healthy males and compares their performance. To compare the performance of the methods, two sets of kinematic variables were calculated using different two marker clusters, and the difference was obtained. Results showed that the compensation method with skin marker displacement had less differences by 30~60% compared to without compensation. And, it had significantly less difference in some kinematic variables (7 of 18) by 25~40% compared to the compensa- tion method with joint angle. This study supports that compensation with skin marker displacement reduced the motion analysis STA errors more reliably than with joint angle in lower extremity motion analysis.