- Development of hand pointing device
- Publish Date : 2002/03/01 Vol.2
- Authors :
- Yoshihiro MURAOKA, Yutaka TOMITA, Satoshi HONDA, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University
- Report Outline :
- Original article
Appeared on Ergonomics of Human System Interaction Vol. 2, No. 1, 60/66, 1996.
Due to a mass of traffic accidents, the number of spinal cord injuries has been increasing. When the spinal cord is injured, the communication pathway between the brain and the extremities is blocked. As a result, the extremities are paralyzed. In their daily life, a function of reaching hand for an object is one of important functions as shown in eating. Although the hand can be moved by using functional electrical stimulation (FES) which is a method of controlling muscles by direct stimulation with electricity in case they are intact, or using robot arm, there is no excellent method for pointing a hand position currently.
In this paper a new pointing device to control a hand was proposed. And the execution was confirmed by applying the device to a FES system. The total system comprised a pointing light, a set of photo-transistors, an A/D converter, a personal computer, a D/A converter, a stimulator , and electrodes. A subject sat on a chair with his arm lying on an orthosis so that it can move horizontally. The pointing light was mounted on his cap, and illuminated to the place where he desired to move his hand. On his wrist the photo-sensor was mounted which could detect the position of the center of the intensity distribution. The computer was used to determine the muscle to be stimulated the command and the intensity, and transfer to the stimulator via the D/A converter.
Experiments with a 21-year old male subject were carried out to test elbow joint movement through the system. Results showed that the examinee successfully moved his hand to designated points. The speed of movement was 20~50°per second.
Keywords: Functional electrical stimulation, Spinal cord injury, Pointing device
- A typing device applied for eye movement and blinking
- Publish Date : 2002/03/01 Vol.2
- Authors :
- Noriyoshi MATSUO, Yukihiro OHKITA, Hitoshi UCHIDA, R&D Center, Suzuki Motor Corporation
Tomoya SUGIMOTO, Yutaka TOMITA, Satoshi HONDA, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University
- Report Outline :
- Technical note
Appeared on Ergonomics of Human System Interaction Vol. 2, No. 1, 57/59, 1996.
A typing interface which was controlled of the signals gained both electrooculography (EOG) and electromyography (EMG) with occurred saccades and blinkings was made. In this paper, it was described the process of signal and the result of evaluation of the interface device.
Keywords: Computer interface device, Eye movement, Electrooculography (EOG), Blinking, Electromyography (EMG), Disability
- Measurements of external reaction force during nursing transfer task
- Publish Date : 2002/03/01 Vol.2
- Authors :
- Hiroshi IKEHARA, Koichi OGAWA, Tokyo Denki University
- Report Outline :
- Original article
Appeared on Ergonomics of Human System Interaction Vol. 2, No. 1, 49/56, 1996.
This paper describes new force detecting sensors and experiments using the sensor to record forces during the transfer a weight on a working rack. Two sensors have been developed, a pair of Forceshoes and Vertical force plate (VFP). The forceshoes measures foot reaction forces during the transfer or lifting of an object, such as a patient or a weight. The VFP measures forces acting against a surface, which is those a nurse would exert against the edge of a bed or a working rack. Experiments were conducted as follows: a subject wear a pair of the forceshoes and transferred a 10 kg weight from left to right by 100 cm, on a working rack which is 40% of a subject’s height, located ata various distance which is varied from 10% to 40% of subject’s height from the subject, with and without learning against the edge of the rack.
The following conclusions were drown: (1) The average learning force exerted against the working rack was 16 kgf. (2) The tiptoe ground reaction forces occurring during transferred the weight when leaning on the rack decreased about 21% when comparing with the force without leaning. (3) It was observed by 5% less total foot force for forward movement when comparing with the force without leaning and 6% less for right and left movement.
Keywords: Nursing transfer tasks, Force sensor, Strain gauge, Leaning force
- On nursing heavy work and ergonomics
- Publish Date : 2002/03/01 Vol.2
- Authors :
- Koichi OGAWA, Tokyo Denki University
- Report Outline :
- Original article
Appeared on Ergonomics of Human System Interaction Vol. 2, No. 1, 44/48, 1996.
Lifting and transferring patients have been perceived by nursing personnel to be the most frequent caused of back injury/pain. Therefore, there is a need to use mechanical lifting devices to decrease the load lifted by nursing staff. More easy handing and sophisticated lifting devices have to be developed. The currently used lifting devices are not sufficient to handle a patient and they require more space in hospitals. The development of such devices has to be proceeded carefully because of the handling of delicate patients. The following steps will be required for the development of the mechanical aid for nursing. (1) to observe nursing movements and loads, (2) to take advice form nursed on back problems, (3) to measure the nursing posture and forces for lifting and transferring patients with/without using the principle of body mechanics and ergonomics, (4) to apply the piles up data to design of the devices, (5) to apply the devices to nursing work.
Above items (1) and (2) have been performed and item (3) is under way. This paper deals with a procedure for developing devices for nursing aids in the future from the viewpoint of ergonomics.
Keywords: Nursing work, Ergonomics, Body mechanics
- Comparative study of virtual reality and walk-through – Research on the communication of information in interior design –
- Publish Date : 2002/03/01 Vol.2
- Authors :
- Yoko NAGAYAMA, Bunka Women’s University
- Report Outline :
- Original article
Appeared on Ergonomics of Human System Interaction Vol. 2, No. 1, 38/43, 1996.
Interior design is the comprehensive designing of space. To appropriately communicate an interior design to a third person, it is necessary to convey that space in an integrated way. However, it is difficult to fully convey such design information using conventional methods. Therefore, we studied the application potentials of two methods in which information processing devices are used to communicate design information.
The first is ‘virtual reality’ (VR). The other is ‘walk-through.’ By studying the application potentials of these technologies, we found that VR is superior in letting the participant obtain information freely and at will, while walk-through is superior in conveying an understanding of the junctions among spaces. In the future, we will study the potentials of methods that use these technologies to communicate interior design information.
Keywords: Communication, Interior design, Virtual reality, Walk-through
