• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.87-96
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• 2016

OBJECTIVES : A fog generated field test was conducted to analyze the relationship between different sizes of variable speed limit signs and the legibility distance under various fog density conditions. By using this study, appropriate sizes of signs can be selected depending on the density of fog. METHODS : An actual tunnel was selected as the area for this test, as other places cannot maintain the fog condition because of rapid air current. A total 121 subjects were recruited for this test, which took place over the course of four days. The test on the first day was conducted under normal weather conditions for comparison. Visibility-distance detecting sensor was used to measure the visibility distance due to the fog density time, simultaneously with the evaluation of legibility distance by subjects. RESULTS : The test results show the relationship between the different sizes of signs and the legibility distance corresponding to the visibility distance due to both non-fog and fog generated conditions. According to the technical test results, appreciable amount of reduction in legibility distance due to fog was resulted in all sizes of signs. Moreover, the legibility distance is reduced proportionately with the decrease in the visibility distance due to fog. CONCLUSIONS : The results of this study can be used to select appropriate sizes of valuable speed signs under fog conditions. Hence, drivers can expect to have more room to respond to adverse weather conditions, thereby reducing the risk of accidents.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.65-76
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• 2018

This study aims to evaluate the legibility distances of variable speed limit sign(VSL) for different sizes, luminances, and fog conditions through a field experiment. For this, extensive fog simulated environment has been constructed, and legibility distances are tested and recorded among test subjects for different luminances and sizes of VSL in control. Results showed that legibility distance increased as the size of VSL increased in the given illumination conditions, but it was not an exact linear trend. The size was also an important factor for determining legibility distance as the fog density increased, especially heavy fog conditions. In addition, the legibility distance also increased as the given illumination levels of VSL improved.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.77-85
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• 2016

OBJECTIVES : A fog generated field test was conducted to analyze the relationship between the luminance of variable speed-limit signs and the legibility distance under various fog density conditions. By using this study, appropriate luminance values can be selected depending on the density of fog. METHODS : An actual tunnel was selected as the area to conduct the test, as other places cannot maintain the fog condition because of rapid air current. Ninety-two subjects were recruited for this test, which took place during the course of three days. Visibility-distance detecting sensor was used to measure the visibility distance due to the fog density time, simultaneously with the evaluation of legibility distance by subjects. RESULTS : The test results show the relationship between luminance values and the legibility distance corresponding to the visibility distance due to fog. According to the technical test results, lower luminance value such as $7000cd/m^2$ corresponds to less legibility distance compared to higher values such as $20000cd/m^2$ or $40000cd/m^2$. However, the amount of difference between $20000cd/m^2$ and $40000cd/m^2$ is negligible in our test. CONCLUSIONS : The results of this study can be used to select appropriate luminance of valuable speed signs under fog conditions. Hence, drivers can expect to have more room to respond to adverse weather conditions, thereby reducing the risk of accidents.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.944-956
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• 2013

Drivers need lots of information when they drive on the highway, however it is necessary and important to be provided information which is appropriate formation. In order to offer the suitable information, adequate size, quantity, and frequency of provided information are required for the drivers. To evaluate propriety of the expressed message of VMS that provides real-time traffic conditions, first of all, the amount of message about legibility distance and viewing should be estimated. In this research, drivers' characteristics of VMS message design were also reviewed to enhance the efficiency of VMS. And legibility distance, the amount of viewing information, and ratio of viewing information were analyzed on the currently operating VMS. The results of this study proposed that the appropriate size, quantity, and frequency were concluded by the legibility and memory of message on the real driving conditions. Consequently, these design methods of VMS could be expected to improve the transmitting capability of highway information to drivers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine the legibility distance for traffic road sign and traffic sign, fixation duration and number of fixation during the time of recognition of traffic road signs under different vision conditions. This experiment was conducted on a closed-road circuit which has realistic driving road and environment Each participant drove the real vehicle for the experiment and specially built traffic road sign for the experiment and traffic road signs on the side of closed-road circuit were used. Different vision conditions were simulated using spectacle lenses to reach visual acuity 1.0 and 0.8 and it was 1.2 without spectacles and each participant tested under 3 vision conditions.. The result of this study demonstrated that there was a significant difference on legibility distance between visual acuity of 1.2 and 0.8 and there were also significant difference on fixation duration and number of fixations with smaller traffic signs. This study demonstrated the importance of vision correction for driving at night-time, also showed there would be difference on legibility distance and efficiency of eye movement such as fixation duration and number of fixation despite of satisfied visual acuity for driver's license requirement.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.23-32
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• 2007

Variable message sign (VMS), which is used for providing real-time information on traffic conditions and incidents, is one of the important components of intelligent transportation systems. VMS messages need to meet the requirements with the consideration of human factors that messages should be readable and understandable while driving. This study developed a legibility distance model for VMS messages using in-vehicle differential global positioning data (DGPS). Traffic conditions, highway geometric conditions, and VMS message characteristics were investigated for establishing the legibility model based on multiple linear regression analysis. The height of VMS characters, speed, and the number of lanes were identified as dominant factors affecting the variation of legibility distances. It is expected that the proposed model would play a significant role in designing VMS messages for providing more effective real-time traffic information.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.25-35
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• 2008

Variable Message Sign(VMS) is one of the subsystem of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), which is useful for providing real-time information on weather, traffic and highway conditions. However, there are various situations such as incidents/accidents, constructions, special events, etc., which would be occurred on segments, it is unable to control traffic with only the VMS. Thus, it is essential to use of PVMS(Portable Variable Message Signs), which can move to the location needed traffic control and provide more active traffic information than VMS. This study developed a legibility distance model for PVMS messages using in-vehicle Differential Global Positioning Data(DGPS). Traffic conditions, drivers' characteristics, weather conditions and characteristics of PVMS message were investigated for establishing the legibility model based on multiple linear regression analysis. The factors such as height of PVMS characters, spot speed, age, gender and day and night were identified as dominants affecting the variation of legibility distances. It is expected that the proposed model would play a significant role in designing PVMS messages for providing more effective real-time traffic information.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the legibility of one-syllable Korean characters with the participation of sixteen subjects. The experiment considered nine factors including age (young and old), gender (male and female), illuminance (150lx and 600lx), viewing distance (50cm and 200cm), material type (paper and LCD), typeface (Ming and Gothic), thickness (plain and bold), color contrast (black letter/white background and white letter/black background), and complexity (simple, complex, and number) to examine main effects with a $2^{6-3}\times3$ fractional factorial design. The dependent variables were minimum character size of 100% correctness, maximum character size of 0% correctness, and minimum character size of comfortable reading preference. The results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that age, illuminance, viewing distance and complexity were significant for all dependent variables, except gender which was significant only for the minimum character size of comfortable reading preference. In general, the young could see twofold smaller size letters than the elderly. The subjects could see smaller sized letters with the illuminance of 600lx and viewing distance of 50cm than 150lx and 200cm, respectively and also with numbers, simple characters, and complex characters in that order. The findings of this study could be characterized about the legibility of Korean characters and be good resources for developing its standard.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.92-100
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• 2009

This study evaluated the effects of the syllable number(one, two), font type(gothic, myung), color contrast (black on white, white on black), display type(paper, LCD), age(20s, 60s) and character size(2~80pt) on the Korean characters' legibility. Total twenty subjects from two age groups (20s: n=10, 60s: n=10, five male and five female in each group) participated in the legibility test. A target panel was presented in the distance of 50 cm, and subjects conducted a reading tests for, in total, 16 treatment conditions (full combination of syllable number, font type, color contrast and display type). Results showed that two-syllable words revealed better legibility than one-syllable character. The main effects of the age, display type, font type, color contrast, and character size were statistically significant(p<0.01). Paper showed better legibility than LCD, particularly in the 20s and in the character sizes of less than 9pt. Gothic revealed more correct answers than Myung, particularly in the 60s, paper, and white on black conditions. It is expected that these results can provide basic data for the determination of the Korean characters' minimum legible size standards. For example, the minimum legible size for the Gothic and black on white characters presented in the paper should be 5pt for 20s and 1lpt for 60s if the 75% correct reading(3 correct answers in this study) was applied for the legibility criterion.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.181-188
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• 1998

In order to examine the legibility of the Hangul letters which is a syllabic, the three kind of visual charts were made of the ninety eight($14{\times}7$) Hangul Gothic type letters by the laser printer. These Hangul letters were constructed with the 13 consonant letters which are 'ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㅇ, ㅈ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅎ', and the 6 vowel letters which are 'ㅏ, ㅓ, ㅗ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ'. The two examination methods were used, One is the discriminating the letters on the visual chart by men having 1.5 visual acuity. The other is the using the laser printer's resolution. Obtained data by these examination methods are the minimum readable size values of the letters and the maximum readable distance values from the reader to the objects. From these data the relative legibility of the Hangul letters were calculated, where the letter ㄱ was chosen for the standard. This resultant data were analyzed. In this result, the mean legibility of these Hangul letters descended in the order of 'ㄱ, ㄴ, ㅅ, ㄷ, ㅈ, ㅇ, ㅁ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅎ' Which are the consonant letters being in these letters. And the mean legibility descended in 'ㅣ, ㅡ, ㅏ, ㅗ, ㅓ, ㅜ' order. The mean legibility is dependent on used consonant letter more then on used vowel.