• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.320-328
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• 2021

As the number of visually impaired people steadily increases, interest in independent walking is also increasing. However, there are various inconveniences in the independent walking of the visually impaired at present, reducing the quality of life of the visually impaired. The white cane, which is an existing walking aid for the visually impaired, has difficulty in recognizing upper obstacles and obstacles outside the effective distance. In addition, it is inconvenient to cross the street because the sound signal to help the visually impaired cross the crosswalk is lacking or damaged. These factors make it difficult for the visually impaired to walk independently. Therefore, we propose the design of an embedded system that provides traffic light recognition through object recognition technology, voice guidance using TTS, and upper obstacle recognition through ultrasonic sensors so that blind people can realize safe and high-quality independent walking.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.125-139
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze a kinematic characteristics of throwing performance among born visually impaired, postnatal visually impaired and visually correct people through their kinematic characteristics. Another purpose of this study is to prevent injury and improve blind's exercise leadership and physical abilities. Three video cameras were used and each camera's shooting velocity was 60field/sec. Then the longest thrown pose was collected and analyzed by using Kwon 3D ver. 3.1 program. The results obtained from this study were followings; 1. During release, the fastest speed of ball was visually corrected followed by postnatal visually impaired and then born visually impaired. 2. Visually corrected used wrist joint well and had wide body round range with similar motion patterns, however born visually impaired couldn't do this at all. 3. Visually corrected used waist to lead shoulder at Phase 2 while throwing ball, but some of born visually impaired and postnatal visually impaired couldn't use waist to lead shoulder. 4. Visually corrected looked at the way where ball would go, but blinds couldn't look where ball would go. 5. Not like visually corrected who show similar patterns, born visually impaired showed each different patterns and some postnatal visually impaired showed similar patterns with visually corrected. 6. While throwing ball, visually corrected showed flexible weight-movement, postnatal visually impaired were not good as visually corrected, and born visually impaired couldn't do weight-movement at all. Synthetically, this result showed that throwing motions are affected a lot by the time when people became blind.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2003.11b
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• pp.259-262
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• 2003

In this paper, we studied the path determination algorithm of the guidance robot for the visually impaired. Using the guidance robot for the visually impaired, the visually impaired can go to the destination where they want without other's heir. The navigation path of the guidance robot for the visually impaired must be the optimal path not only the shortest but also the most safe, which is different from a shortest path for common people. GPS and electronic map are used for the location information of the visually impaired. We corrected the error by converting the coordinates of location information from GPS, which includes maximum several tens of meters error, to the coordinates of electronic map. Information such as simple path and direction to the destination is not enough because it may be different between a going path from the start to the destination and a coming path from the destination to the start as around environment. So, we added information which can be dangerous for the visually impaired such as driveway, sidewalk without braille blocks, crosswalk, stairs and overpass, each has weight value as dangerous degree, when matching the GPS information to the electronic map, enough large as 1:5,000 scale.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2016

Objective: The visually impaired have limited access to health care services and related information, and thus, they can have serious hurdles against properly taking medications. Despite that it is important to improve self-care ability of the visually impaired for correct medication use, there have been few studies investigating their needs for health care services in Korea, particularly focusing on proper medication usage. This study is to explore safety-related issues regarding mediation usage among the visually impaired based on in-depth interview. We particularly focus on any obstacles for safe use of medicines including experience on medication-related adverse effects in order to provide preliminary evidence for policy measures to improve proper medication use among the visually impaired. Methods: Study sample was visually impaired individuals who resided in Seoul area and were registered in the National Association of Visually Impaired. The association helped the process of recruiting the study participants. In-depth interview for each study participants was conducted. Each interview was recorded and later converted into a written script to extract core contents for the analysis. Results: The study participants comprised of three women (42.9%) and four men (57.1%). One was in his 20's, and there were four participants in 30's and two in 40's. Fully impaired participants were majority (5 out of 7). Limitation to physical access to health care providers and health information were the key factors to hamper safe medication utilization among the study participants. Difficulty reading medication information and may take the wrong medication or incorrect doses of medication, resulting in serious consequences, including overdose or inadequate treatment of health problems. Visually impaired patients report increased anxiety related to medication management and must rely on others to obtain necessary drug information. Pharmacists have a unique opportunity to pursue accurate medication adherence in this special population. This article reviews literature illustrating how severe medication mismanagement can occur in the visually impaired elderly and presents resources and solutions for pharmacists to take a larger role in adherence management in this population. Conclusion: The visually impaired had difficulties reading medication information and identifying medicines, and took incorrect doses of medications. Public support for safe medication use and medication management among the visually impaired is necessary.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.24-29
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• 2023

In this paper, we propose a real-time bus arrival notification system using deep learning to guarantee movement rights for the visually impaired. In modern society, by using location information of public transportation, users can quickly obtain information about public transportation and use public transportation easily. However, since the existing public transportation information system is a visual system, the visually impaired cannot use it. In Korea, various laws have been amended since the 'Act on the Promotion of Transportation for the Vulnerable' was enacted in June 2012 as the Act on the Movement Rights of the Blind, but the visually impaired are experiencing inconvenience in using public transportation. In particular, from the standpoint of the visually impaired, it is impossible to determine whether the bus is coming soon, is coming now, or has already arrived with the current system. In this paper, we use deep learning technology to learn bus numbers and identify upcoming bus numbers. Finally, we propose a method to notify the visually impaired by voice that the bus is coming by using TTS technology.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.327-330
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• 2012

In the rapid growth of cities, road has heavy traffic and many buildings are under constructions. These kinds of environments make more difficulty for a person who is visually handicapped to walk comfortable. To alleviate the problem, we introduce Android based Portable Navigation System to help walking for Visually Impaired Person. It follows, service center give instant real time monitoring to visually impaired person for their convenient by this system. Android based Portable Navigation System has GPS, Camera, Audio and WI-FI(wireless fidelity) available. It means that GPS location and Camera image information can be sent to service center by WI-FI network. To be specific, transmitted GPS location information enables service center to figure out the visually impaired person's whereabouts and mark the location on the map. By delivered Camera image information, service center monitors the visually impaired person's view. Also, they can offer live guidance to visually impaired person by equipped Audio with live talking. To sum up, Android based Portable Navigation System is a specialized navigation system that gives practical effect to realize more comfortable walking for visually impaired person.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.2702-2707
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• 2012

In the rapid growth of cities, road has heavy traffic and many buildings are under constructions. These kinds of environments make more difficulty for a person who is visually handicapped to walk comfortable. To alleviate the problem, we introduce Navigation System to help walking for Visually Impaired Person. It follows, service center give instant real time monitoring to visually impaired person for their convenient by this system. This Navigation System has GPS, Camera, Audio and Wi-Fi(wireless fidelity) available. It means that GPS location and Camera image information can be sent to service center by Wi-Fi network. To be specific, transmitted GPS location information enables service center to figure out the visually impaired person's whereabouts and mark the location on the map. By delivered Camera image information, service center monitors the visually impaired person's view. Also, they can offer live guidance to visually impaired person by equipped Audio with live talking. To sum up, Android based Portable Navigation System is a specialized navigation system that gives practical effect to realize more comfortable walking for visually impaired person.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-58
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• 2023

This article is a spinoff of a doctoral study that was completed at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) in 2018 on provision of information services to persons with visual and physical impairments in public university libraries in Kenya. The article examined how ICTs such as internet, e-resources and e-databases, word processing, websites and more were being used in public university libraries to provide access to information by visually and physically impaired persons. Data were collected from the visually and physically impaired students, University Librarians, Systems librarians, staff from disability departments and library staff who provided services to visually and physically impaired persons. The findings revealed that the visually and physically impaired persons in most of the libraries could not access information owing to lack of the necessary assistive and adaptive technologies and weak institutional support and framework. The study recommend that the libraries improve assistive technology infrastructure, embrace new assistive technologies such as telepresence robots, virtual realities and more, and put in place enabling policies and capacity building programmes for library staff to enable them to provide services to persons with impairments.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.19-30
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• 2020

Purpose: The ratio of the visually impaired is gradually increasing due to various causes such as natural aging, accidents, and environmental changes. Therefore, this study has two folds. Firstly, it aims to analyze the current satisfaction level with information facilities for the visually impaired. Secondly, it aims to examine the factors affecting the satisfaction with indoor information facilities. Through this study, it helps to identify problems of information facilities for the visually impaired and it works as a practical data for further improvements. Methods: For 50 visually impaired people, a telephone survey was conducted on the satisfaction with the braille blocks, braille signboards, braille information boards with tactile map, audio guide devices, and safety egress devices. Microsoft Excel and SPSS 26.0 were used for the analysis. Results: It was confirmed that the overall satisfaction with the indoor information facilities was very low. The more the visually impaired people recognized the installation standards, and the better the maintenance was, the higher the satisfaction. In the case of braille blocks and braille signboards, the effect of information transfer on satisfaction was relatively high. In the case of audio guide device and safety egress device, the standard suitability influenced satisfaction. Implications: The low level of satisfaction with the overall information facilities can impede visually impaired people from receiving practical help through the information facilities. Factors influencing the satisfaction level of each facility were identified, which makes it possible to prepare effective improvement measures.

• IEMEK Journal of Embedded Systems and Applications
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2016

There are many assistive devices for the visually impaired. They are becoming smart. In this paper, we propose a device that help route guidance for a visually impaired person. It is composed of a smart phone, cane, and hands-free devices. The smart phone helps a route guidance. The cane detects an obstacle and transmits it to the hands-free device. The hands-free device communicates with a visually impaired person. We here present their architecture, signal flow, configuration, and their circuit diagrams.