Updated on 2024/03/19

写真a

 
FUJIMOTO, Hiroshi
 
Affiliation
Faculty of Human Sciences, School of Human Sciences
Job title
Professor
Degree
Doctor of Engineering ( Waseda University )

Research Experience

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    通商産業省工業技術院生命工学工業技術研究所主任研究官

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    The University of Electro-Communications

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    Waseda University

Education Background

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    -
    1989

    Waseda University   Graduate School, Division of Science and Engineering   Mechanical Engineering  

Professional Memberships

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    IEEE

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    バイオメカニズム学会

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    日本ロボット学会

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    日本機械学会

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    日本人間工学会

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    日本生活支援工学会

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    計測自動制御学会

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    ヒューマンインタフェース学会

▼display all

Research Areas

  • Intelligent robotics / Rehabilitation science

Research Interests

  • 生活支援技術、人工感覚器、バイオメカニックス、生体情報・計測、ロボティクス、人間機械システム

Awards

  • 日本人間工学会 研究奨励賞

    2006.06  

 

Papers

  • Effect of human forefinger postures of pressing on hardness identification

    SAKAGUCHI Saito, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Transactions of the JSME (in Japanese)   83 ( 851 ) 17 - 00059-17-00059  2017

     View Summary

    <p>Hardness identification is one of the most important tactile senses in humans. People use their hands in various ways to identify the hardness of an object. For example, acupuncturists identify stiffness in a muscle by pressing down with their forefinger held flat over the affected area. However, experimental evidence for the role of the pressing method in the identification of an object's hardness even when the same finger is used has not been shown yet. In this fundamental study, we investigated the differential threshold of hardness for different finger postures of pressing (pressing down with one's forefinger held "flat" or "vertically") to determine the relationship between the different finger postures of pressing and hardness identification. We used seven elastic test pieces, each with a different Young's modulus, as the presented stimuli. We conducted an experiment using the constant method to calculate the differential threshold of hardness as a measure of hardness identification. The results showed that the differential threshold of hardness was higher when pressing down with a forefinger held "flat" than when pressing down "vertically" with the same force. This finding will be useful in evaluating the tactile identification of hardness in acupuncturists.</p>

    DOI CiNii

  • Experimental study on shapes of tactile signs for distinguishable identification on body soap containers

    Doi, Kouki, Nishimura, Takahiro, Wada, Tsutomu, Fujimoto, Hiroshi, Hoshikawa, Yasuyuki

    Journal of Advanced Computational Intelligence and Intelligent Informatics   21 ( 1 ) 100 - 108  2017.01

     View Summary

    Japanese Industry Standards (JIS) S 0021 (Packaging - Accessible Design - General Requirements) indicate the design policy for easy-to-use packaging and containers, targeting various individuals including elderly persons and individuals with disabilities. The JIS S 0021 includes tactile signs that are necessary to ensure the ease of distinguishing and handling as well as the ease of using those packaging and containers. The JIS S 0021 prescribes tactile signs on shampoo containers and notches for beverage paper packaging containers as tactile signs to distinguish the contents of the package and to differentiate between containers with the same or similar shapes. The policy was expanded to include tactile signs for body soaps when the standard was amended in 2014, and this was attributed to the fact that organizations of visually impaired demanded tactile signs for body soap, since body soap is often packaged in containers with shapes similar to those for shampoos and hair conditioners. Hence, tactile signs prescribed for body soap in JIS S 0021 guidelines were recently expanded to commercially available body soap containers. In the present study, experiments were performed to study the shapes of tactile signs for distinguishable body soap container. Specifically, shapes were studied through the following two steps: 1) tactile signs were selected based on experiments to evaluate the ease of distinguishing between multiple tactile signs, in a hearing survey involving visually impaired; and 2) experiments were performed to evaluate the tactile signs assuming that they were manufactured in collaboration with the Japan Cosmetic Industry Association, which is an industry organization of manufacturers for body soap and other products. It should be noted that the experiments involving distinguishing between products prioritized tactile signs on the top surfaces of the containers instead of on the side, since visually impaired tend to distinguish between pump containers by touching the top surfaces of the containers in hotels and public restrooms. The results of the experiments were used for tactile signs in the amended JIS S 0021 in 2014 for body soap. This study described evaluation experiments performed on the distinguishability of tactile signs on the top surfaces of pump type body soap containers to determine the factors that should be considered when establishing JIS tactile signs for body soap containers.

    CiNii

  • Gait Characteristics of high scoreres of the locomotive syndrome

    SUZUKI Baku, KOBAYASHI Yoshiyuki, MOCHIMARU Masaaki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Journal of the Society of Biomechanisms   40 ( 3 ) 183 - 193  2016

     View Summary

    The purpose of this study was to identify the key joint kinematics characteristics during walking that related to Locomotive syndrome (LS) in order to develop some kind of device which can assess the risk of LS from gait on a daily basis. For this purpose, joint kinematics data during walking were obtained from 54 healthy community-dwelling elderly subjects (10 belong to LS). From these data, we calculated time-normalized lower limb joint angles on three planes during one gait cycle. For each time point, we also calculated averages and standard deviations of joint angles within the 5 trials. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted using input matrix made from the time–normalized lower limb joint angle kinematics (3 Planes × 3 Joints × 101 poins × 2 parameters). To determine Principal Component Vector (PCV) related to LS, we conducted t-tests on the Principal Component Scores of each PCV related to LS between LS group and non-LS group. To understand joint kinematics related to LS, we reconstructed them from each PCV related to LS. Among these PCVs, PCV 6 affect walking speed from hip and anlke joint angles point of view, and PCV 12 affect walking speed from cadence point of view. These PCVs revealed that LS group walks smaller walking speed than non-LS group. Further, PCV 9 related to ROM during walking on sagittal plane: LS group tended to showe smaller ROM than non-LS group. However, this PCV did not relate to spatiotemporal variables such as walking speed or step length. These findings suggest the possibility to develop some kind of sensor systems to assess LS using thesecharacteristics .

    DOI CiNii

  • Induction of the Illusion of Index Finger Flex Movement and the Perceptual Properties

    UMESAWA Yumi, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    The Japanese journal of ergonomics   52 ( 2 ) 88 - 95  2016

     View Summary

    The vibrating conditions necessary for induction of the illusion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of index finger flex movement and the perceptual properties of the illusion itself were investigated in this study. The experimental factors were vibration frequencies of 50, 70, 90, 110, 130, 150, 170 and 190 Hz. Subjects were asked to evaluate the presence or absence of an illusion and its vividness on a 5-point scale. Simultaneously, the perceptual time it took for an illusion to occur from beginning vibration and the maximum illusory angle were measured. It was found that the occurrence rates and the vividness of the illusions were highest at the vibration frequencies of 70, 90, 110, and 130 Hz. The response time was about 5 seconds, and the maximum illusory angle was approximately 40 degrees. These findings could potentially be useful in developing a new interface device using kinesthetic sensation.

    CiNii

  • The relation between different fingers pressing elastic objects and the characteristics of hardness discriminability

    TANAKA Mizuho, UMESAWA Yumi, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Transactions of the JSME (in Japanese)   82 ( 838 ) 16 - 00001-16-00001  2016

     View Summary

    Identification of the hardness of an object in a human hand is different according to the hardness of the object. For example, chiropractors identify stiffness in the muscle by using their thumb, which can press more forcefully than the forefinger. However, it has not been shown experimentally if the characteristics of hardness discriminability are different according to fingers. In this study, to clarify the relation between different fingers pressing elastic objects and the characteristics of hardness discriminability, we investigated the differential threshold of hardness using the forefinger and thumb. Additionally, the influence of press force and press displacement on the characteristics of hardness discriminability was clarified. We used 7 elastic test pieces with different Young's moduli as the presented stimuli. We also used the test pieces with hardness sensation judged as 'hard' in our previous research. We conducted the experiment using the constant stimuli method to calculate differential threshold of hardness as one evaluation index of hardness discriminability when using the forefinger and thumb. The results of this experiment showed that the hardness discriminability of the thumb was better than that of the forefinger. In addition, these results suggested that press displacement but not press force should be used to estimate the hardness discriminability and that the thumb is better than the forefinger to discriminate the displacement. These findings clarify the mechanism underlying hardness discriminability in the human hand.

    CiNii

  • The relation between different fingers pressing elastic objects and the characteristics of hardness discriminability

    TANAKA Mizuho, UMESAWA Yumi, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Transactions of the JSME (in Japanese)   0 ( 0 )  2016

     View Summary

    Identification of the hardness of an object in a human hand is different according to the hardness of the object. For example, chiropractors identify stiffness in the muscle by using their thumb, which can press more forcefully than the forefinger. However, it has not been shown experimentally if the characteristics of hardness discriminability are different according to fingers. In this study, to clarify the relation between different fingers pressing elastic objects and the characteristics of hardness discriminability, we investigated the differential threshold of hardness using the forefinger and thumb. Additionally, the influence of press force and press displacement on the characteristics of hardness discriminability was clarified. We used 7 elastic test pieces with different Young's moduli as the presented stimuli. We also used the test pieces with hardness sensation judged as 'hard' in our previous research. We conducted the experiment using the constant stimuli method to calculate differential threshold of hardness as one evaluation index of hardness discriminability when using the forefinger and thumb. The results of this experiment showed that the hardness discriminability of the thumb was better than that of the forefinger. In addition, these results suggested that press displacement but not press force should be used to estimate the hardness discriminability and that the thumb is better than the forefinger to discriminate the displacement. These findings clarify the mechanism underlying hardness discriminability in the human hand.

    CiNii

  • Satisfactory Vibrating Conditions of the Latissimus Dorsi Tendon and the Perceptual Properties of Inducing Illusory Horizontal Shoulder Flexion

    UMESAWA Yumi, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Transactions of Japan Society of Kansei Engineering   15 ( 3 ) 313 - 318  2016

     View Summary

    The satisfactory vibrating conditions and the perceptual properties of inducing illusory horizontal shoulder flexion were investigated in this study. The experimental factors were the vibration frequencies of 30, 50, 70, 90, 110, and 130 Hz. We subjectively assessed the presence or absence of an illusion and its vividness on a 5-point scale. Simultaneously, the perceptual time it took for an illusion to appear and the maximum illusory angle was measured. It was found that the maximum occurrence rate of the illusion was 98% at a vibration frequency of 70, 90, 110 Hz. The illusory angle was approximately 30°. It took 7s for an illusion to appear. Based on this knowledge, we plan to develop an interface device that will provide kinesthetic sensations only without the actual motion in a future study. This device could potentially be used for tactile feedback technology in the virtual reality space.

    DOI CiNii

  • Interface to Assist Persons with Disabilities

    FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Journal of The Society of Instrument and Control Engineers   55 ( 2 ) 93 - 93  2016

    DOI CiNii

  • Satisfactory Vibrating Conditions of the Latissimus Dorsi Tendon and the Perceptual Properties of Inducing Illusory Horizontal Shoulder Flexion

    UMESAWA Yumi, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Transactions of Japan Society of Kansei Engineering   0 ( 0 )  2016

     View Summary

    The satisfactory vibrating conditions and the perceptual properties of inducing illusory horizontal shoulder flexion were investigated in this study. The experimental factors were the vibration frequencies of 30, 50, 70, 90, 110, and 130 Hz. We subjectively assessed the presence or absence of an illusion and its vividness on a 5-point scale. Simultaneously, the perceptual time it took for an illusion to appear and the maximum illusory angle was measured. It was found that the maximum occurrence rate of the illusion was 98% at a vibration frequency of 70, 90, 110 Hz. The illusory angle was approximately 30°. It took 7s for an illusion to appear. Based on this knowledge, we plan to develop an interface device that will provide kinesthetic sensations only without the actual motion in a future study. This device could potentially be used for tactile feedback technology in the virtual reality space.

    DOI CiNii

  • Cut-Off Man Performance Using a Real-time Bird Eye View Feedback System from a Drone

    Miura Satoshi, Hirooka Kazumasa, Matsumoto Yuya, Kobayashi Yo, Fujimoto Hiroshi, Kanosue Kazuyuki, Fujie Masakatsu G

    The ... international conference on advanced mechatronics : toward evolutionary fusion of IT and mechatronics : ICAM : abstracts   2015 ( 6 ) 9 - 10  2015.12

     View Summary

    This paper presents a novel sports training system. We developed a visual real-time feedback system that directly transmits a bird's eye view from a drone camera to a player's eyes. Individual physical ability, experience and intuition is important; however, in team sports such as baseball, football and volleyball, players need to perform spatial cognition such that they immediately understand where they, their teammates and their opponents are on the field as if they could see it from a bird's eye view. The objective is to validate the feasibility of the bird's eye view feedback system. In an experiment, nine participants moved and stood between two experimenters as a cut-off man with or without the system. Using the system produced significantly less error than with no system (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this bird's eye view feedback system can improve human spatial cognition.

    DOI CiNii

  • タッチパネルタブレット端末における人差し指の接触角度を考慮したボタンのサイズ及び間隔の評価

    西村崇宏, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    日本感性工学会論文誌   14 ( 3 ) 343 - 350  2015.08  [Refereed]

  • Evaluation of the Transparent-Resinous-Ultraviolet-Cured-Type (TRUCT) Braille readability with focus on vertical and horizontal Braille dot distances by use of new printing device for TRUCT Braille

    DOI Kouki, NISHIMURA Takahiro, KAWANO Masaru, UMESAWA Yumi, MATSUMORI Harumi, WADA Tsutomu, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    TRANSACTIONS OF THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Series A   81 ( 831 ) 15 - 00381-15-00381  2015

     View Summary

    Braille is a well-known communication tool for the visually impaired. In recent years, as a result of advances in Braille printing technology, the use of transparent resinous ultraviolet cured type (TRUCT) Braille has spread rapidly. As one of the most popular Braille printing technologies, the screen printing method is applied for printing TRUCT Braille. However, the screen printing method produces TRUCT Braille prints of poor quality. In this study, in order to improve the printing quality, we created a device for printing TRUCT Braille. Additionally, we evaluated TRUCT Braille readability for Braille beginner readers by focusing on horizontal and vertical Braille dot distances using our created device. From this study, we found that it was easy to print TRUCT Braille using our device. Braille beginner readers found it easy to read TRUCT Braille with adequate horizontal and vertical Braille dot distances. These findings support the use of TRUCT Braille for new Braille beginner textbooks, as well as for printing Braille signs in public facilities.

    DOI CiNii

  • Evaluation of Size and Spacing of Buttons in Consideration of Contact Angle of Forefinger in Tablet Terminal with Touch-sensitive Screen

    NISHIMURA Takahiro, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Transactions of Japan Society of Kansei Engineering   14 ( 3 ) 343 - 350  2015

     View Summary

    The portability of touch-sensitive screen tablets provides high usability under various circumstances, and such tablets are increasingly utilized in the education and other fields. Meanwhile, the design of the graphical user interface (GUI) of such tablets requires careful consideration in order not to lose tablet operability in such diverse situations. In this study, we conduct an experiment to investigate the effect that touch-sensitive screen button size and spacing have on operability, while considering the influence of the angle that the forefinger makes when touching the screen. As a result, we could determine the conditions required for the size and spacing of buttons to allow fast and accurate operation independent of contact angle. Furthermore, we could reveal the relationship between contact angle and area, and investigate the impact of the contact angle when touching smaller buttons.

    DOI CiNii

  • Evaluation of the Transparent-Resinous-Ultraviolet-Cured-Type (TRUCT) Braille readability with focus on vertical and horizontal Braille dot distances by use of new printing device for TRUCT Braille

    DOI Kouki, NISHIMURA Takahiro, KAWANO Masaru, UMESAWA Yumi, MATSUMORI Harumi, WADA Tsutomu, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    TRANSACTIONS OF THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Series A   0 ( 0 )  2015

     View Summary

    Braille is a well-known communication tool for the visually impaired. In recent years, as a result of advances in Braille printing technology, the use of transparent resinous ultraviolet cured type (TRUCT) Braille has spread rapidly. As one of the most popular Braille printing technologies, the screen printing method is applied for printing TRUCT Braille. However, the screen printing method produces TRUCT Braille prints of poor quality. In this study, in order to improve the printing quality, we created a device for printing TRUCT Braille. Additionally, we evaluated TRUCT Braille readability for Braille beginner readers by focusing on horizontal and vertical Braille dot distances using our created device. From this study, we found that it was easy to print TRUCT Braille using our device. Braille beginner readers found it easy to read TRUCT Braille with adequate horizontal and vertical Braille dot distances. These findings support the use of TRUCT Braille for new Braille beginner textbooks, as well as for printing Braille signs in public facilities.

    DOI CiNii

  • Evaluation of Size and Spacing of Buttons in Consideration of Contact Angle of Forefinger in Tablet Terminal with Touch-sensitive Screen

    NISHIMURA Takahiro, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Transactions of Japan Society of Kansei Engineering   0 ( 0 )  2015

     View Summary

    The portability of touch-sensitive screen tablets provides high usability under various circumstances, and such tablets are increasingly utilized in the education and other fields. Meanwhile, the design of the graphical user interface (GUI) of such tablets requires careful consideration in order not to lose tablet operability in such diverse situations. In this study, we conduct an experiment to investigate the effect that touch-sensitive screen button size and spacing have on operability, while considering the influence of the angle that the forefinger makes when touching the screen. As a result, we could determine the conditions required for the size and spacing of buttons to allow fast and accurate operation independent of contact angle. Furthermore, we could reveal the relationship between contact angle and area, and investigate the impact of the contact angle when touching smaller buttons.

    DOI CiNii

  • Evaluation of Touch-Sensitive Screen Tablet Terminal Button Size and Spacing Accounting for Effect of Fingertip Contact Angle

    T. Nishimura, K. Doi, H. Fujimoto

    2015 37TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY (EMBC)   2015-November   1148 - 1151  2015  [Refereed]

     View Summary

    Touch-sensitive screen terminals enabling intuitive operation are used as input interfaces in a wide range of fields. Tablet terminals are one of the most common devices with a touch-sensitive screen. They have a feature of good portability, enabling use under various conditions. On the other hand, they require a GUI designed to prevent decrease of usability under various conditions. For example, the angle of fingertip contact with the display changes according to finger posture during operation and how the case is held. When a human fingertip makes contact with an object, the contact area between the fingertip and contact object increases or decreases as the contact angle changes. A touch-sensitive screen detects positions using the change in capacitance of the area touched by the fingertip; hence, differences in contact area between the touch-sensitive screen and fingertip resulting from different forefinger angles during operation could possibly affect operability. However, this effect has never been studied. We therefore conducted an experiment to investigate the relationship between size/spacing and operability, while taking the effect of fingertip contact angle into account. As a result, we have been able to specify the button size and spacing conditions that enable accurate and fast operation regardless of the forefinger contact angle.

    DOI

    Scopus

    6
    Citation
    (Scopus)
  • 点字触読の熟達者・初心者それぞれの加齢の影響に着目したアラビア数字の浮き出し文字のサイズが識別容易性に及ぼす影響

    土井幸輝, 豊田航, 藤本浩志

    バイオメカニズム   22   129 - 139  2014.07

     View Summary

    <p>Tactile raised characters are useful in creating accessible designs for the benefit of people with acquired visual impairment. For instance, tactile raised characters are used on elevator buttons and television remote controls as an assistive tool based on the philosophy of accessible design. However, sufficient reliable data on the appropriate size for perception of such characters are not available. In this study, we investigated the influence of the size of tactile raised Arabic number characters (0 through 9) on their perceptibility using two experimental designs. One experiment involved young and old individuals with normal vision who were unfamiliar with the systems intended for people with acquired visual impairment, the other experiment was for young and old visually impaired persons. The tactile raised characters were presented one by one in random order using our developed experimental apparatus. There was a correlation between the size of the tactile raised characters and their perceptibility. This knowledge will be useful in discussing revisions to the Japanese Industrial Standard regarding tactile raised characters or in formulating new guidelines pertaining to tactile substitution tools.</p>

    DOI CiNii

  • タッチパネル携帯端末の操作方法がポインティング特性に及ぼす影響

    西村崇宏, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    バイオメカニズム   22   119 - 128  2014.07

     View Summary

    <p>Touch-sensitive screens that serve as displays and input devices have been adopted in many portable terminals such as smartphones and personal media players, and this market has expanded greatly. A feature of touch-sensitive screens is that their graphical user interface (GUI) can be designed arbitrarily. However, it has been pointed out that GUIs may be difficult to use if the designer is unfamiliar with human operational characteristics. This is because there is insufficient knowledge about the operational characteristics of humans. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of pointing when using portable terminals with touch-sensitive screens, and we conducted an experiment to obtain knowledge that can be used in the design of easy-to-use GUIs. In this experiment, we evaluated the characteristics of pointing by measuring the distributions of the pointing positions and pointing time. The subjects who participated in the experiment were asked to operate a portable terminal with a touch-sensitive screen under three operational conditions. The results showed that the pointing position distribution depended on the target display area in all operational conditions. We also found that the pointing time was better in the areas that the thumb could reach without extension or flexing during one-handed operations. Furthermore, we describe an effective approach for designing an ellipsoid touch-sensitive area based on the pointing position distribution determined in this experiment. We also evaluated the effectiveness of this new design approach.</p>

    DOI CiNii

  • 年齢及び触知経験が異なる視覚障害者の指先触知における推奨寸法の提案を目的とした凸バーと凸点の識別容易性の評価

    豊田航, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    バイオメカニズム   22   105 - 117  2014.07

     View Summary

    <p>The Japanese Standards Association (2000) and the International Organization for Standardization (2011) have standardized tactile bars (bar-shaped symbol on a stop key) and dots (dot-shaped symbol on a start key) that enable people with visual impairment to discriminate the keys on consumer products. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies regarding their recommended sizes and shapes in view of the establishment and modification of standards related to tactile bars and dots. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of the sizes of tactile dots and bars on their discriminability to determine the appropriate size of tactile bars (as distinguished from tactile dots) regardless of the aging and tactile experiences, which markedly affect tactile acuity on the fingertips. Younger and older participants with or without visual impairment tactually discriminated tactile dots and bars presented individually, in random order, via a two-alternative forced-choice task. The results showed that participants discriminated tactile bars from tactile dots faster and more accurately as the dimensional difference between the bar length and width increased. In particular, younger sighted, younger, and older blind participants distinguished tactile bars of more than +2.0 [mm] length from tactile dots correctly. However, the older sighted participants required a bar length of +3.0 [mm] for accurate discrimination of tactile bars. In addition, younger and older sighted persons discriminated tactile bars with a length of +4.0 [mm] in less time, whereas younger and older blind participants were able to discriminate tactile bars of more than +3.0 [mm] length. On the other hand, tactile dots with a larger edge radius of curvature have higher discriminability than tactile dots with a smaller edge radius of curvature for dots of identical height.</p>

    DOI CiNii

  • 触知案内図におけるドットパターンの点間隔が識別特性に及ぼす影響

    松森ハルミ, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    日本感性工学会論文誌   13 ( 2 ) 419 - 425  2014.04

     View Summary

    Recently, many tactile guide maps have been installed at various public facilities. Tactile guide map designers have used raised dot patterns to express drawings on a tactile guide map. However, we are lacking quantitative data regarding raised dot patterns for the design of easily understandable tactile maps. In this study, we investigated the influence of dot distances on discrimination of dot patterns used in tactile guide maps by conducting an experiment to find highly discriminable combinations of dot patterns by comparing pairs of dot patterns. The results showed that combinations of dot patterns with a larger difference in dot distances had higher discriminability. When the differences were the same, the combinations of wider dot distances had lower discriminability. Dot patterns with more than 5.0 mm differences in dot distances were highly discriminable for sighted persons, whereas those with more than 4.0 mm differences were highly discriminable for blind persons.

    DOI CiNii

  • 肘伸展錯覚を誘発するための上腕二頭筋の腱 への最適振動刺激条件

    梅沢侑実, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    日本感性工学会論文誌   13 ( 2 ) 427 - 432  2014.04

     View Summary

    We investigated optimal vibrating conditions for inducing illusory elbow extension movement to develop various practical applications. The experimental factors were the vibration frequency (30, 50, and 70 Hz), vibration amplitude (three phases for each frequency condition), and contact press force (3, 5, 7, 9 N). We subjectively assessed the presence or absence of an illusion, and the vividness on a five-point scale. The results of this study showed that when the vibration amplitude and contact press force became higher than certain values at vibration frequencies of 50 or 70 Hz, the illusion was produced for 80% or more participants, and the vividness of the illusion was increased. Under these stimulation conditions, illusory elbow extension movement can be easily produced; we can develop an interface device that will only provide kinesthetic sensations without the actual motion. Such an interface device can be used for rehabilitation and education fields, and gaming devices.

    DOI CiNii

  • 触知案内図におけるドットパターンの点間隔が識別特性に及ぼす影響

    松森ハルミ, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    日本感性工学会論文誌   13 ( 2 ) 419 - 425  2014.04

     View Summary

    Recently, many tactile guide maps have been installed at various public facilities. Tactile guide map designers have used raised dot patterns to express drawings on a tactile guide map. However, we are lacking quantitative data regarding raised dot patterns for the design of easily understandable tactile maps. In this study, we investigated the influence of dot distances on discrimination of dot patterns used in tactile guide maps by conducting an experiment to find highly discriminable combinations of dot patterns by comparing pairs of dot patterns. The results showed that combinations of dot patterns with a larger difference in dot distances had higher discriminability. When the differences were the same, the combinations of wider dot distances had lower discriminability. Dot patterns with more than 5.0 mm differences in dot distances were highly discriminable for sighted persons, whereas those with more than 4.0 mm differences were highly discriminable for blind persons.

    DOI CiNii

  • 肘伸展錯覚を誘発するための上腕二頭筋の腱 への最適振動刺激条件

    梅沢侑実, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    日本感性工学会論文誌   13 ( 2 ) 427 - 432  2014.04

     View Summary

    We investigated optimal vibrating conditions for inducing illusory elbow extension movement to develop various practical applications. The experimental factors were the vibration frequency (30, 50, and 70 Hz), vibration amplitude (three phases for each frequency condition), and contact press force (3, 5, 7, 9 N). We subjectively assessed the presence or absence of an illusion, and the vividness on a five-point scale. The results of this study showed that when the vibration amplitude and contact press force became higher than certain values at vibration frequencies of 50 or 70 Hz, the illusion was produced for 80% or more participants, and the vividness of the illusion was increased. Under these stimulation conditions, illusory elbow extension movement can be easily produced; we can develop an interface device that will only provide kinesthetic sensations without the actual motion. Such an interface device can be used for rehabilitation and education fields, and gaming devices.

    DOI CiNii

  • 視覚障害者を対象とした触知案内図におけるストライプパターンの線間隔が識別容易性に及ぼす影響

    和田勉, 土井幸輝, 片桐麻優, 藤本浩志

    日本生活支援工学会誌   13 ( 2 ) 17 - 22  2013.12

    CiNii

  • 視覚障害者を対象とした感触の異なる床仕上げ材間における白杖歩行時の識別容易性に関する研究

    原利明, 小林吉之, 塩手大介, 藤本浩志

    日本生活支援工学会誌   13 ( 2 ) 23 - 28  2013.12

    CiNii

  • 触知案内図のストライプパターンの線間隔が識別特性に及ぼす影響

    和田勉, 土井幸輝, 片桐麻優, 藤本 浩志

    日本感性工学会論文誌   12 ( 3 ) 441 - 446  2013.07

     View Summary

    Raised striped-pattern has been used as a drawing expression of tactile guide map. We are lacking in quantitative data regarding raised striped-pattern for designing easily understandable tactile map. In this study, we investigated the influence of interstices among the lines on tactile discriminability of raised striped-pattern. Ten younger persons and thirteen older ones were asked to distinguish the surface roughness according to 4 categories by comparing 10 raised striped-patterns of different interstices among the raised lines, which were prepared on the basis of the results of previous study. From this study, we found that 5.0mm interstice was necessary for distinguishing different surface roughness and those older persons were somewhat inferior to younger persons in sensitivity of surface roughness.

    DOI CiNii

  • Relationship between Surface Property and Operability of Tablet Terminal with Touch-Sensitive Screen

    Takahiro Nishimura, Kouki Doi, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction     543 - 547  2013.07

  • タッチパネルタブレット端末におけるディスプレイの表面特性が操作性に及ぼす影響

    西村崇宏, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    日本感性工学会論文誌   12 ( 3 ) 431 - 439  2013.07

     View Summary

    Recently, touch-sensitive screens have been used for various devices: smartphones, slate PCs, personal media players, etc. Specifically, tablet terminals with a touch-sensitive screen have spread rapidly in the fields of education, medicine, business, etc. However, it has been pointed that their operability is influenced by the difficulty in sliding a fingertip. This study is aimed at examining the influence of the surface condition of the display on the operability of tablet terminals. We measured the coefficients of kinetic friction between the tip of the forefinger and several screen protection films. Our measurements indicate that the coefficient of kinetic friction of anti-glare (AG) film was about one-third that of hard coat (HC) film. Then, we conducted an experiment using these films to evaluate the relationship between the surface condition of the display and the operability. The results show that the surface condition of the display influences the accuracy and speed of operation.

    DOI CiNii

  • 触知案内図のストライプパターンの線間隔が識別特性に及ぼす影響

    和田勉, 土井幸輝, 片桐麻優, 藤本 浩志

    日本感性工学会論文誌   12 ( 3 ) 441 - 446  2013.07

     View Summary

    Raised striped-pattern has been used as a drawing expression of tactile guide map. We are lacking in quantitative data regarding raised striped-pattern for designing easily understandable tactile map. In this study, we investigated the influence of interstices among the lines on tactile discriminability of raised striped-pattern. Ten younger persons and thirteen older ones were asked to distinguish the surface roughness according to 4 categories by comparing 10 raised striped-patterns of different interstices among the raised lines, which were prepared on the basis of the results of previous study. From this study, we found that 5.0mm interstice was necessary for distinguishing different surface roughness and those older persons were somewhat inferior to younger persons in sensitivity of surface roughness.

    DOI CiNii

  • Errors between the Perceived Toe Height and Actual Toe Height

    KOBAYASHI Yoshiyuki, TAKAHASHI Ken, NAGAO Yuta, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Journal of the Society of Biomechanisms   37 ( 2 ) 121 - 126  2013.05

     View Summary

    This study focused on the features of the perceived foot heights which could be a factor of the risk of tripping during walking. We measured and evaluate the errors between the perceived foot heights and actual foot heights. Ten young adults, whose lower visual fields were occluded, were asked to adjust their toe height to the height of the target test-piece that placed on the floor 3[m] ahead of them. Once they felt that their toe height was appropriately matched to the target height, the distance between their toe and the target height was measured, and compared the constant errors among the conditions (height of the test-pieces and dominant limb). The amount of the constant error tended to increase in negative direction. Moreover, such features were consistent with the features of the joint position senses that reported previously. These results indicate that as the participants raise their toe higher, the heights of their toe tend to become lower than they expected.

    DOI CiNii

  • ヒトが知覚しているつま先の高さと実際のつま先の高さとの誤差

    小林吉之, 長尾裕太, 高橋健, 藤本浩志

    バイオメカニズム学会誌   37 ( 2 ) 121 - 126  2013.05

  • Influence of Surface Condition of Display on Operability of Tablet Terminal with Touch-Sensitive Screen

    NISHIMURA Takahiro, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Transactions of Japan Society of Kansei Engineering   12 ( 3 ) 431 - 439  2013

     View Summary

    Recently, touch-sensitive screens have been used for various devices: smartphones, slate PCs, personal media players, etc. Specifically, tablet terminals with a touch-sensitive screen have spread rapidly in the fields of education, medicine, business, etc. However, it has been pointed that their operability is influenced by the difficulty in sliding a fingertip. This study is aimed at examining the influence of the surface condition of the display on the operability of tablet terminals. We measured the coefficients of kinetic friction between the tip of the forefinger and several screen protection films. Our measurements indicate that the coefficient of kinetic friction of anti-glare (AG) film was about one-third that of hard coat (HC) film. Then, we conducted an experiment using these films to evaluate the relationship between the surface condition of the display and the operability. The results show that the surface condition of the display influences the accuracy and speed of operation.

    DOI CiNii

  • 高年齢者を対象とした凸バーと凸点のエッジの曲率半径がそれらの識別容易性に及ぼす影響の評価

    豊田航, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    日本生活支援工学会誌   12 ( 2 ) 33 - 41  2012.11

    CiNii

  • 凸点の高さと先端部の曲率半径が携帯電話の操作性に及ぼす影響

    豊田航, 齋藤健太郎, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   78 ( 794 ) 3495 - 3503  2012.10

     View Summary

    Tactile dots (dot-shaped tactile symbols) placed on the operation keys of consumer products such as cellular phones contribute to improving accessibility for everyone, including persons with visual impairment. JISC (Japanese Industrial Standards Committee) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standardized tactile dots and bars. However, sufficient reliable data on the appropriate sizes and cross-section shapes of tactile dots and bars was not necessarily available. Therefore, more quantitative data for optimal dimensions of tactile dots and bars is required to revise existing standards and devise new standards. In this paper, we evaluated influences of the height (0.1, 0.3, 0.55 and 0.75 mm, without tactile dot) and the tip radius of curvature (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 mm) of tactile dots on the operational performance in cellular phones. 16 sighted younger participants, whose hand was covered by a curtain, were asked to operate cellular phones with a tactile dot on its key 5 and without tactile dots. As the result, both too high and low height dots are not effective to improve the operational performance of cellular phones and there is an appropriate range of the height of tactile dots regardless of the tip radius of curvature. Furthermore, participants performed better at a particular height with larger tip radius of curvature.

    DOI CiNii

    Scopus

  • 触知記号・浮き出し文字の識別特性

    土井幸輝, 藤本浩志, 和田勉, 佐川賢, 伊藤納奈

    バイオメカニズム   21   81 - 91  2012.08

  • 操作の仕方と凸点の高さが携帯電話の操作性に及ぼす影響の関係

    豊田航, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    バイオメカニズム   21   103 - 112  2012.08

     View Summary

    <p>In 2000, Japanese Standards Association standardized tactile dots and bars on consumer products for all people, including older people and people with disabilities. However, the numerical values for the size of tactile dots and bars were not determined on the basis of reliable data. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between input methods (the two-handed forefinger input and the one-handed thumb input) and the influence of the height of tactile dots (i.e., 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mm) on input performance when operating cellular phones. To analyze the influence of the height of tactile dots for each input method, we compared the results for the two-handed forefinger method from this study and that for the one-handed thumb method from our previous study. Normal sighted young and old participants, whose hands were covered by a curtain, operated cellular phones with a tactile dot on key 5 and other phones without a tactile dot. They operated the numerical keypad with the forefinger or the thumb while looking at 50 randomly ordered Arabic numbers one at a time. As a result of the experiments, both group of participants performed better with a tactile dot, rather than without it, using each input method, and they could operate more accurately and quickly especially in the case of a 0.3 mm high dot. On the other hand, by using the one-handed thumb method, the input performance deteriorated when the tactile dot was higher than 0.3 mm. However, by using the two-handed forefinger method, the input performance did not deteriorate as the height of the tactile dot was increased. This result was attributed to the differences in operating characteristics between one-handed and two-handed input methods.</p>

    DOI CiNii

  • 感触の異なる床仕上げ材による視覚障碍者歩行誘導設備の基礎的検討

    原利明, 小林吉之, 塩手大介, 藤本浩志

    リハビリテーション・エンジニアリング   27 ( 1 ) 31 - 37  2012.02

  • Influences of the edge radius of curvature of tactile dots and bars on their discriminability.

    Toyoda Wataru, Doi Kouki, Fujimoto Hiroshi

    Influences of the edge radius of curvature of tactile dots and bars on their discriminability.   41 Suppl 1  2012

     View Summary

    :Tactile dots and bars serve as tactile landmarks so that people with visual impairment can use same consumer products as those used by sighted people. However, reliable age-related data on the appropriate sizes and the shapes was not necessarily available. The purpose of this study is to evaluate influences of edge radius of curvature of tactile dots and bars on their discriminability in younger and older people to determine the appropriate size of tactile bars (as distinguished from tactile dots). Sighted younger and older participants tactually discriminated the tactile dots and bars presented individually, in random order, by a two-alternative forced-choice task. The results showed that both participants discriminated tactile bars from tactile dots faster and more accurately as the dimensional difference between bar length and width increased, regardless of conditions of edge radius of curvature. Therefore, longer dimensional difference between width and length of tactile bars is an important factor to discriminate tactile bars correctly. On the other hand, tactile dots with a larger edge radius of curvature have higher discriminability than tactile dots with a smaller edge radius of curvature in the case of dots of identical height.

    DOI

    Scopus

  • Influences of tactile-dot height and tip radius of curvature on the operational performance of cellular phones.

    Toyoda Wataru, Doi Kouki, Fujimoto Hiroshi

    Influences of tactile-dot height and tip radius of curvature on the operational performance of cellular phones.   41 Suppl 1  2012

     View Summary

    :Tactile dots located on operation keys of consumer products such as cellular phones contribute to improving accessibility for older people and people with visual impairment. The Japanese Standards Association (2000) and the International Organization for Standardization (2011) standardized tactile dots. However, reliable data on the appropriate sizes and the shapes was not necessarily available. The purpose of this study is to evaluate influences of the height (0.1, 0.3, 0.55, and 0.75 mm) and the tip radius of curvature (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 mm) of tactile dots on the operational performance of cellular phones in younger and older people. Sighted younger and older participants, whose hand was covered by a curtain, operated cellular phones with a tactile dot on its key 5 and without a tactile dot. As the result, both participants performed better at a particular height with larger tip radius of curvature. Furthermore, older participants operated better at high dots like 0.55-0.75 mm. In contrast, younger participants performed better at 0.3 mm and relatively poorly at 0.1 mm and 0.75 mm. Thus, comparatively high tactile dots are useful for improving the accessibility of products for the older and there is an appropriate height range for the younger.

    DOI

    Scopus

    1
    Citation
    (Scopus)
  • Influences of the Height and the Tip Radius of Curvature of Tactile Dots on the Operational Performance in Cellular Phones

    TOYODA Wataru

    TRANSACTIONS OF THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Series A   78 ( 794 ) 3495 - 3503  2012

     View Summary

    Tactile dots (dot-shaped tactile symbols) placed on the operation keys of consumer products such as cellular phones contribute to improving accessibility for everyone, including persons with visual impairment. JISC (Japanese Industrial Standards Committee) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standardized tactile dots and bars. However, sufficient reliable data on the appropriate sizes and cross-section shapes of tactile dots and bars was not necessarily available. Therefore, more quantitative data for optimal dimensions of tactile dots and bars is required to revise existing standards and devise new standards. In this paper, we evaluated influences of the height (0.1, 0.3, 0.55 and 0.75 mm, without tactile dot) and the tip radius of curvature (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 mm) of tactile dots on the operational performance in cellular phones. 16 sighted younger participants, whose hand was covered by a curtain, were asked to operate cellular phones with a tactile dot on its key 5 and without tactile dots. As the result, both too high and low height dots are not effective to improve the operational performance of cellular phones and there is an appropriate range of the height of tactile dots regardless of the tip radius of curvature. Furthermore, participants performed better at a particular height with larger tip radius of curvature.

    DOI CiNii

    Scopus

  • Influence of the Edge Radius of Curvature on the Discriminability of Tactile Bars and Dots

    TOYODA Wataru, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of Japan Ergonomics Society   47 ( 6 ) 252 - 260  2011.12

    DOI CiNii

  • エッジの曲率半径が凸バーと凸点の識別容易性に及ぼす影響

    豊田航, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    人間工学   47 ( 6 ) 252 - 260  2011.12

  • 人が知覚している足部位置と実際の足部位置との誤差の特性 -高齢者と若年者における傾向の比較

    長尾裕太, 小林吉之, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   77 ( 783 ) 4181 - 4188  2011.11

     View Summary

    To determine the effects of aging on the accuracy of perceived foot position, we conducted following experiment to 10 elderly and 10 young participants. Participants were asked to adjust the position of the target line as close as possible to either most medial or most lateral parts of their foot, while they wore a modified cape that obscured their view of their feet. Once they felt that target line was appropriately placed along the foot, the distance between the line and the foot was measured. No age-related differences were identified when they were asked to place the line along with the most lateral part of their foot. Both age groups tended to place the line 10-20 mm over the foot. However, the elderly displayed smaller errors than young when they were asked to place the line along with the most medial part of their foot. We also discussed the possible reasons that explain these features in the article.

  • 触知記号のエッジの明瞭性が識別容易性に及ぼす影響

    土井幸輝, 和田勉, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   77 ( 782 ) 228 - 237  2011.10

  • S153025 Effect of Braille Discriminating Assistive Tool on Braille Readability and Its Fabrication Approach

    DOI Kouki, NISHIMURA Takahiro, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Mechanical Engineering Congress, Japan   2011   "S153025 - 1"-"S153025-4"  2011.09

     View Summary

    Recently, Transparent-resinous-ultraviolet-curing-type Braille (TRUCT Braille) signs have been spread. However, it has said that TRUCT Braille reading is affected by the friction between forefingers' slipperiness to TRUCT Braille' readability. In previous study, for the purpose of decreasing this friction and enhancing TRUCT Braille readability, we invented a assistive tool of Braille Reading made by polyester non-woven fabric and found that old people with visual impairment wearing it enhances the reading speed and error rate of TRUCT Braille. However, we had to review its material and discuss the fabrication approach. In this study, we compared several materials with polyester non-woven fabric. As a result, we found that sateen weave fabric is better for assistive tool of Braille Reading because of its softness and slipperiness. And we invented fabrication approach of assistive tool of Braille Reading and made its test production.

    CiNii

  • Effects of Approaching Direction to the Obstacle Avoidance Movements

    Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Takeyuki Harashima, Hiroshi Izumikawa, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    Proceedings of the XXIIIrd Congress of International Society of Biomechanics    2011.05

  • Influence of the Sizes of Tactile Bars and Dots on Their Discriminability

    TOYODA Wataru, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    The IEICE transactions on information and systems (Japanese edetion)   94 ( 4 ) 694 - 701  2011.04

    CiNii

  • 凸バーと凸点の識別容易性に関する研究

    豊田航, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    電子情報通信学会論文誌D   J94-D ( 4 ) 694 - 701  2011.04

  • Feature of the Errors between the Perceived Toe Position and Actual Toe Position (Comparison of the Features between Elderly Participants and Young Participants)

    NAGAO Yuta, KOBAYASHI Yoshiyuki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    TRANSACTIONS OF THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Series A   77 ( 783 ) 4181 - 4188  2011

     View Summary

    To determine the effects of aging on the accuracy of perceived foot position, we conducted following experiment to 10 elderly and 10 young participants. Participants were asked to adjust the position of the target line as close as possible to either most medial or most lateral parts of their foot, while they wore a modified cape that obscured their view of their feet. Once they felt that target line was appropriately placed along the foot, the distance between the line and the foot was measured. No age-related differences were identified when they were asked to place the line along with the most lateral part of their foot. Both age groups tended to place the line 10-20 mm over the foot. However, the elderly displayed smaller errors than young when they were asked to place the line along with the most medial part of their foot. We also discussed the possible reasons that explain these features in the article.

    CiNii

  • Influence of Tactile Symbol Edge Clarity on Their Discriminability

    DOI Kouki, WADA Tsutomu, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    TRANSACTIONS OF THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Series A   77 ( 782 ) 3770 - 3779  2011

     View Summary

    Recently, many tactile guide maps have been installed at various public facilities with the enactment of "Barrier Free New Law". In tactile guide maps, some tactile symbols have been used for indicating some information items. Japanese Standards Association enacted Standardized Method of Displaying Tactile Guide Maps March 2007 (JIS T0922). Tactile symbols shapes are regulated by the JIS. However, other components of tactile symbol (such as edge, size etc) are unregulated because there are no sufficient research achievements regarding tactile symbols. In this study, for the purpose of investigating influence of tactile symbols edge clarity on their tactile symbols, we compared tactile symbols discriminability in two conditions with tactile symbol edge clarities (acute type (cutting method) and gentle type (screen printing method)). We made tactile symbol test pieces with various sizes by the two methods. And twelve older participants and twelve younger participants were asked to discriminate tactile symbol test pieces. From this study, we found the relation between tactile symbols edge clarity and discriminability of tactile symbols. It was also found that tactile symbols edge clarity influence on their discriminability when the size was particularly small.

    CiNii

  • Influence of the difference of Surface pitch on roughness sensation

    Inuzuka Tomoya, Egami Tatsurou, DOI Kouki, Fujimoto Hiroshi

    Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of Japan Ergonomics Society   47 ( 0 ) 248 - 249  2011

    CiNii

  • Influence of the Edge Radius of Curvature on the Discriminability of Tactile Bars and Dots

    TOYODA Wataru, SAITO Kentaro, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of Japan Ergonomics Society   47 ( 0 ) 170 - 171  2011

    CiNii

  • Feature of the Errors between the Perceived Toe Position and Actual Toe Position (Comparison of the Features between Elderly Participants and Young Participants)

    NAGAO Yuta, KOBAYASHI Yoshiyuki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    TRANSACTIONS OF THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Series C   77 ( 783 ) 4181 - 4188  2011

     View Summary

    To determine the effects of aging on the accuracy of perceived foot position, we conducted following experiment to 10 elderly and 10 young participants. Participants were asked to adjust the position of the target line as close as possible to either most medial or most lateral parts of their foot, while they wore a modified cape that obscured their view of their feet. Once they felt that target line was appropriately placed along the foot, the distance between the line and the foot was measured. No age-related differences were identified when they were asked to place the line along with the most lateral part of their foot. Both age groups tended to place the line 10-20 mm over the foot. However, the elderly displayed smaller errors than young when they were asked to place the line along with the most medial part of their foot. We also discussed the possible reasons that explain these features in the article.

    CiNii

  • Influence of Tactile Symbol Edge Clarity on Their Discriminability

    DOI Kouki, WADA Tsutomu, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    TRANSACTIONS OF THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Series C   77 ( 782 ) 3770 - 3779  2011

     View Summary

    Recently, many tactile guide maps have been installed at various public facilities with the enactment of "Barrier Free New Law". In tactile guide maps, some tactile symbols have been used for indicating some information items. Japanese Standards Association enacted Standardized Method of Displaying Tactile Guide Maps March 2007 (JIS T0922). Tactile symbols shapes are regulated by the JIS. However, other components of tactile symbol (such as edge, size etc) are unregulated because there are no sufficient research achievements regarding tactile symbols. In this study, for the purpose of investigating influence of tactile symbols edge clarity on their tactile symbols, we compared tactile symbols discriminability in two conditions with tactile symbol edge clarities (acute type (cutting method) and gentle type (screen printing method)). We made tactile symbol test pieces with various sizes by the two methods. And twelve older participants and twelve younger participants were asked to discriminate tactile symbol test pieces. From this study, we found the relation between tactile symbols edge clarity and discriminability of tactile symbols. It was also found that tactile symbols edge clarity influence on their discriminability when the size was particularly small.

    CiNii

  • アクセシブルデザインの理念に基づく日本工業規格 高齢者・障害者配慮設計指針-触覚的配慮

    土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    ヒューマンインタフェース学会誌   13 ( 4 )  2011

  • アクセシブルデザインの理念に基づく日本工業規格 高齢者・障害者配慮設計指針-触覚的配慮

    土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    ヒューマンインタフェース学会誌   13 ( 4 ) 185 - 188  2011

    CiNii

  • Development of Sound Device by use of Tactile Sense : Practical Use of Hardness Sensation on Human Forefinger

    DOI Kouki, NISHIMURA Takahiro, AKAHIRA Nina, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi, KANAMORI Katsuhiro, MINE Yasuhiro

    IEICE technical report. Education technology   110 ( 312 ) 37 - 40  2010.11

     View Summary

    In this study, we developed a sound tactile interface that makes use of the human sensation of hardness. The interface comprises eight elastic objects having varying degrees of hardness. Each elastic object is shaped like a column. When a teacher or a child presses each elastic object, different funny sounds are produced depending on the hardness of the elastic object. The types of sounds used were "Do Re Mi sounds" and "Animal call sounds." We can switch between sound modes using a wireless remote control. The interface has a major advantage in that both healthy children and handicapped children can play with it together. In this paper, we would like conference participants to experience this interface.

    CiNii

  • Effects of Approaching Direction to the Obstacle Avoidance Movements

    KOBAYASHI Yoshiyuki, IZUMIKAWA Hiroshi, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Journal of the Society of Biomechanisms   34 ( 4 ) 317 - 324  2010.11

     View Summary

    Present study focused on the effect of approaching directions for stepping over an obstacle. Ten young adults were asked to head towards an obstacle from seven directions (+60, +40, +20, 0, -20, -40, and -60 degrees), and step over it. In each trial, one of the three obstacles with different heights (25mm, 50mm, and 150mm) were placed. Participants repeated the movement against each obstacle condition 5 times for a total of 105 trials. Kinematics while the participants step over the obstacles were recorded using 3-D motion capturing system, and were compared using the following parameters among the conditions: toe clearances, step length, step width, and walking speed. The results revealed that the approaching direction to the obstacles does not critically affect the obstacle avoidance movement in regards to tripping, but may critically affect the movements in regards to loss-of-balance.

    DOI CiNii

  • 障害物に対してアプローチする方向が跨ぎ越え動作に与える影響

    小林吉之, 泉川浩, 藤本浩志

    バイオメカニズム学会誌   34 ( 4 ) 317 - 324  2010.11

  • Development of Production System of Tactile Guide Map Based on Accessible Design

    DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

      2010 ( 152 ) 15 - 18  2010.10

    CiNii

  • Development of 3D Enlarged Braille Model : Relationship between Braille Printer and Cross-section Shape

    DOI Kouki, WADA Tsutomu, KATAGIRI Mayu, TOYODA Wataru, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi, NISHIMURA Takahiro, SAWADA Mayumi, KANAMORI Katsuhiro, NAKAMURA Hitoshi

    IEICE technical report. Education technology   110 ( 209 ) 55 - 60  2010.09

     View Summary

    The feel of Braille and Braille readability vary according to the type of Braille output used. In this study, we have developed a model for measuring the 3D cross-sectional shape and size of Braille characters. We measured the sizes of Braille characters printed by three Braille output devices. These devices were made in three countries, namely, Japan, the United States, and Germany. We have also developed a tangible and 3D enlarged Braille model for understanding the relationship between a Braille output device and the 3D cross-sectional shape of the Braille characters outputted by it. This model was displayed at Braille-Big-Event to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille-the inventor of the Braille coding system. Over 200 visitors at this event could easily identify the difference in the 3D cross-sectional shape of Braille characters outputted by different Braille output devices.

    CiNii

  • Study of communication assistance for persons with physical disability by use of eye tracking device

    KANAMORI Katsuhiro, DOI Kouki, HATAKEYAMA Takurou, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    IEICE technical report. Education technology   110 ( 209 ) 23 - 26  2010.09

     View Summary

    When children who have the movement disorder try to operate the computer, the operation is difficult in a general keyboard and the mouse. Then, the scanning input with the equipment and the switch of an alternate key board and an alternative mouse have been applied. Then we studied of what kind of setting when communication assistance for persons with physical disability by use of eye tracking device.

    CiNii

  • 受動触によって生起されるベルベット感の実験的検討

    土井幸輝, 數藤貴, 藤本浩志

    バイオメカニズム   20   125 - 134  2010.07

     View Summary

    <p>Tactile sense is the third most important sense after visual sense and hearing sense. Recently, cognitive psychology studies on tactile illusions have gained attention because of the potential applications of such sensations in tactile displays and interfaces. In this study, we focused on a unique and interesting sensation called "velvet tactile illusion," and we examined the possibility of creating this illusion by passive touch. We investigated the relationship between some factors related to the creation of this illusion and the percentage of creating the illusion by passive touch. We then developed a device to evaluate the creation of this illusion by passive touch. This device can control factors such as line movement velocity, line diameter, and line distance that influence the creation of the velvet tactile illusion. Using this device, we conducted exhaustive tests for different values of these factors. In addition, we conducted an experiment to examine the influence of some factors on the creation of velvet tactile illusion by passive touch. The relationship between some factors related to the creation of this illusion and condition of creating the illusion was found. These data will be helpful data when we develop the new tactile display regarding velvet tactile illusion.</p>

    DOI CiNii

  • Influence of Type of Touching Motion on Hardness Sensation of Elastic Object

    TAKASE Sho, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Human interface   12 ( 2 ) 155 - 161  2010.05

    CiNii

  • 弾性物体への接触動作が硬さ感覚特性に及ぼす影響

    高瀬翔, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    ヒューマンインタフェース学会誌   12 ( 2 ) 155 - 161  2010.05

  • Influence of the Height of Tactile Dot on the Operational Performance of Cellular Phone(Mechanical Systems)

    TOYODA Wataru, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. C   76 ( 763 ) 690 - 695  2010.03

     View Summary

    In 2000, a new standard (Japanese Industrial Standard, JIS S 0011) was enacted in Japan. The standard provided the perceptual sizes of tactile dots and bars for use in consumer products. However, the numerical values about these sizes were not determined based on data reliable enough. Therefore, objective and quantitative data for perceptual sizes of tactile dots and bars is required for revising this JIS and for devising other standards. In this study, we focused attention on cellular phones becoming common around the world and evaluated the influence of the height of tactile dots (0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7[mm]) on the operational performance of cellular phone. In this experiment, each 20 sighted younger and older participants, whose hand was covered by a curtain, was asked to operate cellular phones with tactile dot on its key 5 and without tactile dot. Both groups performed better with a tactile dot than without it. However, with a dot height of 0.7mm, participants felt significant pain. We determined that there is an appropriate range of the height of tactile dot that improves the operational performance of cellular phones.

    CiNii

  • 凸点の高さが携帯電話の操作性に及ぼす影響に関する研究

    豊田航, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   76 ( 763 ) 690 - 695  2010.03

     View Summary

    In 2000, a new standard (Japanese Industrial Standard, JIS S 0011) was enacted in Japan. The standard provided the perceptual sizes of tactile dots and bars for use in consumer products. However, the numerical values about these sizes were not determined based on data reliable enough. Therefore, objective and quantitative data for perceptual sizes of tactile dots and bars is required for revising this JIS and for devising other standards. In this study, we focused attention on cellular phones becoming common around the world and evaluated the influence of the height of tactile dots (0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7[mm]) on the operational performance of cellular phone. In this experiment, each 20 sighted younger and older participants, whose hand was covered by a curtain, was asked to operate cellular phones with tactile dot on its key 5 and without tactile dot. Both groups performed better with a tactile dot than without it. However, with a dot height of 0.7mm, participants felt significant pain. We determined that there is an appropriate range of the height of tactile dot that improves the operational performance of cellular phones.

    DOI CiNii

    Scopus

  • Influences of Sizes of Tactile Dots and Bars on their Discriminability

    TOYODA Wataru, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of Japan Ergonomics Society   46 ( 0 ) 278 - 279  2010

    DOI CiNii

  • Property of hardness perception in case of touching double layer elastic object differing in thickness

    AKAHIRA Nina, OSHIMA Yoko, DOI Kouki, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

    Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of Japan Ergonomics Society   46 ( 0 ) 356 - 357  2010

    DOI CiNii

  • Flooring Materials with Different Physical Properties for Indicating Pathways to the Visually Impaired

    Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Toshiaki Hara, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    6th World Congress of Biomechanics Abstracts    2010

  • 土井幸輝,荻野愛実,和田勉,藤本浩志

    加齢がスクリーン印刷による触知記号の識別特性に及ぼす影響に関する研究

    ライフサポート学会誌   21 ( 4 ) 25 - 32  2010.01

  • Development of Tactile Map Production Device and Tactile Map with Multilingual Vocal Guidance Function

    Kouki Doi, Wataru Toyoda, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    ASSETS 2010: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 12TH INTERNATIONAL ACM SIGACCESS CONFERENCE ON COMPUTERS AND ACCESSIBILITY     255 - 256  2010  [Refereed]

     View Summary

    A tactile map is an assistive tool for visually impaired persons to obtain special information. As new barrier-free laws were recently enacted in Japan, many Braille signs and tactile guide maps have been installed in various facilities. Several production methods are available for tactile guide maps. Screen prints have become increasingly popular in Japan because they offer several advantages, including the fact that they can be printed together with visual characters. However, users have one major complaint: screen printing does not create lines and dots on tactile maps, thus necessitating improvement in screen printing performance. In this study, we developed a new tactile map production device as an alternative to screen printing devices. Also, a tactile map created by our method included a vocal guidance function based on users&apos; needs. We found that the finished-print performance and convenience of tactile maps improved considerably. This study will be useful in providing a new style for future tactile maps.

  • Foot Position Tends to Be Sensed as More Medial Than the Actual Foot Position

    Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Hiroshi Fujimoto, Kimitaka Nakazawa, Masami Akai

    Journal of Motor Behavior   41 ( 5 ) 437 - 443  2009.11

    CiNii

  • Influence of Aging on Discriminability of Tactile Symbols

    Kouki Doi, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    Proceedings of the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering 2009    2009.09

  • Research on the Perceptual Size of Tactile Dots and Bars

    Wataru Toyoda, Tsutomu Wada, Kouki Doi, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    Proceedings of the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering 2009     243 - 246  2009.09

  • Influence of Base Material of TRUCT Braille on Readability of TRUCT Braille

    Kouki Doi, Hiroshi Fujimoto, Tsutomu Wada

    Proceedings of the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering 2009     235 - 238  2009.09

  • 対象物の硬さに応じた指腹自体の変形の違いが硬さ感覚特性に及ぼす影響

    高瀬翔, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    日本感性工学会論文誌   8 ( 4 ) 1105 - 1111  2009.08

     View Summary

    When touching an object, the forefinger pad is deformed based on the hardness of the object, and we consider that slight deformation influences hardness sensation. To clarify the influence of deformation of forefinger pad on hardness sensation, we compared hardness sensation in two conditions with different deformation of the forefinger pad by the method of successive categories. Fourteen elastic test pieces with different hardness were evaluated by eleven subjects based on seven stages of hardness sensations (extremely soft, fairly soft, slightly soft, neither, slightly hard, fairly hard, extremely hard) for the conditions of direct touching of test pieces or touching using an acrylic plate. This results indicated that subjects were capable of perceiving slight differences in hardness within three categories (fairly soft, slightly soft, and fairly hard) for direct rather than indirect touch. Deformation of the forefinger pad based on the hardness of an object may thus influence hardness sensation when the hardness of an elastic object is classified into these three categories.

    DOI CiNii

  • Foot Position Tends to Be Sensed as More Medial Than the Actual Foot Position

    Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Kimitaka Nakazawa, Masami Akai, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    Proceedings of 19th International Conference of ISPGR(International Society for the Postural and Gait Research) 2009    2009.07

  • How Accurately People Can Discriminate the Differences of Floor Materials with Various Elasticities

    Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Toshiaki Hara, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    Proceedings of 19th International Conference of ISPGR(International Society for the Postural and Gait Research) 2009    2009.07

  • 点字のトライボロジー

    藤本浩志

    トライボロジスト   54 ( 6 ) 383 - 388  2009.06

  • 摩擦の異なる床仕上げ材間の識別容易性に関する研究

    原利明, 小林吉之, 蔵重由貴子, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   75 ( 754 ) 1705 - 1711  2009.06

  • 触知記号のサイズが識別容易性に及ぼす影響に関する研究

    土井幸輝, 小玉千明, 和田勉, 藤本浩志

    日本生活支援工学会誌   9 ( 1 ) 22 - 28  2009.05

    CiNii

  • 触知案内図のドットパターン及びストライプパターンの粗密感覚特性に関する研究

    和田勉, 土井幸輝, 天野真衣, 片桐麻優, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   75 ( 751 ) 1041 - 1046  2009.04

  • 点字ディスプレイの盤面の特性が点字の識別容易性に及ぼす影響

    土井幸輝, 萱島裕幸, 和田勉, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   75 ( 752 ) 1009 - 1015  2009.04

     View Summary

    Recently, environment that visually impaired persons are capable of getting electric information is being developed. By using Braille display, visually impaired can get various electrical information on network. Therefore, Braille display rapidly spread in the foreign and domentic country. However, when Braille display is used continually, the base material of Braille display becomes worn. It has been pointed out that Braille readers find it difficult to read Braille on worn base material which their forefingers cannot slide easily. In this study, to reduce this friction, we reinvent a thin low friction film cover on worn base material to reduce friction during Braille reading. And also we carried out a study to investigate influence of base material features of Braille display on Braille reading and the effect of its use. We compared the discriminability of Braille when covering two films with excessive and less kinetic friction on the base material. As the results, subjects could read Braille significantly faster and more correctly when less kinetic friction film (powder compounded film) cover was used on the base material. In short, by use of powder compounded film cover, we found that Braille readers' forefingers can slide easily and discriminability of Braille was improved. From this study, we suggest the covering less friction this film on Braille display with worn base material as method of being able to improve the discriminability of Braille.

    DOI CiNii

    Scopus

  • The influence of aging on perceptibility of tactile map symbols

    Kouki Doi, Tsutomu Wada, Hiroshi Fujimoto, Ken Sagawa, Masami Shinohara

    Proceedings of international conference of tactile graphics 2008     50  2008.12

  • Perception and discriminability of the human forefinger with textures in tactile maps

    Tsutomu Wada, Mayu Katagiri, Kouki Doi, Hiroshi Fujimoto, Ken Sagawa, Masami Shinohara

    Proceedings of international conference of tactile graphics 2008     32  2008.12

  • 紫外線硬化樹脂インクによる点字の識別容易性の向上

    土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    バイオメカニズム   19   221 - 232  2008.08

    CiNii

  • 短下肢装具設計過程における疲労評価手法

    嶺也守寛, 高嶋孝倫, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   74 ( 740 ) 132 - 137  2008.04

  • 平成19年度経済産業省委託 アクセシブルデザイン技術の標準化に関する成果報告書

    経済産業省,共用品推進機構    2008.03

  • How Accurate People Can Discriminate the Differences of Floor Materials with Various Stiffnesses

    Yoshiyuki KOBAYASHI, Rei OSAKA, Toshiaki HARA, Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems &amp; Rehabilitation Engineering   16 ( 1 ) 99 - 105  2008.02  [Refereed]

  • Polyester Non-woven Fabric Finger Cover as a TRUCT Braille Reading Assistance Tool for Braille Learners

    Kouki DOI, Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    Medical &amp; Biological Engineering &amp; Computing   45 ( 11 ) 1153 - 1159  2007.10

  • Toward the Accessible Society: a Commitment by Japanese Government

    Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    Proceedings of International Conference on 2007 Indusrial Technology Innovation (Minitry of Econoic Affairs, TAIWAN)    2007.08

  • Gait Analysis of Participants Stepping Over Tilted Obstacles

    Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Mine, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    ISPGR 18/2007 Program + Abstracts     150  2007.07

  • How Accurate People Can Place Their Feet?

    Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Mine, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    ISPGR 18/2007 Program + Abstracts     65  2007.07

  • 皮膚感覚特性の解明と触覚活用

    藤本浩志

    理化学研究所シンポジウム「幾何学教材と視覚障害者の立体認識」    2007.05

  • Influence of tactile symbol size on discriminability and dot-pattern texture for tactile guide map

    Hiroshi FUJIMOTO, Kouki DOI, Tsutomu WADA

    Proceedings of Workshop on Tactile and Haptic Interaction     96 - 101  2007.05

  • Aging effects on tactile perception for discrimination of figural representaions in tactile guide maps

    Ken SAGAWA, Masami SHINOHARA, Kouki DOI, Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    Proceedings of Workshop on Tactile and Haptic Interaction     102 - 107  2007.05

  • 高齢者・障害者配慮設計指針 -触知案内図の情報内容及び形状並びにその表示方法

    日本工業標準調査会(日本規格協会発行)    2007.03

  • 平成18年度経済産業省委託 アクセシブルデザイン技術の標準化に関する成果報告書

    経済産業省,産業技術総合研究所,共用品推進機構    2007.03

  • 平成18年度 車いす及び病院ベッドの国際標準案作成調査 報告書

    経済産業省,日本福祉用具・生活支援用具工業会    2007.03

  • 非線形有限要素解析による短下肢装具設計過程での可撓性評価方法

    嶺也守寛, 高嶋孝倫, 藤本浩志

    ライフサポート学会誌   19 ( 1 ) 17 - 22  2007.03

  • 平成18年度経済産業省委託 アジアにおける高齢者・障害者配慮標準化に関する国際規格共同開発事業 成果報告書

    経済産業省,今日用品推進機構    2007.02

  • ヒト足部の身体位置覚に関する研究

    小林吉之, 嶺也守寛, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   73 ( 725 ) 274 - 279  2007.01

  • 弾性物体を対象物としたヒトの指先の硬さ弁別特性

    千葉亮, 土井幸輝, 藤本浩志

    ヒューマンインターフェース学会論文誌   8 ( 4 ) 573 - 578  2006.11

  • 計測用装具を用いた痙性麻痺の歩容解析に関する研究

    嶺也守寛, 小林吉之, 高嶋孝倫, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   72 ( 722 ) 210 - 215  2006.10

  • 触知案内図の表示方法に関する標準化の取り組み

    藤本浩志

    リハビリテーション・エンジニアリング(リハビリテーション工学協会学会誌)   21 ( 3 )  2006.08

  • Polyester non-woven fabric finger cover as a TRUCT Braille reading assistive tool for Braille learners

    Kouki Doi, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    Proceedings of the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering 2006    2006.08

  • 視覚障害者誘導用ブロックが高齢晴眼者の歩行に与える影響に関する研究

    小林吉之, 嶺也守寛, 高嶋孝倫, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   72 ( 720 ) 234 - 239  2006.08

  • Influence of Base Material on Transparent-Resinous-Ultraviolet-Curing-Type Braille Reading

    Kouki Doi, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    Proceedings of 12th International council for educational people with visual impairment world conference   CD EA027   1 - 7  2006.07

  • Polyester non-woven fabric finger cover as improvement in Braille reading

    Kouki Doi, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    Proceedings of 12th International council for educational people with visual impairment world conference   CD EA026   1 - 8  2006.07

  • Gait analysis while stepping over tilted obstacles

    Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Mine, Hiroshi Fujimoto

    Transactions on IEA2006    2006.07

  • Influence of tactile-symbol size on discriminability and dot distance

    Kouki Doi, Mai Amano, Chisato Kodama, Hiroshi Fujimoto, Tsutomu Wada

    Proceedings of 9th Joint Symposium Ergonomics Society of Korea and Japan Ergonomics Society     548 - 551  2006.06

  • 傾いた障害物を跨いで越える際の歩容に関する研究

    小林吉之, 嶺也守寛, 藤本浩志

    バイオメカニズム学会誌   30 ( 2 ) 85 - 92  2006.05

  • 不織布製指サックを用いたUV点字の触読性評価に関する研究

    土井幸輝, 篠原聡子, 藤本浩志

    人間工学   42 ( 2 ) 70 - 76  2006.04

    CiNii

  • 印刷素材がUV点字の触読性に及ぼす影響に関する研究

    土井幸輝, 岩崎亜紀, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   72 ( 716 ) 216 - 222  2006.04

  • 平成17年度 福祉用具ライフサイクルマネージメントに関する調査研究 報告書

    経済産業省,日本福祉用具・生活支援用具協会    2006.03

  • 平成17年度 アクセシブルデザイン標準化の調査研究 成果報告書

    経済産業省,共用品推進機構    2006.03

  • Improvement in TRUCT Braille Signs Reading by Use of Polyester Non-woven Fabric Finger Cover

    Kouki DOI, Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    Proceedings of Tactile Graphics 2005     75  2005.12

  • Standards, Good Practice and a Future Research Agenda for Tactile Graphics and Maps

    Hiroshi FUJIMOTO, Lucia HASTY, Diane SPENCE, Jonathan ROWELL

    Proceedings of Tactile Graphics 2005    2005.12

  • Japanese Action - Standardization of Display Methods for Tactile Guide Maps for Buildings, Stations and Other Public Facilities

    Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    Proceedings of Tactile Graphics 2005     36  2005.12

  • ナイロン布を用いたUV点字の識別容易性に関する研究

    土井幸輝, 小田原利江, 林美恵子, 藤本浩志

    人間工学   41 ( 5 ) 282 - 288  2005.10

  • Assistive Techonology and Robotics

    Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    Italy-Japan 2005 Workshop -The man and the Robot: Italian and Japanese Approaches- (Embassy of Italy in Tokyo)    2005.09

  • Improvement in Braille Reading Using a Finger Cover

    Kouki DOI, Satoko SHINOHARA, Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    Proceedings of the International for Medical and Biological Engineering     75 - 76  2005.06

  • Study of Design Method of an Ankle-Foot-Orthosis

    Yasuhiro MINE, Takamichi TAKASHIMA, Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    Gait and Posture   21 ( supplement1 ) 13 - 21  2005.06

  • Gait Analysis While Stepping Over Tilted Obstacles

    Yoshiyuki KOBAYASHI, Takamichi TAKASHIMA, Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    Gait and Posture   21 ( supplement1 ) 8  2005.06

  • Effect of Tactile Ground Surface Indicators to the Gait of Elderly with Normal Vision

    Yoshiyuki KOBAYASHI, Takamichi TAKASHIMA, Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    Gait and Posture   21 ( supplement1 ) 116  2005.06

  • 平成16年度 福祉用具ライフサイクルマネージメントの標準化に関する調査研究

    経済産業省,日本福祉用具・生活支援用具協会    2005.03

  • 平成16年度 アクセシブルデザイン標準化の調査研究 成果報告書

    経済産業省,共用品推進機構    2005.03

  • Gait analysis of people walking on tactile ground surface indicators

    Y Kobayashi, T Takashima, M Hayashi, H Fujimoto

    IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NEURAL SYSTEMS AND REHABILITATION ENGINEERING   13 ( 1 ) 53 - 59  2005.03  [Refereed]

     View Summary

    Tactile ground surface indicators installed on side-walks help visually impaired people walk safely. The Visually impaired distinguish the indicators by stepping into its convexities and following them. However, these indicators sometimes cause the. nonvisually impaired to stumble. This study examines the effects of these indicators by comparing. the kinematic and kinetic variables of walking on paths with and without indicators. The results suggest that walking on the indicators causes extra movements of the lower extremities such as increased minimum toe heights during the midswing phase, increased peak hip flex moments, and increased peak hip heights. This study also suggests that a functional leg length discrepancy while walking on the indicators is one of the reasons for the extra movements of the lower extremities. Therefore, we designed a new recessed tactile surface to offset the differences of surface depth while walking on the path containing indicators, and found that the newly designed recessed tactile surface was effective in reducing the extra movements while walking on the path in which indicators were installed. These indicators may help both the visually impaired and elderly people with normal vision to walk safely.

    DOI

    Scopus

    34
    Citation
    (Scopus)
  • Study of Design Method of an Ankle-Foot-Orthosis

    Yasuhiro MINE, Takamichi TAKASHIMA, Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Machine Automation     89 - 94  2004.11

  • UV点字パターンの識別容易性評価に関する研究

    土井幸輝, 小田原利江, 林美恵子, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   70 ( 699 ) 300 - 305  2004.11

  • 高齢者・障害者等配慮設計指針 情報通信における機器,ソフトウェア及びサービス(第2部:情報処理装置)

    日本工業標準調査会審議(日本規格協会発行)    2004.05

  • 平成14年度 エネルギー使用合理化 在宅福祉機器システム開発助成事業 事後評価報告書

    経済産業省,NEDO    2004.03

  • 平成14年度・平成15年度(上半期) 福祉用具実用化開発推進事業(助成制度) 事後評価報告書

    経済産業省,NEDO    2004.03

  • 平成15年度 アクセシビリティ情報機器等の普及,支援策に関する調査 報告書

    電子情報技術産業協会    2004.03

  • 平成15年度 情報通信機器アクセシビリティに関する標準化調査研究 成果報告書

    経済産業省,電子情報技術産業協会    2004.03

  • 平成15年度 高齢者等福祉用ロボットの標準化に関する調査研究 成果報告書

    経済産業省,日本ロボット工業会    2004.03

  • 平成15年度 福祉用具ライフサイクルマネージメントの標準化に関する調査研究 報告書

    経済産業省,日本福祉用具・生活支援用具協会    2004.03

  • 平成15年度 アクセシブル・デザイン標準化の調査研究 成果報告書

    経済産業省,共用品推進機構    2004.03

  • 距骨下関節・距腿関節・MP関節・アーチを有するモデル解析

    高嶋孝倫, 藤本浩志, 垣花渉, 高西淳夫

    日本機械学会論文集C編   69 ( 688 ) 111 - 116  2003.12

  • 単純化された足部モデルによる足アーチの粘弾性解析

    高嶋孝倫, 藤本浩志, 高西淳夫

    日本機械学会論文集C編   69 ( 685 ) 173 - 178  2003.09

  • Effect of Tactile Ground Surface Indicators to the Gait of People with Normal Vision

    Yoshiyuki KOBAYASHI, Takamichi TAKASHIMA, Mieko HAYSHI, Hiroshi FUJIMOTO

    Proceedings of the 15th International Congress of the IEA    2003.08

  • 識別しやすい点字の形状に関する研究

    林美恵子, 鴨田真理沙, 藤本浩志

    人間工学   39 ( 3 ) 117 - 122  2003.06

     View Summary

    Braille is one of the most popular visual substitution techniques for the blind to get information. Recently it is becoming a problem that many blind people cannot distinguish Braille. This problem is caused by the small size of the dots therefore, it is difficult especially for beginners to read them. The characteristics of embossed dots that consist of Braille are different from each printer, and it has been known that those characteristics affect the legibility. In this study, for the purpose of defining various patterns of Braille on a sensory level, we examine three factors; the influence of the cross section shapes, height of the dots, and the distance between dots. The participants of this experiment are beginning Braille readers with normal vision. They were given discrimination tasks of Braille-like patterns defined by the combination of three factors mentioned previously. The results show that the effects of the height of the dots and the distance between the dots were different among the shape of cross section, so distinguishability is influenced by interaction of each other, providing helpful data for legible Braille pattern.

    DOI CiNii

  • 視覚障害者誘導用ブロックが晴眼者の歩行に与える影響に関する研究

    小林吉之, 高嶋孝倫, 林美恵子, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   69 ( 681 ) 86 - 92  2003.05

  • サドル高の低下がペダリング運動中の膝関節に及ぼす影響

    星川秀利, 藤本浩志

    日本機械学会論文集C編   69 ( 680 ) 244 - 249  2003.04

  • 平成13年度 ウェルフェアテクノシステム研究開発(京都) 成果報告書

    NEDO,立命館大学    2003.03

  • 平成14年度 アクセシビリティ情報機器等の普及,支援策に関する調査研究 報告書

    電子情報技術産業協会    2003.03

  • 平成14年度 情報通信機器アクセシビリティに関する標準化調査研究 成果報告書

    経済産業省,電子情報技術産業協会    2003.03

  • 平成14年度 高齢者等福祉用ロボットの標準化に関する調査研究 成果報告書

    経済産業省,日本ロボット工業会    2003.03

  • 歩行中のヒト足部におけるアーチ支持力 -力学モデルを用いた逆動力学解析-

    高嶋孝倫, 藤本浩志, 高西淳夫

    日本機械学会論文集C編   68 ( 672 ) 209 - 214  2002.08

  • 平成13年度 高齢者等福祉用ロボットの標準化に関する調査研究 成果報告書

    経済産業省,日本ロボット工業会    2002.03

  • 平成13年度 情報通信機器アクセシビリティに関する標準化調査研究 成果報告書

    経済産業省,電子情報技術産業協会    2002.03

  • 平成13年度 欧米諸国におけるアクセシビリティ標準等に関する調査 報告書

    ニューメディア開発協会,電子情報技術産業協会    2002.03

  • 大腿部に手をついて行う起立動作の解析

    横地義照, 藤本浩志, 木塚朝博, 横井孝志

    人間工学   38 ( 1 ) 54 - 62  2002.02

  • 矢状面における歩行中の足部内側アーチ形状変化

    高嶋孝倫, 肥沼武司, 藤本浩志, 高西淳夫

    日本機械学会論文集C編   67 ( 663 ) 143 - 148  2001.11

  • An Analysis of Upper Limbs Assisted Stand-up Motion

    Yoshiteru YOKOJI, Hiroshi FUJIMOTO, Takamichi TAKASHIMA, Takashi YOKOI

    Proceedings of the International Society of Biomechanics XVIII Congress (ISB2001)     110 - 112  2001.06

  • 平成12年度 海外における福祉機器開発制度調査 報告書

    NEDO,旭リサーチセンター    2001.03

  • 平成12年度 ウェルフェアテクノシステム研究開発(京都) 成果報告書

    NEDO,立命館大学    2001.03

  • 介助下における起立着座動作の下肢関節逆動力学解析

    藤本浩志, 木塚朝博, 横地義照, 横井孝司, 伊東元

    日本機械学会論文集C編   66 ( 650 ) 128 - 134  2000.10

  • 平成11年度 ウェルフェアテクノシステム研究開発(京都) 成果報告書

    NEDO,立命館大学    2000.03

  • 福祉機器開発研究におけるユニバーサルデザインのコンセプト -ノーマライゼーションの視点から-

    藤本浩志

    ヒューマンサイエンス(早稲田大学人間総合研究センター紀要)   12 ( 2 ) 23 - 27  2000.03

  • ペダリング運動時の下肢関節トルクにおけるサイクリストと非サイクリストの比較

    星川秀利, 玉木啓一, 藤本浩志, 木村裕一, 斉藤浩一, 佐藤吉朗, 中村好男, 村岡功

    体力科学   48 ( 5 ) 547 - 558  1999.10

     View Summary

    The purpose of this study was to compare the effect between cyclists and noncyclists of pedal rates on ankle, knee, and hip joint torque during pedaling exercises.Six male cyclists (CY) and seven male noncyclists (NC) pedaled at 40, 60, 90 and 120 rpm with a power output of 200W.The lower limb was modeled as three rigid segment links constrained to plane motion.Based on the Newton-Euler method, the equation for each segment was constructed and solved on a computer using pedal force, pedal, crank, and lower limb position data to calculate torque at the ankle, knee, and hip joints.The average planter flexor torque decreased with increasing pedal rates in both groups.The average knee extensor torque for CY decreased up to 90 rpm, and then leveled off at 120 rpm.These results were similar to NC.The average knee flexor torque in both groups remained steady over all pedal rates.The average hip extensor torque for CY decreased significantly up to 90 rpm where it showed the lowest value, but increased at 120 rpm.For NC, the average hip extensor torque did not decrease at 90 rpm compared with 60 rpm, and was significantly higher than CY at 120 rpm(CY:28.1±9.0Nm, NC:38.6±6.7Nm, p<0.05).The average hip flexsor torque for NC at 120 rpm increased significanly from 90 rpm, and was significantly higher than CY(CY:11.6±2.9Nm, NC:22.6±11.8Nm, p<0.05).These results suggest that it would be better for cyclists to select a pedal rate of between 90 to 110 rpm to minimize joint torque, and, as a result, reduce peripheral muscle fatigue.

    DOI CiNii

    Scopus

    1
    Citation
    (Scopus)
  • 平成10年度 医療福祉機器国際共同研究事業 調査報告書

    NEDO,医療福祉機器研究所    1999.03

  • 平成10年度 エネルギー使用合理化 在宅福祉機器システム開発調査 成果報告書

    NEDO,医療福祉機器研究所    1999.03

  • 動力義足による階段歩行支援 -ヒューマン・インターフェースの観点から-

    藤本浩志

    計測と制御(計測自動制御学会学会誌)   37 ( 1 ) 59 - 63  1998.01

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Books and Other Publications

  • 機械工学便覧 応用システム編(医療・福祉・バイオ機器)

    丸善(日本機械学会編)  2008.08

  • バリアフリーのための福祉技術入門

    オーム社  1998.09

  • 関節モーメントによる歩行分析

    医歯薬出版  1997.07

Research Projects

  • Establishment of Production Method reading Braille Learning Materials with Vocal Guidance Function and Evaluation of their Usability

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2019.04
    -
    2023.03
     

  • Evaluation of Easily Readable Display Method of Concave Dot Stimulation on Tactile Map and Visually Impaired Tactile Reading Action

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2019.04
    -
    2023.03
     

  • Establishment of display method of tactile guide maps based on human tactile characteristics for standardization of its display method

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2016.04
    -
    2019.03
     

    Fujimoto Hiroshi, WADA Tsutomu

     View Summary

    In this study, for the purpose of establishing display method of tactile guide maps based on human tactile characteristics for standardization of its display method, we could obtain objective empirical data regarding tactile readability of tactile guide maps. Concretely, we could investigate “Influence of intervals between border line and dot patterns on tactile guide map on its identification”, “Ease of identification of dot lines used in tactile guide maps” and “Relationship between tactile method and angle discrimination of tactile lines”. And also, we were able to provide producers of tactile guide maps such as research collaborators with our findings obtained through this study. In the future, we will try to produce tactile guide maps based on our this knowledge and evaluate the tactile readability to contribute to the spread of the tactile guide map with high tactile readability

  • Clarification of shape and size of tactile symbol based on accesible design

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2015.04
    -
    2018.03
     

    Doi Kouki, HOSHIKAWA YASUYUKI, WADA TSUTOMU

     View Summary

    In this study, list of tactile symbols based on accessible design were created and also easily their identification sizes were examined. Concretely, our research results about examination of original body soup tactile symbol were compiled for providing knowledge that will help in formulating similar tactile standards based on accessible design. A list of practical tactile symbol shapes in consultation with the visually impaired persons was created and their discriminability was evaluated for proposing new tactile symbol in the future. These knowledge will be helpful for discussing display method of new tactile symbol for visually impaired persons

  • The analysis of the role and its brain mechanism of motor imagery in motor skill learning

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2014.04
    -
    2018.03
     

    Kanosue Kazuyuki

     View Summary

    Personal difference in the ability of learning of new motor skill, especially that of diffifult action, is big. One of the reason of this is that motor learning involves not only gaining the motor action itself, but also having appropriate motor image of the action. In this research we analyzed brain activities during the process of motor learning under the hypothesis that motor learning is the process of interpretting motor images of objective third-person perspective into the motor images of first-person perspective. As results, it was suggested that at the initial stage of learning third-person perspective images are dominant and strongly related to the quality of motor performance, and as the learning progresses, first-person person perspective images become dominant

  • Development of device for inducing movement illusion by use of vibrating stimuli such as human elbow and evaluation of property of its illusion

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2014.04
    -
    2017.03
     

    Fujimoto Hiroshi, DOI Kouki

     View Summary

    In this study, for searching usefulness of illusory movement such as human elbow, shoulder and forefinger by vibrating stimuli, we developed a device for inducing the movement illusion. Concretely, we succeeded one small typed device for inducing the movement illusion with function to adjust arbitrary vibrating frequency. And also we conducted two psychophysical experiments to evaluate the property of its illusory movement such as human elbow, shoulder and forefinger. From these knowledge, we could indicate the possibility that the illusory movement were able to be applied to use in application field such as rehabilitation and virtual reality in the future

  • Establishment of Readable Raised Character Display Method

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2013.04
    -
    2016.03
     

    Fujimoto Hiroshi, DOI Kouki

     View Summary

    In this study, for acquisition of objective data regarding readability of raised character from both domestically and abroad, we conducted some experiments to investigate the readability of raised character. From this study, we learned a lot about fundamental knowledge of readability of raised character from our exemeriments. This knowledge will be useful in creating more effective tactile aids and revising domestic and international standards of tactile aids

  • Property of Hardness Sensation and Discrimination in Touching the Tip of Human Forefinger to Multi-Layered Object

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2011.04
    -
    2014.03
     

    HIROSHI Fujimoto, DOI Kouki

     View Summary

    Regarding identification of stiffness, it is very important for medical professions to gain the ability to detect human body stiffness because the ability influences on decision treatment policy. However, it is not easy to acquire the ability of palpation. And also young medical professions have to improve the ability of palpation. In this study, we are focusing on the ability to detect human body stiffness, property of hardness sensation and discrimination in touching the tip of human forefinger to multi-layered object was investigated. We made prototypes of stiffness and tried quantification of the ability to detect human body stiffness

  • Development of a Control Method of Assistive and Rehabillitation Robot to Induce Harmonized Movement of Whole Body

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2011.04
    -
    2014.03
     

    FUJIE Masakatsu, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi, KANOSUE Kazuyuki, WANG Shuoyu, TAKASUGI Shinichiro, KOBAYASHI Yo, ANDO Takeshi

     View Summary

    In the super-aged society in Japan, assistive and rehabilitation robots are now thought as promising ways to support elderly people. However, most of robots focus only on the target parts of the body and this focus makes the user's movement of the other body parts unbalance. In this research, the goal is to develop a control strategy which is able to harmonize the movement not only the target body part but also the other parts. We categorize the task to reach this goal as follows; (1)Development of a model to harmonize the whole body during using robots, (2)Optimization of the user's movement of whole body while performing activities of daily living,(3)Test movements of assistive and rehabilitation robots. We tried to develop several kinds of robots based on aforementioned three task

  • Evaluation of tactile perception about Braille, tactile guide map and tactile symbol

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2010.04
    -
    2013.03
     

    FUJIMOTO Hiroshi

     View Summary

    The purpose of this study is to clarify the characteristics of each sensation of touch needed to effectively display the tactile guide map, Braille, tactile symbol. We revealed the followings. (1) Discriminating characteristics and sensory characteristics of the area pattern to be used in the tactile guide map. (2) Relationship of readability of Braille and the spacing between Braille and area pattern. (3) Dimension of the tactile symbol useful for improving operation of consumer electronics products such as mobile phone. For tactile guide map, we examined the discriminated characteristics of area patterns, and as result, combinations of identifiable area pattern is revealed. Appropriate distance between the surface pattern and Braille became clear. For tactile symbol, such as the convex dot attached on No.5 key of mobile phone, appropriate height and curvature also became clear

  • 階段下端部の視覚障害者誘導用ブロック敷設法に関する研究(鉄道総合技術研究所)

    Project Year :

    2012
    -
     
     

  • Development of transport assistance robot adjusted to difference among individuals in motion and changes in environment

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2008
    -
    2010
     

    MASAKATSU G.Fujie, HASHIZUME Makoto, TAKASUGI ShinーIchiro, WANG Shuoyu, INOUE Takenobu, SANKAI Yoshiyuki, KAMATA Minoru, TAKANISHI Atsuo, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi, YAMAUCHI Shigeru, SUGIMOTO Noboru

     View Summary

    This study is conducted toward the standardization of the development method of transport assistance robot for elderly or disabled people adjusting to difference among individuals and changes in environment. Through the research of human modeling and development of various robots categorized according to the range of use, the methods for adjusting physical or cognitive difference among individuals and recognizing environment like obstacles are structured methodologically.

  • 無色透明な紫外線硬化樹脂インクを用いた触知図・点字に関する製作システムの開発とそれらの触読性評価に関する研究(国立特別支援教育総合研究所)

    Project Year :

    2009
    -
     
     

  • Development of technologies for older persons and persons with disabilities-Relationship between aging and tactile perception of human forefinger

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2007
    -
    2009
     

    FUJIMOTO Hiroshi, DOI Kouki

     View Summary

    The development of techniques to improve older and disabled persons' accessibility requires substantial data regarding the interactions between humans and objects. In this regard, there is a dearth of data on tactile perception. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the relationship between aging and perceptibility of tactile symbols. Our results showed that aging had major effects on the perceptibility of tactile symbols when the symbols were small in size. We also measured the fundamental properties of tactile sense, tactile pressure sensitivity, and tactile spatial resolution. Both tactile pressure sensitivity and spatial resolution worsened with aging. This knowledge will be useful in creating new relevant standardization guidelines for development of tactile aids

  • 皮膚感覚を用いたモバイル機器用ヒューマンインターフェースに関する基礎研究(情報機器関連企業)

    Project Year :

    2007
    -
     
     

  • 生体軟組織の硬さ知覚に基づく鍼灸における触診技術の定量的評価(筑波技術大学)

    Project Year :

    2007
    -
     
     

  • 皮膚感覚特性に関する基盤研究(独立行政法人産業技術総合研究所)

    Project Year :

    2006
    -
     
     

  • Study on Transparent-Resinous-Ultraviolet-Curing-Type Braille and tactile guide map for visually impaired

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2004
    -
    2006
     

    FUJIMOTO Hiroshi, DOI Kouki

     View Summary

    The purpose of this study was for proposing method of producing highly discriminable TRUCT (Transparent-Resinous-Ultraviolet-Curing-Type) Braille, providing TRUCT Braille with a discriminating assistive tool for Braille learners, and getting fundamental data to make a contribution to the establishment of Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) related to display methods for tactile guide maps.Regarding TRUCT Braille, we quantitatively examined the influence of 3 factors : i, e., Braille pattern (dot-distance, dot-height) ; base material and forefinger slipperiness, on discriminability of TRUCT Braille. Firstly, we found the basic TRUCT Braille patterns that are easy for Braille beginners to discriminate, and TRUCT Braille printing-conditions that have no influence on discriminability of TRUCT Braille. As some makers could refer to our findings in printing TRUCT Braille, the findings are fully evaluated. Secondly, it was found that the discriminability of TRUCT Braille is influenced by the forefingers' slipperiness and it becomes easier to discriminate them when Braille learners' forefingers are covered by plane-weaved nylon as their forefingers slide more smoothly. In addition, we produced a finger cover made of polyester non-woven fabric that allows the signals for identifying each dot easier to transmit through the interface material than through nylon. We also found that wearing polyester non-woven fabric finger cover enables the Braille learners to discriminate TRUCT Braille more efficiently. After some years, we may put into practical use this finger cover as TRUCT Braille discriminating assistive tool for Braille learners in Japan.Regarding tactile guide map, we examined the influence of tactile symbol size on their discriminability. The relation between each tactile symbol size and discrimination time became clear. This data might be helpful in efforts to derive a standardized method of displaying tactile guide maps. JIS enacted display methods of tactile guide maps in 2007 March. As JIS come up for review once every five years, we will continuously research tactile guide map usage. In this experiment, we used test-pieces made by a screen printing technique. We think that tactile symbol shapes other than these three shapes, methods of production and type of base material (such as paper, metal and plastics) will influence discriminability. Further research is necessary to investigate the effects of several factors on the discriminability of tactile symbols

  • Research on monitoring of physical and mental reserve capacities at home

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Project Year :

    2004
    -
    2006
     

    TOGAWA Tatsuo, FUJIMOTO Hiroshi, OGAWA Mitsuhiro, NIITSUMA Junko

     View Summary

    This project was an attempt to establish a method of monitoring physical and mental reserve capacities at home. A monitoring instrument, called multi-sensor logger, was developed for this purpose. It has two motion sensors, two acceleration sensors, an audio microphone, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, and an illuminance sensor. Two sets of multi-sensor logger were placed in a house so that difference in daily activities at different places could be monitored. For evaluation studies, a bicycle ergometer and a wearable body acceleration sensor (actigraph) were used to estimate the maximum level of physical activity, and we asked the subjects to record mental stresses occurred during monitoring. In the preliminary study, it was confirmed that the multi-sensor logger system works perfectly so that the feature of daily activity was clearly reflected on the obtained trend data, and the observed pattern of daily activity correlated well to the body acceleration data. Unfortunately, due to the resignation of an investigator, the progress of the project had delayed largely behind the initially planned schedule, and consequently, expected results to estimate reserve capacities could not be obtained yet even at the end of the assigned period. At present, the evaluation study in the home of isolate-living elderly is still continued, and it can be expected that the study will be completed soon. Although the obtained result is quite poor at present and thus we could not confirm the effectiveness of the monitoring method, the basic concept of this project is still reasonable and we believe that the attempt performed through three years was not insignificant

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Industrial Property Rights

  • 足具の底部構造

    藤本 浩志, 高嶋 孝倫, 高西 淳夫

    Patent

  • カーソル移動制御装置

    藤本 浩志, 山崎 健太郎

    Patent

Other

  • 人間科学部だからとい...

     View Summary

    人間科学部だからという訳ではありませんが,『ヒト』は汲めども尽きぬ奥深い研究対象だと考えています.主体である『ヒト自身』と,それを取り巻く『周辺環境(モノだけではなく他者や他者群も含む)』とをそれぞれサブシステムと見なせば,両者が統合されたトータルシステムは『人間・環境システム』と呼ぶことができ,人間に関する諸問題はこの枠組みの中に位置付けることができます.私自身の研究テーマとしては,両サブシステム自体に備わった機能の解明にとどまらず,それらの間のインタラクションを司る『インターフェース』の役割にも大いに注目し,その開発や評価も行っています.

 

Syllabus

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Sub-affiliation

  • Faculty of Science and Engineering   Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering

  • Affiliated organization   Global Education Center

  • Faculty of Human Sciences   Graduate School of Human Sciences

Internal Special Research Projects

  • 脳卒中片麻痺患者の感覚運動野の活性化を目指した運動錯覚現象のリハビリ応用への挑戦

    2018  

     View Summary

     四肢の関節運動に関わる筋肉の腱への振動提示により,関節が動くように感じる錯覚が生起する.本研究では,昨年度に引き続き,以下の課題を目的として研究を行った. (1) 前年度に開発した刺激位置固定方法の簡易化のための機構をさらに改良する. (2) 適用事例を継続的に増やしことによって,効果の評価を行う. 改良した装置を使用し,前腕屈筋の腱に振動刺激を提示し,手首伸展錯覚を生起の有無を確認した.その結果,実験参加者は自分で手首部分を装置の適切な位置に設置できるようになった.また錯覚生起率はほぼ100%,明瞭度と痛みも妥当な範囲に収まり,開発した装置によって明瞭な手首伸展運動錯覚が生起することが確認できた.

  • 脳卒中片麻痺患者の感覚運動野の活性化を目指した運動錯覚現象のリハビリ応用への挑戦

    2017  

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     四肢の関節運動に関わる筋肉の腱への振動提示により,関節が動くように感じる錯覚が生起する.本研究では,以下の課題を目的として研究を行った.(1)手首で錯覚生起可能な低負荷の刺激提示の方法を明らかにする.(2)刺激位置固定方法の簡易化および自動化のための機構を開発する. 開発した装置を使用し,手首伸展運動錯覚の生起を確認した.実験参加者には右前腕を装置に置いてもらい,前腕屈筋の腱に振動刺激を提示し,手首伸展錯覚を生起の有無を確認した.その結果,錯覚生起率はほぼ100%,明瞭度と痛みも妥当な範囲に収まり,開発した装置を用いて高い生起率で明瞭な手首伸展運動錯覚が生起することが確認できた.

  • 主成分分析によるロコモーティブシンドロームに関する歩行特徴の分析

    2015  

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     ロコモティブシンドロームとは,「運動器の障害により要介護になるリスクの高い状態になること」と定義され,健康寿命の延伸を目指して2007年に日本整形外科学会が提唱した新しい概念である.現在,ロコモティブシンドロームの評価は,身体の痛みや日常生活に関わる25項目の設問によって構成されるロコモ25と呼ばれる質問紙によって得点化され,その得点に閾値を定めることでロコモティブシンドロームの判定が行われている.これらの現状を踏まえて,個人ごとに客観的なデータに基づいたロコモティブシンドロームの評価が可能な手法の実現を目指した.本研究では判定に有効な定量的な指標の抽出を行い,有効性を検証した.

  • 層構造を成す対象物に対するヒト皮膚感覚の硬さ弁別特性の評価とその応用

    2009  

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     本研究室では,硬さ(ヤング率)の異なる弾性対象物(直径50mm,厚さ30mmの円柱形状)を多数製作し,それらを呈示刺激として,指腹で押し込んだ際の硬さ感覚特性を定量的に評価してきた.これらの成果を踏まえ,新たに,異なるヤング率の対象物を重ねた硬軟二層構造体の場合の硬さ感覚特性を系列カテゴリ法により定量的に評価することを目的とした. 呈示刺激は,7種類のヤング率の弾性体を4種類の厚さ(各々5,10,15,25mm)で作製し,上層5mm下層25mm(厚さ比1:5),あるいは上層10mm下層20mm(厚さ比1:2)になるよう組み合わせ呈示した.これを被験者は呈示刺激の中心を一度だけ人差し指の指腹で押し込み,その際に感じたままの硬さの感覚に相当するカテゴリ(「極端に軟らかい」「かなり軟らかい」「やや軟らかい」「どちらでもない」「やや硬い」「かなり硬い」「極端に硬い」の7 段階)で硬さ感覚を回答した.なお,本研究は本学研究倫理審査委員会の承認を得て行った. 各刺激に対する硬さ感覚に相当するカテゴリの割合を反応率とし,それを基に硬さ感覚の尺度値を導出した.実験の結果,上層の厚さが薄い場合には,上層のヤング率に対して下層のヤング率の違いが硬さ感覚特性に及ぼす影響が強くなることがわかった.特に上層の厚さが薄い5mmの場合には,上層のヤング率が異なっても同様の硬さ感覚特性の傾向が見られた.上層の厚さ10mmの場合には,下層のヤング率が硬さ感覚に及ぼす影響が限定的になり,上層が硬くも軟らかくも無いヤング率の場合には,下層のヤング率の影響を受けることがわかった.上層の厚さが15mm(厚さ比1:1)の場合には更に限定的で,上層のヤング率が7種類の内の中央の場合のみにおいて顕著に下層のヤング率の影響を受けることがわかった.以上の結果より,上層の厚さによらず下層のヤング率が硬さ感覚特性により強く影響を及ぼすような,上層のヤング率の範囲が存在することが示された.これは,この付近の硬さが指先で硬さを弁別しやすい領域にあるためだと考えられる.

  • 点字の属性が読みやすさに与える影響に関する研究

    2004  

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     視覚障害者にとっては,点字は最も一般的な情報メディアである.従来は基本的に紙を押し出して突起とした点字が主流だったが,近年は樹脂や金属等の様々な材料を用いた点字の技術開発が進んでいる.とりわけ紫外線硬化樹脂インクを用いたスクリーン印刷による点字の場合には,多様な対象物に印刷可能で形状パターンの変更が容易であり,さらに無色透明で製品の外観や下地の墨字印刷に大きな影響を与えないためユニバーサルデザインの観点からも,様々な対象物に印刷され急速に普及しつつある.しかしながら触読しやすさがどのような特徴に影響を受けるのかに関する研究がほとんど無かった.そこで本研究では,紫外線硬化樹脂製インクによる点字(以下,UV点字)の形状に関する特徴が読みやすさに及ぼす影響を定量的に評価することを目的として,実験を行った. 点字の形状特徴は,点の高さ,間隔で規定される.そこでこれらの特徴を任意に備えた点字を作成できる装置を開発した.点間隔はスクリーン(以下,版)に開ける穴の間隔でコントロールできる.他方,高さは版の厚さと穴の大きさ(直径)によって決まることを確認し,様々な直径の穴が開いた版を作成して刷り上がる点の高さとの関係を明らかにした.ある程度以上の高さの点を作成するために,二度塗りや三度塗りの印刷手法を確立した.また印刷したUV点字の形状を計測するために,非接触型のレーザー変位センサを用いた3次元形状を計測できるシステムを開発した.この方法によって実験に供し得る任意の間隔や高さのUV点字の印刷および確認ができるようになった. さらに,これら点の間隔や高さを任意に組み合わせて様々な形状パターンの点字を用いて識別実験を行い,読みやすい条件を検討した.この実験の結果,点間隔については2.9mm,点の高さについては0.4mmあれば十分に確信を持って識別可能であることがわかった.

  • 障害者のための情報機器アクセシビリティー支援システムに関する研究

    2000  

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     先進諸国に類を見ない急激な少子高齢化により、我が国では加齢や病気に伴って身体の諸機能に障害を持った高齢者が増加している。他方、昨今の情報技術の進歩により、情報機器の普及とそれに伴う依存度は今後もますます増大していくと考えられる。このような背景を踏まえ、高齢者の自立した日常生活や社会参加を支援する意味で、情報機器を操作する際のインターフェースの親和性の向上が望まれている。 パソコンに代表される情報機器を操作する際に、事実上スタンダードとなっているキーボードやマウスのみを入力インターフェースとして限定してしまうシステムによって、身体機能の一部が制限された障害者がハンディキャップを被ることになる。この問題は、身体残存機能に応じて様々な代替インターフェースを許容するシステム(以下、TAS;Total Access System)によって解決することが出来る。そこで本研究では、TASのコンセプトを提唱し、さらに実際に障害を持つ人に有用なシステムを開発しているスタンフォード大学の研究所とともに新たな代替入力デバイスの研究を行った。 脳血管障害等の病気により、片麻痺となった障害者は両方の手を使ってキーボードを操作することができない。また随意な側も頻繁にキー入力操作を繰り返すことにより腱鞘炎等の発症が報告されている。そこで片側の手のみで操作でき、さらに腱鞘炎の原因となるキー押し込み動作を伴わない力入力デバイスの可能性に関して基礎的な研究を行った。実験の結果、指先の力でも十分に入力信号として利用が可能であることが確認できた。また筋骨格系の特性から、指の組み合わせに難易の差があり、避けるべきパターンも明らかになった。 今後は、様々な形状のデバイスに対してこの指間の運動機能特性を評価し、片手入力デバイスとして、片麻痺の障害を持つ人のためのデバイスとともに、将来普及が予想されるウエラブルコンピュータの入力デバイスの可能性も検証していきたい。

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