Evaluation of Orientation Performance of Attention Patterns for Blind Person.

Tactile walking surface indicators (TWSIs) are installed on footpath to support independent travel for the blind. There are two types of TWSIs, attention patterns and guiding patterns. The attention pattern is usually installed at the crosswalk entrances.

Advantages of Unstable Manual Wheelchair.

In this study, many test runs were conducted using experimental manual wheelchair on various floor surface conditions. In the result, operability of manual wheelchair would be improved by shifting the position of drive wheels forward.

Development of safety concept of electric wheelchair driving support system based on assessment of risk.

In this research, we pay attention to the electric wheelchair driving support. We look at the functional safety of the electric wheelchair. Based on intrinsically-safe electric wheelchair, we add driving support system to increase functional safety.

Effect of Tire Pressure to Physical Workload at Operating a Manual Wheelchair.

It is often experienced that low tire pressure of the wheelchair not only increases running resistance, but also reduces parking brake performance. In this study, the required driving forces for different tire pressures were experimentally measured and evaluated. It was indicated from the result that the wheelchair with proper tire pressure could be run with less workload of wheelchair-user.

Development of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Assessment Tools for Patients with ALS.

ALS patients usually use augmentative and alternative communication tools to communicate with other people, but the assessment tools, including the selection of an input switch, are very difficult to operate. In this study, we developed a novel device to measure the physical ability of patients to operate the input switch with a push lever. The study focused on the amount of pushing and the power required to operate the input switch, and the effectiveness was verified.

Walking Characteristics of Persons with Visually Impairment Crossing Intersections with Audible Pedestrian Signals.

The authors have been continuously researching tactile walking surface indicators and audible pedestrian signals used for crossing intersections. A pedestrian walks to the opposite side of the crosswalk using audible pedestrian signals. The position where the audible pedestrian signal is set up clearly influences the pedestrian's path.

Visibility of LED Blocks Mounted on Crosswalk Boundaries for low Visual Capacity.

According to the WHO, about 80% of visually impaired persons in the world are with low visual capacity. It is considered that LVs' safe independent mobility will be improved as employing Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSIs). In the night, guidelines for constructing warning blocks, a kind of tactile surface indicator, have not been well established.