A proposal of evaluation indices of single support object for living space assessment on achieving stable walks of elderly people based on balance recovery capability

Abstract

In order to assess living space for assisting stable walks by elderly people, this paper proposed an evaluation index for single support object which is calculated from four fundamental measures expressing capability of balance recovery corresponding to the support object, derived from the directionality of generative force by human’s upper extremity and the directionality of reaction force corresponding to the surface shapes of objects. Experiments were carried out to (1) obtain the parameters necessary to calculate the fundamental measures and (2) carry out organoleptic evaluation of the support objects. Compared to the results obtained in these experiments (1) and (2), effects of the indices were discussed, and an effective index among the four for evaluating the effect of the support objects was clarified and proposed. Assessment of sample support object using the proposed index was shown as a demonstration.