Establishment of fabrication method for skin models that can be adjusted to any stiffness and development of stiffness identification learning kits

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K21804
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 9:Education and related fields
• Research Institution: National Institute of Special Needs Education
• Principal Investigator: Doi Kouki 独立行政法人国立特別支援教育総合研究所, 情報・支援部, 主任研究員 (10409667)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 西村 崇宏 独立行政法人国立特別支援教育総合研究所, 研修事業部, 研究員 (70733591)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 硬さ / 識別 / 皮膚モデル / 学習キット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the physical therapy courses of special needs schools for the visually impaired that train massage, and shiatsu practitioners, students are trained in basic techniques such as rubbing (kneading) and pressing (squeezing) while acting as both the practitioner and the receiver. Since the stiffness of tissues such as skin and muscles vary depending on the patient and the area, it is not easy to master the techniques of touch, and there is a need for the development of effective learning kits in the field of education. In this study, a skin model with adjustable stiffness was fabricated, and a stiffness identification learning kit equipped with a function to confirm stiffness information by voice was developed using this skin model as a contact object.

Free Research Field

人間工学　感性工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は，臨床現場から切望されている硬さ調整可能な皮膚モデル製作法の確立に挑戦し，硬さ識別学習キットの開発を目指したものである．本研究成果を今後，当該領域の硬さ識別学習の促進のための礎として活かしていければと考えている．また，音声フィードバックを備えて，なおかつ硬さを様々にコントロールすることができるインタフェースは，視覚障害支援の領域において，新たな用途展開としても大きな可能性をもつ意義のある研究成果を提供することができる．