Method of managing and preventing the onset of computer and sedentary work related fatigue

• US 20070017531A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jennifer Astbury, Simon Large, Sophie Large
• Original Assignee: William Large
• Inventors: Large, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,481,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/24 Computer workstation operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0244 with signalling or indicating means, e.g. of incorrect posture, for deep-breathing exercises

Abstract

A microprocessor implemented method of managing and preventing the onset of computer related fatigue, the method comprising the steps of: providing a user; determining when the user begins fatigue inducing activities to provide a start time; requiring an anti-fatigue break for a predetermined anti-fatigue time period after the start time; disengaging the user through a staged process sequence; and preventing the user from being able to perform the fatigue inducing activities for a predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

Claims

1. A microprocessor implemented method of managing and preventing the onset of computer and sedentary work related fatigue, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a user;

determining when said user begins fatigue inducing activities to provide a start time;

requiring an anti-fatigue break for a predetermined anti-fatigue time period after said start time;

disengaging said user through a staged process sequence;

preventing said user from being able to perform said fatigue inducing activities for a predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of preventing said user from being able to perform said fatigue inducing activities is comprised of the step of blocking said user from using said computer.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of preventing said user from being able to perform said fatigue inducing activities is comprised of the step of cognitively and voluntarily impeding said user from using said computer.

4. A method as in claim 2, wherein said step of blocking said user is set according to an administrator.

5. A method as in claim 3, wherein said step of cognitively and voluntarily impeding said user is set according to an administrator.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of disengaging said user is a three stages process consisting of stage one, stage two and stage three, wherein said stage one is “

Cognitive De-coupling”

from the work task and is followed by said stage two, wherein stage two consisting of cognitive assignment to a counter fatigue activity and stage three consisting of engaging in cognitive relief for a period of relaxation that allows for the counter fatigue measures to maximize their impact.

7. A method as in claim 6, further comprising the step of repeating said stage one at intermittent times between said anti-fatigue breaks.

8. A method as in claim 6, wherein said stage one further comprises the steps of:

Disabling said users keyboard until said user clicks their mouse button.

9. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing aromatherapy during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein said step of providing aromatherapy is through an air freshener in communication with said computer.

11. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing an ionizer during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

12. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing at least one non task related stimulus during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein said stimulus is selected from the group consisting of heat, vibration, blown air, low voltage electricity and acupuncture.

14. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing auditory stimuli during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein said auditory stimuli is selected from the group consisting of natural sounds, electronic sounds, origination sounds, music, oration, an online book, text to speech reading.

16. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a read-only lock on said computer during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

17. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing email delivery to said user only during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

18. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a breathing reminder to said user during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

19. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing at least one visual stimuli during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

20. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a series of stimuli during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period, wherein said stimuli is selected from the group consisting sensory, visual, olfactory and auditory stimuli.

21. A method as in claim 20, further comprising the step of:

wherein said series of stimuli is user specific.

22. A method as in claim 1, wherein said predetermined anti-fatigue time period is set according to the fatigue state of the activity being performed by said user.

23. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing information including warning, advice or instruction delivery to said user during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

24. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing an advertisement message delivery to said user during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

25. A method as in claim 24, such advertisement or promotion being changed or updated by connection to a separate and remote source of such advertising material that would be interrogated from time to time.

26. A method as in claim 9, wherein said step of providing aromatherapy is selected according to an image displayed during said anti-fatigue break.

27. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

holding all phone calls during said anti-fatigue break.

28. A method as in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is selected from the group consisting of computer, pda, palm pilot, telephone, and blackberry.

29. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining the posture of the user; and

providing said predetermined anti-fatigue time period according to said posture.

30. A microprocessor implemented method of managing and preventing the onset of computer and sedentary work related fatigue, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a user;

determining the posture of the user;

providing a predetermined anti-fatigue time period according to said posture;

determining when said user begins fatigue inducing activities to provide a start time;

requiring an anti-fatigue break for said predetermined anti-fatigue time period after said start time;

disengaging said user through a three staged process sequence of stage one, stage two and stage three, wherein said stage one is “

Cognitive De-coupling”

from the work task and is followed by said stage two, wherein stage two consisting of cognitive assignment to a counter fatigue activity and stage three consisting of engaging in cognitive relief for a period of relaxation that allows for the counter fatigue measures to maximize their impact;

preventing said user from being able to perform said fatigue inducing activities for a predetermined anti-fatigue time period; and

providing aromatherapy during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period; and

providing at least one non task related stimulus during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

31. A method as in claim 30, wherein said step of preventing said user from being able to perform said fatigue inducing activities is comprised of the step of blocking said user from using said computer.

32. A method as in claim 30, wherein said step of preventing said user from being able to perform said fatigue inducing activities is comprised of the step of cognitively and voluntarily impeding said user from using said computer.

33. A method as in claim 30, further comprising the step of repeating said stage one at intermittent times between said anti-fatigue breaks.

34. A method as in claim 30, wherein said step of providing aromatherapy is through an air freshener in communication with said computer.

35. A method as in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

providing an ionizer during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

36. A method as in claim 30, wherein said stimulus is selected from the group consisting of heat, vibration, blown air, low voltage electricity and acupuncture.

37. A method as in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

providing auditory stimuli during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

38. A method as in claim 37, wherein said auditory stimuli is selected from the group consisting of natural sounds, electronic sounds, origination sounds, music, oration, an online book, text to speech reading.

39. A method as in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

providing a read-only lock on said computer during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

40. A method as in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

providing email delivery to said user only during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

41. A method as in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

providing a series of stimuli during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period, wherein said stimuli is selected from the group consisting sensory, visual, olfactory and auditory stimuli.

42. A method as in claim 41, further comprising the step of:

wherein said series of stimuli is user specific.

43. A method as in claim 30, wherein said predetermined anti-fatigue time period is set according to the fatigue state of the activity being performed by said user.

44. A method as in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

providing an advertisement message delivery to said user during said predetermined anti-fatigue time period.

45. A method as in claim 30, such advertisement or promotion being changed or updated by connection to a separate and remote source of such advertising material that would be interrogated from time to time.

46. A method as in claim 30, wherein said step of providing aromatherapy is selected according to an image displayed during said anti-fatigue break.

47. A method as in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

holding all phone calls during said anti-fatigue break.

48. A method as in claim 30, wherein said microprocessor is selected from the group consisting of computer, pda, palm pilot, telephone, and blackberry.

49. A method as in claim 30, wherein said stage one further comprises the steps of:

disabling said users keyboard until said user clicks their mouse button.