Health management system for personal computer users
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system for monitoring and providing feedback to a user of a computer workstation, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing for accepting input of a plurality of user specific settings to the computer workstation;
providing for storing said plurality of user specific settings;
providing for monitoring a plurality of inputs of the user from at least one input device selected from a group consisting of a keyboard and a mouse, said plurality of inputs entered as a part of a work task of the user;
providing for determining a strain value, said strain value being a real-time value corresponding to a strain induced in the user by operating the computer workstation;
providing for determining whether a corrective action is required based on said strain value, said corrective action selected from a group comprising displaying a safe-tip, displaying an exercise, and scheduling a break; and
providing for taking such said corrective action if determined to be required.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring and corrective action system for computer users. The system monitors the real-time interactions of a user with a computer workstation'"'"'s keyboard, mouse, and video display unit to determine the strain induced in the user. The induced strain value also is based upon setting entered by the user indicating the users discomfort level, recovery level, and typing proficiency. The system provides feedback to the user to allow the user to modify behavior in order to reduce the induced strain. The feedback includes, in various embodiments, displaying safe-tips, displaying exercises, displaying real-time strain graphs, and forced breaks. The system also includes provisions for reporting induced strain levels and behavior patterns to others through electronic messages such as e-mail.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system for monitoring and providing feedback to a user of a computer workstation, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing for accepting input of a plurality of user specific settings to the computer workstation;
providing for storing said plurality of user specific settings;
providing for monitoring a plurality of inputs of the user from at least one input device selected from a group consisting of a keyboard and a mouse, said plurality of inputs entered as a part of a work task of the user;
providing for determining a strain value, said strain value being a real-time value corresponding to a strain induced in the user by operating the computer workstation;
providing for determining whether a corrective action is required based on said strain value, said corrective action selected from a group comprising displaying a safe-tip, displaying an exercise, and scheduling a break; and
providing for taking such said corrective action if determined to be required. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer system for monitoring and providing feedback to a user of a computer workstation, said computer system comprising:
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a keyboard for inputting text;
a mouse for interfacing with a graphical user interface;
a video display unit for presenting said graphical user interface to the user; and
a workstation having a processor and a memory component, said workstation in communication with said keyboard, said mouse, and said video display unit, said processor executing a process including monitoring a plurality of inputs of the user from said keyboard and said mouse;
determining a strain value, said strain value being a real-time value of strain induced in the user by interfacing with said keyboard and said mouse; and
determining whether a corrective action is required based on said strain value;
taking said corrective action if determined to be required. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. At least one computer programmed to execute a process for monitoring and providing feedback to a user of a computer workstation, said process comprising:
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providing for monitoring a plurality of inputs of the user from at least one input device selected from a group consisting of a keyboard and a mouse;
providing for determining a strain value, said strain value being a real-time value of strain induced in the user by operating the computer workstation;
providing for determining whether a corrective action is required based on said strain value; and
providing for taking said corrective action if determined to be required. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Computer readable media tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform a method of monitoring and providing feedback to a user of a computer workstation, said method comprising:
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providing for accepting input of a plurality of user specific settings;
providing for storing said plurality of user specific settings;
providing for monitoring a plurality of inputs of the user from at least one input device selected from a group consisting of a keyboard and a mouse;
providing for determining a strain value, said strain value being a real-time value of strain induced in the user by operating the computer workstation; and
providing for determining whether a corrective action is required based on said strain value. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method in a computer system for monitoring and providing feedback to a user of a computer workstation, comprising the steps of:
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determining a strain induced by working at the computer workstation by monitoring a plurality of inputs from the user, said plurality of inputs entered as a part of a work task of the user;
presenting an exercise to the user for reducing said strain, said step of presenting said exercise occurring when said strain is above a first specified value, presenting a warning to the user for reducing said strain, said step of presenting said warning occurring when said strain is above a second specified value and below said first specified value, said second specified value being less than said first specified value; and
presenting a display to the user of one of a plurality of safe-tips, said step of presenting said display occurring when said strain is above a third specified value and below said second specified value, said third specified value being less than said second specified value. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification