SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PROVIDE CAREER COUNSELING AND MANAGEMENT USING BIOFEEDBACK

• US 20110015497A1
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Eggenberger, Christian, Schindler, Andreas Johannes, Malkin, Peter Kenneth, Mersereau, Jeffrey William
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/167 Personality evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/105 Human resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

An apparatus and method for measuring a person'"'"'s biometric data as well as associated data and for using that data to determine the person'"'"'s talents and well-being state, as well as predicting an optimal career path for the person. Biometric data is measured using a sensor, a memory configured to store the biometric signals, a database configured to store and retrieve profiles, and a processor configured to compare biometric data as well as associated data with anonymous profiles stored in the database and create a profile for the person.

Claims

1. A system for creating profiles composed of biometric data as well as associated data comprising:

a sensor configured to measure a person'"'"'s biometric signals;

memory configured to store the biometric signals;

a database configured to store and retrieve profiles; and

a processor configured to compare biometric data and its associated data to a plurality of profiles stored in the database and to evaluate at least one personality characteristic of the person based on correlations with the plurality of stored profiles.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the measured biometric data includes Heart Rate Variability data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the measured biometric data includes skin conductivity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the measured biometric data includes brainwaves.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the measured biometric data includes blood sugar levels.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the database includes a knowledge management system where at least one of competency, associated well-being state, and an associated performance rating of a plurality of users are stored.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor includes an alert mechanism which is triggered when a mismatch occurs between a given person'"'"'s biometric data and a job role.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor, memory, database, and processor are contained within a single, self-contained device that is small enough to be worn under a user'"'"'s clothing.

9. A method for determining an optimal job for a given user comprising:

creating a profile for a given user using a sensor to collect biometric data, the profile including the user'"'"'s physical and mental characteristic traits as well as associated data;

correlating the user'"'"'s profile with a plurality of known profiles using a processor to determine job roles with a high probability of good performance and health for the user; and

matching the given user to a job role based upon the given user'"'"'s profile.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the biometric data includes Heart Rate Variability information.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic traits include at least one competency.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic traits include the given user'"'"'s well-being state.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the information to determine the characteristic traits and the matching job role are retrieved from a knowledge management system where the characteristic traits and the associated performance rating of a significant number of users are stored.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein a competency includes information about personal characteristics such as motives, traits, self-image, social role, and information about the skills and knowledge of a user.

15. A computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable program code when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the method of claim 9.

16. A method for determining a career path for a given user comprising:

creating a profile for a given user using a sensor to collect biometric data;

matching the profile of the given user with current and historical profiles of users in an optimal well-being state with favorable performance ratings in a career; and

generating potential career paths for the given user which anticipate favorable performance ratings and an optimal well-being state using a processor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the measured biometric data includes Heart Rate Variability.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising making recommendations by an advisor to the given user regarding measures the user has to take in order to make short-term, mid-term, and long-term advancements on the generated career paths.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the recommendation regards tasks, open positions, well-being activities and learning activities which are appropriate for the progression of the given user along the potential career paths.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the performance and well-being state of the person is periodically monitored with respect to a chosen career path.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the system generates a list of solutions as soon the performance information and well-being information indicate an abnormality from the chosen career path.

22. A computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable program code when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the method of claim 16.