SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EMOTIVE SOFTWARE USABILITY

• US 20130132931A1
• Filed: 04/20/2012
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Tu, Peter, Bruns, Kirk Lars, Olivier, Christopher John, Das, Piali, Liu, Xiaoming
• Granted Patent: US 8,869,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/011 Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for emotive healthcare software usability. A method to improve software usability is described, the method comprising presenting a software application to a user. The method also including logging activities of the user with respect to the software application, wherein the logging includes recording the user using the software application, and wherein the activities include user action with respect to the software application and mouse location on a user interface displaying the software application. The method also including interpreting user emotion from the recording, and tracking an emotive index based on a combination of user emotion and user action with respect to the software application and mouse location. The method also including providing feedback based on the emotive index.

Claims

1. A method to improve software usability, the method comprising:

logging activities of a user with respect to a software application, wherein the logging includes recording the user using the software application and wherein the activities include user action with respect to the software application and mouse location on a user interface displaying the software application;

interpreting user emotion from the recording;

tracking an emotive index based on a combination of user emotion and user action with respect to the software application and mouse location;

providing feedback based on the emotive index.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing training to the user based on the feedback.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising tailoring a workflow for the user based on the feedback.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating modification of the software application based on the feedback.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein gaze detection is used to record a user'"'"'s gaze with respect to the user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback comprises a playback of a combination of recorded video of the user, gaze tracking of the user, and user action data in conjunction with log data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the feedback provides a combination of screen captures plus gaze representations, mouse movement shown as lines on a screen, emotive graph, and listing of action taken for review to identify one or more areas of frustration.

8. A computer readable storage medium including computer program code to be executed by a processor, the computer program code, when executed, to implement a method to improve software usability, the method comprising:

logging activities of a user with respect to a software application, wherein the logging includes recording the user using the software application and wherein the activities include user action and reaction with respect to the software application and mouse location on a user interface displaying the software application;

interpreting user emotion from the recording;

tracking an emotive index based on a combination of user emotion and user action and reaction with respect to the software application and mouse location;

providing feedback based on the emotive index.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing training to the user based on the feedback.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising tailoring a workflow for the user based on the feedback.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising facilitating modification of the software application based on the feedback.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein gaze detection is used to record a user'"'"'s gaze with respect to the user interface.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the feedback comprises a playback of a combination of recorded video of the user, gaze tracking of the user, and user action data in conjunction with log data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the feedback provides a combination of screen capture plus user gaze representations, mouse movement shown as lines on a screen, emotive graph, and listing of actions taken for review to identify one or more areas of frustrations.

15. A system to improve software usability comprising:

a processor;

an interface to display a software application to a user;

a logging mechanism to log activities of the user with respect to the software application, wherein the logging includes recording the user using the software application, and wherein the activities include user action with respect to the software application and mouse location on the user interface displaying the software application;

the processor to interpret user emotion from the recording;

the processor to track an emotive index based on a combination of user emotion and user action with respect to the software application and mouse location;

providing feedback based on the emotive index.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is to provide training to the user based on the feedback.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is to tailor a workflow for the user based on the feedback.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is to facilitate modification of the software application based on the feedback.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein gaze detection is used to record a user'"'"'s gaze with respect to the user interface.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the feedback comprises a playback of a combination of recorded video of the user, gaze tracking of the user, and user action data in conjunction with log data.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the feedback provides a combination of screen captures plus gaze representations, mouse movement shown as lines on a screen, emotive graph, and listing of action taken for review to identify one or more areas of frustration.