COMPUTER USER ALERTNESS MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20130243208A1
• Filed: 03/19/2012
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mark Fawer
• Original Assignee: Mark Fawer
• Inventors: Fawer, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US13/423,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20130243208A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times

Abstract

The invention relates to computer based user alertness monitoring systems for detecting and alleviating user fatigue. A computer-implemented automated system and method for detecting and reducing user fatigue is provided. The invention detects user alertness based on user dexterity using computer input devices and remedies a fatigued state by implementing visual, tactile and/or aural stimuli. Compensation mechanisms for increased ambient temperature and noisy environments are also presented.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented automated system for detecting and reducing user fatigue comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one data storage memory for storing a set of programming instructions and user performance metric information;

at least one information input device;

at least one information output device;

at least one communication channel connecting said processor and said data storage memory;

at least one communication channel connecting said processor and said at least one information input device;

at least one communication channel connecting said processor and said at least one information output device;

wherein said computer-implemented automated system evaluates user fatigue based on said set of programming instructions and said user performance metric information.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a keyboard, a computer mouse, a joystick device or a touch screen device.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said output device comprises at least one of a loudspeaker, a headphone, a transducer or a visual display.

4. A method for detecting user fatigue comprising:

specifying a nominal user performance metric for an input device;

storing said nominal user performance metric in a data storage memory;

monitoring a real-time user performance of said input device;

comparing said nominal user performance with said real-time user performance of said input device; and

alerting said user if said real-time performance is less than said nominal performance of said input device;

wherein said real-time user performance less than said nominal user performance indicates user fatigue.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein said input device comprises a keyboard, a computer mouse, a joystick device, or a touch screen device.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said nominal and real-time user performance metric comprises at least one of:

a number of keystrokes typed on a keyboard per time period,

a number of touches on a touch screen per time period,

a number of movement cycles of a computer mouse per time period,

a number of switch activations on a computer mouse per time period,

a number of movement cycles of a joystick device per time period,

a number of switch activations of a joystick device per time period, wherein a single movement cycle comprises a reposition from a beginning stationary position in a 3-dimensional space and passing through at least one different location in a 3-dimensional space and ending at a stationary position in an ending 3-dimensional space.

7. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein said output device comprises at least one of a loudspeaker, a headphone, a transducer or a visual display.

8. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said alerting comprises at least one of audio signal communication, a tactile signal communication, or visual signal communication.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said audio signal communication comprises at least one of:

emitting an audible sound for a predetermined duration, or

increasing output volume of already operational audio signals for a predetermined duration.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said visual signal communication comprises selecting and displaying for a predetermined duration, an alternative video display resolution chosen from a group of compatible resolutions.

11. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said visual signal communication comprises selecting and displaying for a predetermined duration, a moving or stationary banner image.

12. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said alerting is prematurely terminated by human induced deactivation.

13. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said audio signal communication is adjusted by:

measuring a nominal ambient noise volume level for a user environment using a sound level measuring device; and

increasing the audio volume of said audio signal communication by said nominal ambient noise volume level.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein said sound level measuring device comprises one of a sound level meter, or a microphone enabled with programming instructions for measuring sound level.

15. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein:

said nominal user performance metric is adjusted by an ambient temperature offset value calculated from a temperature measurement using a temperature sensing device.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said temperature sensing device comprises a thermometer enabled to communicate with temperature recording software on a computer.