Measuring and processing data in reaction to stimuli

• US 6,228,038 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Object Software Modules N.V.
• Original Assignee: Eyelight Research N.V.
• Inventors: Claessens, Dominique Paul Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/155,594
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/595, 600/558, 351/210
• US Class Current: 600/558
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons

Abstract

Method and device for collecting and processing stimuli data and measuring the reactions to them, in which the physiological reactions of respondents to the stimuli presented, or components thereof, are measured automatically and are recorded in one or more computer systems. Recorded data, stimuli data, whether or not in combination with respondent data, are automatically processed, e.g. in central units, to interpretable results which, stored in a database, a relational database for example, are accessible to anyone under certain conditions.

Claims

1. A method of collecting and processing stimuli data and random check survey data and presenting stimuli to respondents, comprising the steps of:

presenting said stimuli to respondents,

measuring and recording the physiological reactions to said presented stimuli with several systems, said respondents, said stimuli, and components of said systems moving in relation to each other and being brought into spatial synchronization with each other per unit time, regardless of dimensions and movements of said respondents, said stimuli, and said components of said systems,

presenting said stimuli in large quantities,

processing said data to interpretable results, and

storing said processed data in a searchable database.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measurements are performed at a number of spaced apart locations and the recorded data are processed in central units.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein clock times are applied instead of fixed geographical references, said time being the fixed reference for measurements, calculations and processing.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the physiological reactions occur in at least one of the respondent'"'"'s head, the respondent'"'"'s eyes, and the reflections at the respondent'"'"'s cornea, and said components of said systems include at least one of radiation sources, mirrors and sensors.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein data concerning 3-dimensional position, orientation and movements of a respondent'"'"'s head, a distance between a respondent'"'"'s head, eyes and stimuli, and changes therein in time are related to the stimuli data, so that dynamically and for each measuring instance the method determines which stimuli are visible to what extent and which parts thereof are actually within a visual range of the respondents.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein data concerning a position of a respondent'"'"'s head, a position of a respondent'"'"'s eyes, reflections at a respondent'"'"'s cornea, a position of a respondent'"'"'s pupil and viewing direction are related to the stimuli data so that dynamically and for each measuring instance the method determines on what stimulus element the eye center of a respondent is focused.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interpretable results realized by data processing concern stimuli performance aspects and respondent performance aspects.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring and recording steps are accomplished by at least one of sensors for measuring physiological data, radiation sources, push buttons, interactive push buttons, touch screens, interactive touch screens and signal givers.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of presenting said stimuli in large quantities is accomplished by means of computer-controlled programs for showing still and moving images on displays in combination with sound, in which the programs present stimuli in a certain sequence, depending on conditions.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the programs adapt depending on the physiological reactions of the respondents.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the programs adapt depending on stored personal data.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein computer systems provide for coordination between presentations, recordings and adaptations of presentation programs, employing relatable time bases.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the relatable time bases comprise synchronizable time bases.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the relatable time bases comprise a common time basis.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein, during stimuli presentation programs, each time after certain time intervals, an adjustment to the respondent is checked and possible deviations are automatically corrected.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of presenting stimuli to respondents is accomplished by presenting stimuli in the form of at least one of printed matter, products in 3-D, and designs.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising, prior to the step of presenting stimuli to respondents, positioning the stimuli on a table.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising, prior to the step of presenting stimuli to respondents, fixing the stimuli in a fixed position.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising determining 3-dimensional positions and rotations of the stimuli per unit of time and using the 3-dimensional positions and rotations for spatial synchronization of elements of the measurement arrangement.

20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising determining spatial orientation and shape of the stimuli per unit of time and using the 3-dimensional positions and rotations for spatial synchronization of elements of the measurement arrangement and for correction.

21. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of recording and identifying presented stimuli by means of computer-controlled sensor systems.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein information about 3-dimensional position, orientation and movements of a respondent'"'"'s head and about a distance between the respondent'"'"'s head and stimuli, and changes therein in time, are determined per unit of time.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein information about 3-dimensional position, orientation and movements of a respondent'"'"'s head, a distance between a respondent'"'"'s head, eyes and stimuli, positions of a respondent'"'"'s eyes, positions of a respondent'"'"'s eyes in the eye sockets, positions of a respondent'"'"'s pupils and reflections at a respondent'"'"'s cornea, and changes therein in time are determined per unit time, and the information is used for spatial synchronization of elements of the measurement arrangement.

24. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of measuring eye activity, such that at least one eye is irradiated with directional radiation by means of moving radiation sources, and recording the eve activity with recording elements that are connected to the systems.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein movement of pupils and their centers is measured with regard to each measuring instance in relation to images of radiation sources on a cornea, and viewing directions of an eye are determined from the relative positions of the images in relation to the pupils.

26. The method according to claim 1, wherein the physiological reactions of respondents are measured and recorded per unit of time, the physiological reactions comprising at least one of the physiognomy, blood pressure, heartbeat, respiration, muscular tensions, skin temperature, skin resistance, brainwaves, blood flow through a part of the body, hand movements, and the voice.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein measuring the physiological reactions includes measuring and correcting individual facial features of respondents by measuring a direction of fixation of eyes in relation to certain directions of calibration.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein determining the directions of calibration is accomplished by employing locations consisting of a group of small characters varying per location, said characters together being no larger than several mm'"'"'s, varying in number per location, which number is counted aloud by respondents, so that respondents aim their fovea centralis accurately on the groups of characters to make calibration possible.

29. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a stimuli program to be executed, recording personal data including at least one of variables, capacities, characteristics, preferences, interests and interests in product categories and brands, and tuning the stimuli program to be executed to said data and to the recorded physical and psychological capacities of respondents including at least one of absorbing capacity, tempo and reading capacity.