Method of measuring consumer reaction while participating in a consumer activity

• US 6,453,194 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel A. Hill
• Original Assignee: Daniel A. Hill
• Inventors: Hill, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARMOR II, CHARLES ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/818,702
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 600/26-28, 600/300, 600/301, 600/546, 600/547, 600/558, 600/559, 600/306, 600/307, 128/897, 128/898, 434/236
• US Class Current: 600/546
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]

Abstract

A sample population including a plurality of members participate in a consumer activity for a participation period to assess consumer reaction to the consumer activity. Surface electromyography signals from a zygomatic muscle and electrodermography signals of each member of the sample population are measured during the participation period. Data is recorded including at least a description of a stimulus experienced by each member during the participation period and a description of the interaction between the member and the stimulus. The recorded data is synchronized with the measurements of electromyography signals and electrodermography signals for each member to allow association of the recorded data with the measurements. The electromyography signals are equated or translated to an appeal value and the electrodermography signals are equated or translated to an impact value for each member. At least one of the appeal and impact values are visually represented, identified with the synchronously recorded stimulus.

Claims

1. A method of assessing consumer reaction to a consumer activity, comprising:

(a) allowing a sample population comprised of a plurality of members to participate in a consumer activity for a period of time;

(b) measuring surface electromyography signals from a zygomatic muscle of each member of the sample population during the participation period;

(c) measuring electrodermography signals, selected from at least one of galvanic skin response signals, skin conductance level signals and skin resistance level signals, of each member of the sample population during the participation period;

(d) recording data including at least a description of a stimulus experienced by each member during the participation period and a description of the interaction between the member and the stimulus, and synchronizing such recorded data with the measurements of electromyography signals and electrodermography signals for each member so as to allow association of the recorded data with measurements of electromyography signals and electrodermography signals;

(e) equating or translating the electromyography signals to an appeal value for each member;

(f) equating or translating the electrodermography signals to an impact value for each member; and

(g) visually representing at least one of the appeal and impact values identified with the synchronously recorded stimulus.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

measuring surface electromyography signals from a corrugator facial muscle of each member of the sample population during the participation period, and combining the measured surface electromyography signals from the zygomatic and corrugator facial muscle of each member of the sample population to produce a combined electromyography signal, wherein the combined electromyography signal is the electromyography signal equated or translated to the appeal value for each member.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the combined surface electromyography signal is calculated by dividing the difference between the zygomatic and corrugator facial muscle signals by the sum of the zygomatic and corrugator facial muscle signals.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein electromyography signals are separately measured for bilateral zygomatic and corrugator facial muscles.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein electromyography signals are separately measured for zygomatic and corrugator facial muscles on the same side of the face.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising visually representing at least one set of appeal and impact values of at least one member together on a single illustration.

7. The method of claim 6 further wherein at least one set of appeal and impact values of at least two members are visually represented together on a single illustration.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

repeating steps (a) through (f) with members of the sample population for at least one other consumer activity which is different from the first consumer activity, and visually comparing the set of appeal and impact values of each consumer activity.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the consumer activities are of the same type.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the consumer activity involves sales or marketing of the same type of goods or services.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the sample population is comprised of between about 10 to 100 members.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein (i) a period of time is provided between participation in sequential consumer activities during which the members are not exposed to any stimuli nor provided with an opportunity to participate in a consumer activity, and (ii) the surface electromyography signals and electrodermal signals are measured throughout each participation period and for a period of time before and after each participation period.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the sample population is comprised of between about 10 to 200 members.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface electromyography signals and electrodermal signals are measured throughout the participation period, a period of time before the participation period and a period of time after the participation period.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein a group set of appeal and impact values is visually represented.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the visually represented group set of appeal and impact values is an average appeal value and an average impact value for the sample population.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein electromyography signals are separately measured for bilateral zygomatic muscles of each member of the sample population during the participation period and the measured surface electromyography signals for the bilateral zygomatic muscles of each member of the sample population is combined to produce a combined electromyography signal, wherein the combined electromyography signal is the electromyography signal equated or translated to the appeal value for each member.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein data is recorded with a video camera.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein (i) data, electromyography signals and electrodermography signals are recorded, and measured as a function of time, and (ii) the recording of data is synchronized with the measurements of electromyography signals and electrodermography signals by simultaneously marking the recorded data and the measurements of electromyography signals and electrodermography signals at least once to establish an anchor point with respect to time.