Design evaluation method, equipment thereof, and goods design method

• US 6,487,444 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenji Mimura
• Original Assignee: Kenji Mimura
• Inventors: Mimura, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/791,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20010029341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/544, 600/545, 600/558
• US Class Current: 600/544
• 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 5/378 Visual stimuli

Abstract

The present inventions relates to a design evaluation method, equipment thereof, and a goods design method that make it possible to obtain a highly reliable evaluation of a design quality of an evaluated object. Thus, in the present invention, the design of an evaluated object is evaluated on the basis of a brain wave reaction by outputting an image, which expresses the design of the evaluated object, by image output means, and measuring brain waves of an arbitrary test subject by showing this image to the test subject. Hence, it is possible to obtain a highly reliable evaluation result without any subjective judgment based on the knowledge and experience of the test subject.

Claims

1. A design evaluation method, comprising the steps of:

outputting an image, where design of an evaluated object is expressed, by predetermined image output means;

measuring brain waves of an arbitrary test subject while showing this image to the test subject;

comparing a pattern of a local distribution condition of a brain wave electric potential on the test subject'"'"'s scalp with plural kinds of reference patterns set beforehand; and

evaluating the design of the evaluated object by judging which of the plural kinds of reference patterns is similar to the pattern of the brain wave electric potential measured.

2. The design evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein the design of the evaluated object is evaluated on the basis of a brain wave reaction of a test subject in a predetermined scene of the image.

3. The design evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein images including scenes where the evaluated object is expressed from various angles are used.

4. The design evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein images including scenes where dynamic changes of the evaluated object are expressed are used.

5. The design evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein images including scenes where the evaluated objected is expressed with predetermined backgrounds are used.

6. The design evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein images including scenes where the evaluated object is expressed with another article or persons are used.

7. The design evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein the image is created by using computer graphics.

8. A goods design method for deciding design of goods before shifting to a design and manufacturing phase of the goods, comprising the steps of:

visualizing concrete design, which is to be evaluated on design quality, in an output-enabled condition by predetermined image outputter;

outputting this image by the image outputter and measuring brain waves of an arbitrary test subject while showing the image to the arbitrary test subject; and

comparing a pattern of a local distribution condition of a brain wave electric potential on a test subject'"'"'s scalp with plural kinds of reference patterns set beforehand; and

evaluating the design quality by judging which of the reference patterns is similar to the pattern of the brain wave electric potential measured,

wherein each of the steps is performed at least once on the basis of the evaluation result of the design.

9. The goods design method according to claim 8, wherein the image is produced by using computer graphics.

10. The goods design method according to claim 9, wherein an evaluated object whose real object does not exist is expressed in the image.

11. The goods design method according to claim 10, wherein the evaluated object is a vehicle.