Human interface method and apparatus

• US 6,931,359 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2001
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ken Tamada
• Original Assignee: Ken Tamada
• Inventors: Tamada, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Carol S. W.
• Application Number:
  US10/275,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20030158692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,472 Days
• Field of Search: 702/19, 702/22, 702/23, 702 30- 32, 702/98, 702/108, 702/124, 702/122, 702/139, 702/160, 702/127, 702/182, 702/183, 702/187, 702/188, 702FOR 103-104, 702FOR 115-119, 702FOR 134-135, 702/FOR.141, 702/FOR.143, 702/FOR.155, 702/FOR.170, 434/247, 434/258, 463/23, 463/26, 600/301, 600/481, 600/503, 600/519, 600/544, 600/545, 600/546, 600/522, 482/1, 482/3, 482/4, 482/8, 482/9, 482/901, 482/902
• US Class Current: 702/189
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus for measuring one or more physical conditions of a computer operator and for automatically inputting signals corresponding to the physical conditions into a computer (12) for control and monitoring purposes.

Claims

1. A method of generating and using information regarding a physical condition of an operator of a computer running a computer program, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring with a sensor the physical condition of the operator when the operator is in a rest state, and generating a corresponding rest state sensor signal;

(b) measuring with the sensor the operator'"'"'s physical condition that is a direct response to the operator'"'"'s interaction with the computer program, and generating a corresponding active state sensor signal;

(c) comparing the rest state sensor signal to the active state sensor signal; and

(d) changing an aspect of the computer program when the active state signal differs from the rest state signal by a predetermined amount.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the physical condition is selected from the group consisting of:

blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature, static capacity, skin conductivity, brain wave activity, NO₂ blood density, NO₃ blood density, static electricity, and blood characteristics.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor is incorporated into a device selected from the group consisting of:

wristband, headphone, mouse, joystick, desk, chair, and floor mat.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program is a computer game, and the aspect of the computer game relates to a level of difficulty of play, such that, in step (d), the level of difficulty of play is changed when the active state signal differs from the rest state signal by the predetermined amount.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program is a computer game, and the aspect of the computer game relates to a speed of play, such that, in step (d), the speed of play is changed when the active state signal differs from, the rest state signal by the predetermined amount.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of (e) communicating a warning or a suggestion to the operator based on the physical condition of the operator as evidenced by an amount of difference between the rest state sensor signal and the active state sensor signal.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of (e) communicating a warning or a suggestion to a supervisor of the operator based on the physical condition of the operator as evidenced by an amount of difference between the rest state sensor signal and the active state sensor signal.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of (e) storing the rest state sensor signal and the active state sensor signal and a date and a time for use in analyzing working conditions based on a change in the physical condition of the operator during operation of the computer program as evidenced by an amount of difference between the rest state sensor signal and the active state sensor signal.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of (e) storing the rest state sensor signal and the active state sensor signal and a date and a time for use in analyzing working conditions based on a change in the physical condition of the operator during a specific period of time as evidenced by an amount of difference between the rest state sensor signal and the active state sensor signal.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the initial step of connecting the sensor with a remote host computer using a communication link provided by a wireless telephone, wherein steps (c) and (d) are performed by the remote host computer.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the initial step of connecting the sensor with a remote host computer using a communication link provided by a television adapted to access a network, wherein steps (c) and (d) are performed by the remote host computer.

12. A method of generating and using information regarding a physical condition of an operator of a computer presenting an advertisement, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring with a sensor the physical condition of the operator when the operator is in a rest state, and generating a corresponding rest state sensor signal;

(b) measuring with the sensor the physical condition of the operator when the operator is exposed to the advertisement presented on the computer, and generating a corresponding active state sensor signal;

(c) comparing the rest state sensor signal to the active state sensor signal; and

(d) analyzing the advertisement as a function of an effect of the advertisement on the operator as evidenced by a difference between the rest state sensor signal and the active state sensor signal.

13. A method of generating and using information regarding a physical condition of an operator of a computer, wherein the operator is engaged in an interview via the computer, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring with a sensor the physical condition of the operator when the operator is in a rest state, and generating a corresponding rest state sensor signal;

(b) measuring with the sensor the physical condition of the operator when the operator is engaged in the interview via the computer, and generating a corresponding active state sensor signal;

(c) comparing the rest state sensor signal to the active state sensor signal; and

(d) analyzing an effect of the interview on the operator as evidenced by a difference between the rest state sensor signal and the active state sensor signal.

14. A method of generating and using information regarding a physical condition of a subject engaged in an activity, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) linking a sensor to a host computer;

(b) measuring with the sensor the physical condition of the subject when the subject is in a rest state, and generating a corresponding rest state sensor signal, and transmitting the rest state sensor signal to the host computer;

(c) measuring with the sensor the physical condition of the subject when the subject is engaged in an activity, and generating a corresponding active state sensor signal, and transmitting the active state sensor signal to the host computer;

(d) comparing, at the host computer, the rest state sensor signal to the active state sensor signal; and

(e) communicating an effect of the activity on the subject as a function of a difference between the rest state sensor signal and the active state sensor signal.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the subject is a student and the activity involves an educational activity.

16. A method of permitting a first person and a second person to interact, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring with a sensor worn by the first person, wherein the first person is operating a first device, a physical condition of the first person and generating a sensor signal;

(b) transmitting the sensor signal to the second person, wherein the second person is operating a second device, via a communications network; and

(c) displaying the sensor signal on the second device so that the second person can interact with the first person based upon the sensor signal.

17. A method of generating and using information regarding a physical condition of an operator of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring with a sensor the physical condition of the operator before operating the vehicle, and generating a corresponding rest state sensor signal;

(b) measuring with the sensor the physical condition of the operator while the operator is operating the vehicle, and generating a corresponding active state sensor signal;

(c) comparing the active state sensor signal to the rest state sensor signal so as to monitor the operator'"'"'s physical condition while operating the vehicle; and

(d) if the active state sensor signal is outside a predetermined acceptable range for the operator while operating the vehicle, alerting a third party that is not the operator engaged in the activity.