Method and apparatus for training a team by employing brainwave monitoring and synchronized attention levels of team trainees

• US 10,198,958 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freer Logic LLC
• Original Assignee: Freer Logic LLC
• Inventors: Freer, Peter A., Scanzoni, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Chang-Yu
• Application Number:
  US12/112,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20080275358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,933 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• 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 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/375 using biofeedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Training methods and apparatus wherein a training environment is activated only when a trainee is in a focused attention state. A brainwave monitor is employed for determining level of attention. The training environment is activated when the level of attention of the trainee is at or above a predetermined attention threshold. Activation of the training environment provides feedback to the trainee that he or she is in a focused attention state, and at the same time provides the incentive to remain in the focused attention state. A focused attention state is important if not required for training/learning success. The method and apparatus may be employed for training individual trainees, as well as for training team member trainees.

Claims

1. An apparatus for training a team including at least two team member trainees, comprising:

a training environment for teaching a skill beyond merely maintaining a particular brainwave state, said training environment having not-activated and activated states, the trainee not being allowed to proceed in said training environment when said training environment is in the not-activated state, and the trainee being allowed to actively participate in said training environment when said training environment is in the activated state;

a brainwave monitor for each trainee for monitoring electrical activity within the brain of each trainee, and determining each trainee'"'"'s level of attention; and

an activation device connected to said brainwave monitors and to said training environment, and operable to activate said training environment to the activated state when the levels of attention of all team member trainees are simultaneously at or above a predetermined attention threshold.

3. A training method for training a team including at least two team member trainees, comprising:

providing an apparatus for training a team including at least two team member trainees according to claim 1;

employing brainwave monitors of the apparatus for determining the level of attention for each team member trainee;

providing a training environment from the apparatus for teaching a skill beyond merely maintaining a particular brainwave state, said training environment having not-activated and activated states, the trainee not being allowed to proceed in said training environment when said training environment is in the not-activated state, and the trainee being allowed to actively participate in said training environment when said training environment is in the activated state; and

monitoring the levels of attention of the team member trainees and activating the training environment of the apparatus to the activated state when the levels of attention of all team member trainees are simultaneously at or above a predetermined attention threshold.

2. An apparatus for training a team including at least two team member trainees, comprising:

a training environment for teaching a skill beyond merely maintaining a particular brainwave state, said training environment having not-activated and activated states, the trainee not being allowed to proceed in said training environment when said training environment is in the not-activated state, and the trainee being allowed to actively participate in said training environment when said training environment is in the activated state;

a brainwave monitor for each trainee for monitoring electrical activity within the brain of each trainee, and determining each trainee'"'"'s level of attention; and

an activation device connected to said brainwave monitors and to said training environment, and operable to activate said training environment to the activated state when the level of attention of each team member trainee is simultaneously at or above a predetermined attention threshold for the particular team member trainee, which is the attention baseline for the particular team member trainee.

4. A training method for training a team including at least two team member trainees, comprising:

providing an apparatus for training a team including at least two team member trainees according to claim 2;

employing brainwave monitors of the apparatus for determining level of attention for each team member trainee;

providing a training environment from the apparatus for teaching a skill beyond merely maintaining a particular brainwave state, said training environment having not-activated and activated states, the trainee not being allowed to proceed in said training environment when said training environment is in the not-activated state, and the trainee being allowed to actively participate in said training environment when said training environment is in the activated state; and

monitoring the levels of attention of the team member trainees and activating the training environment to the activated state of the apparatus when the level of attention of each team member trainee is simultaneously at or above a predetermined attention threshold for the particular team member trainee, which is the attention baseline for the particular team member trainee.