METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ASSESSING, TRAINING AND IMPROVING PERCEPTUAL-COGNITIVE ABILITIES OF INDIVIDUALS

• US 20110300522A1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cognisens Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universite De Montreal, L'
• Inventors: Faubert, Jocelyn, Tinjust, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,566,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/236
• 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 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0261 in the context of movement of objects on the screen or movement of the observer relative to the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 using viewer tracking

Abstract

A device and method for evaluating or improving perceptual-cognitive abilities of a subject, comprising displaying virtual objects moving in a given three-dimensional environment during successive tests. The subject is in visual contact with the virtual objects moving in the three-dimensional environment, and the speed of movement of the virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment during the successive tests is changed.

Claims

1. A device for evaluating or improving perceptual-cognitive abilities of a subject, comprising:

a display of virtual objects moving in a given three-dimensional environment during successive tests, with the subject in visual contact with the virtual objects moving in the three-dimensional environment; and

a controller of the display of the virtual objects moving in the given three-dimensional environment during the successive tests, for changing a speed of movement of the virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a collector of responses from the subject to the successive tests for use in evaluating, according to an evaluation protocol, the perceptual-cognitive abilities of the subject.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the display immerses the subject in the three-dimensional environment,

the display comprises a set of surfaces on which images are displayed to form the three-dimensional environment

the images displayed on the surfaces are stereoscopic images, the display comprises a shutter visual implement enabling the subject to perceive, in three dimensions, the virtual objects, positions of the virtual objects, and the three-dimensional environment

the display further comprises a positional sensor mounted to the shutter visual implement to track a position of the subject'"'"'s head, and the controller controls the display to correct in real-time a visual perspective relative to the subject'"'"'s head position.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the display displays at least two virtual transparent planes and a portion of the virtual objects embedded in each of the at least two virtual planes, and wherein the controller controls the display according to one of the following methods to move the corresponding portion of the virtual objects in each virtual plane:

the controller controls the display in such a manner that the virtual objects moving in each virtual plane collide with each other and with edges of the virtual plane;

the controller controls the display in such a manner that the virtual objects moving in each virtual plane do not collide with each other but pass through each other.

12. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein the controller controls the display to move the virtual objects in the virtual planes at a constants speed during each test, and to change the speed of movement of the virtual objects from one of the successive tests to the other, wherein the controller controls the display to produce a staircase variation of the speed of the moving virtual objects from one test to the other.

18. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller controls the display to conduct the successive tests in one of the following conditions:

a non stereoscopic condition in which a same image is presented to each eye of the subject to prevent stereoscopic vision and perception of depth by the subject; and

a stereoscopic condition in which different images are presented to the eyes of the subject to allow patient'"'"'s stereoscopic vision and give to the patient a perception of depth.

21. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the collector of responses comprises one of the following devices:

a computer in which verbal responses from the subject are entered for each of the successive tests for evaluating, according to the evaluation protocol, the perceptual-cognitive abilities of the subject;

a keyboard operated by the subject to enter the responses to the successive tests in a computer for evaluating, according to the evaluation protocol, the perceptual-cognitive abilities of the subject; and

a voice recognition system to enter the responses from the subject to the successive tests in a computer for evaluating, according to the evaluation protocol, the perceptual-cognitive abilities of the subject.

25. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the display displays in the three-dimensional environment a three-dimensional virtual volume in which the virtual objects are confined and moves in three spatial dimensions,

the three-dimensional virtual volume defines a virtual cube having faces and edges that are transparent, the controller controls the display in such a manner that the virtual objects moving in the virtual cube collide with the faces and edges of the virtual cube,

and the controller controls the display in such a manner that the virtual objects moving in the virtual cube collide with each other within spatial limits imposed by the virtual cube.

28. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a virtual reality visual implement, the controller is connected to the virtual reality visual implement to display the three-dimensional environment through the virtual reality visual implement and as a function of an orientation of the virtual reality visual implement in such a manner that the subject has the impression of being immersed in the three-dimensional environment,

the three-dimensional environment is a sport playground displayed through the virtual reality visual implement the virtual objects are selected from the group consisting of players and a ball, and the controller controls the display to change the speed of the play from one play to the other.

32. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional environment is a real three-dimensional environment, wherein the display displays the virtual objects in the real three-dimensional environment in a context of augmented reality, wherein the display comprises a virtual reality visual implement, and wherein the controller is connected to the virtual reality visual implement to display and superimpose in three dimensions the virtual objects to the real three-dimensional environment.

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34. A device as defined in claim 33, wherein the real three-dimensional environment is a real sport playground, wherein the three-dimensional virtual objects are selected from the group consisting of players and a ball, and wherein the virtual reality visual implement is structured to allow the subject to see the real sport playground and the three-dimensional virtual objects superimposed to the real sport playground whereby the subject can move, change direction, run, jump on the real sport playground while the three-dimensional virtual objects are stationary or move on the sport playground wherein the device further comprises a collector of responses from the subject, wherein the collector of responses comprises sensors mounted on the subject and connected to a computer, and wherein the sensors detect movements and position of the subject on the real sport playground for use by the computer for evaluating, according to an evaluation protocol, the perceptual-cognitive abilities of the subject.

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37. A method of evaluating or improving perceptual-cognitive abilities of a subject, comprising:

displaying virtual objects moving in a given three-dimensional environment during successive tests, with the subject in visual contact with the virtual objects moving in the three-dimensional environment; and

changing the speed of movement of the virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment during the successive tests.

38. A method as defined in claim 37, further comprising collecting responses from the subject to the successive tests for use in evaluating, according to an evaluation protocol, the perceptual-cognitive abilities of the subject.

39. A method as defined in claim 37, comprising immersing the subject in the three-dimensional environment.

44. A method as defined in claim 37, wherein displaying virtual objects comprises displaying at least two virtual transparent planes and a portion of the virtual objects embedded in each of the at least two virtual planes, and moving the corresponding portion of the virtual objects in each virtual plane.

48. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein changing the speed of movement of the virtual objects comprises moving the virtual objects in the virtual planes at a constants speed during each test, and changing the speed of movement of the virtual objects from one of the successive tests to the other.

50. A method as defined in claim 48, wherein changing the speed of movement of the virtual objects comprises adjusting the speed of the moving virtual objects in relation to the responses from the subject to the successive tests.

60. A method as defined in claim 37, wherein the protocol evaluates the responses from the subject to the successive tests as a function of the speed of movement of the virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment.

61. A method as defined in claim 37, wherein displaying virtual objects comprises displaying in the three-dimensional environment a three-dimensional virtual volume in which the virtual objects are confined and moves in three spatial dimensions.

68. A method as defined in claim 37, wherein the three-dimensional environment is a real three-dimensional environment, and wherein displaying virtual objects comprises displaying the virtual objects in the real three-dimensional environment in a context of augmented reality.

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