Method and therapy software system for preventing computer operator injuries

• US 6,142,910 A
• Filed: 06/11/1999
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John A. Heuvelman
• Original Assignee: John A. Heuvelman
• Inventors: Heuvelman, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/332,209
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-4, 482/900, 434/227, 434/229, 601/33
• US Class Current: 482/4
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances

Abstract

A method and therapy software system for preventing computer operator injuries combines a computer with a software system and prevents or rehabilitates computer operator injuries resulting from the prolonged use of a computer keyboard or mouse associated with the computer by reminding said computer operator to perform physical therapy exercises that are designed to reduce the potential injuries that can result from prolonged uninterrupted use of a computer keyboard or mouse.

Claims

1. A therapy software system for preventing repetitive stress injuries to a computer user;

comprising;

a. a computer, said computer further comprising,

i. at least one tactile information input device,

ii. at least one communication device, the at least one tactile information input device and the at least one communication device coupled to said computer,

iii. computer memory coupled to;

iv. a central processing unit resident within said computer; and

b. a computer software program existing in said computer memory and implementing an administrator directed therapy process, said process comprising the steps of,

i. monitoring the user activity of at least one tactile information input device,

ii. comparing when said at least one tactile information input device activity substantially satisfies a tactile information input device use-threshold,

iii. interrupting the central processing unit of the computer from processing of only a computer job on said computer that is being directed by the tactile information input device,

iv. communicating to said computer user via said at least one communication device to perform at least one physical therapy act; and

v. administrating the software program with password protection thereby preventing unauthorized access to make modifications to, a plurality of computer user profiles and, at least one step selected from the group consisting of, the monitoring step, the comparing step, or the interrupting step,

whereby said at least one physical therapy act reduces the potential for injury from prolonged use of said at least one tactile information input device.

3. The therapy software system in claim 1 wherein the step administrating step further comprises the step of enabling the interrupting step.

4. The therapy software system in claim 1 wherein each of the computer user profiles includes identifying information for an individual computer user.

5. The therapy software system in claim 1 wherein each of the computer user profiles includes an use-threshold parameter for an individual computer user.

6. The therapy software system in claim 4 wherein each of the computer user profiles includes a log of user therapy accessible by way of the step of administering with a password.

7. The therapy software system in claim 1 wherein the step of communicating to said computer user further includes the step of displaying a series of animated and still pictures communicated by auditory and graphic sub-system, said pictures providing a course of exercise in response to operator input data and interacting with the operator as operator advances through said pre-selected course, said pictures also accompanied by verbal and written instruction.

2. An interactive computer software system which permits a computer operator to convert a computer system into a physical therapy exercise device providing the operator with a pre-selected audio-visual physical exercise course, comprising:

a. a host computer system including CPU for executing computer programs, means for entering data into the system, means for storing data, means for displaying the input data;

b. a processing means for performing various information processing operations in response to input from the computer operator;

c. a detecting means for detecting the computer operator'"'"'s means for entering data into the system;

d. an interruption means for suspending said host computer system'"'"'s ongoing activities to execute the said pre-selected audio-visual physical exercise course; and

e. an auditory and graphic sub-system operatively connected to the host computer that is used to communicate said pre-selected physical exercise course to said computer operator,

whereby said computer operator performs said physical exercise course to prevent or rehabilitate repetitive stress type injuries.

8. A Computer software program for installation on a computer having a central processing unit, comprising:

a. means for installing and customizing the software program to accommodate multiple computer architectures;

b. means for monitoring a computer user'"'"'s user of at least one tactile information input device;

c. means for interrupting a central processing unit on which the software program is installed and running;

d. means for providing password protected administration of a prescribed course of physical therapy to a plurality of individual computer users and of enabling the means for interrupting a central processing unit; and

e. means for communicating the prescribed course of therapy to the plurality of individual computer users.

9. The computer program in claim 8 wherein the means for monitoring and the means for interrupting are implemented with a control program that is a constantly running task the on central processing unit and the means for communicating is implemented with a separate main user program that is only executed when called by the control program.

10. The computer program in claim 8 wherein the means for providing password protected administration of the course of physical therapy further comprises means for compiling and displaying statistics compiled for user conformance with the course of therapy.

11. The computer program in claim 8 wherein the means for communicating the prescribed course of therapy further comprises a main user program that displays a still image on a computer screen while animated exercises are loaded from a nonvolatile computer memory into a volatile computer memory.

12. The computer program in claim 8 wherein the means for communicating the prescribed course of therapy further comprises a main user program that queries at least one of the plurality of computer user profiles to determine the prescribed course of physical therapy for that computer user.