System and method for ergonomic tracking for individual physical exertion

• US 7,315,249 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephanie Littell
• Original Assignee: Stephanie Littell
• Inventors: Littell, Stephanie
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu; Julie Bichngoc
• Application Number:
  US11/143,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20050270163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/573.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/20 Workers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/24 Computer workstation operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4561 Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature A61B5/1116 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 600/92 Method of making endoscopes

Abstract

A system and method are provided for tracking a user'"'"'s posture. The system and method include an environmental module for determining the user'"'"'s physical environment, a biomechanical module for determining at least a user'"'"'s posture in the user'"'"'s physical environment, and an output module for outputting to the user an indication of at least the user'"'"'s posture relative to at least a target correct posture. The physical environment can include a computer workstation environment, a manufacturing environment, a gaming environment, and/or a keypadding environment.

Claims

1. A computer system for providing real-time feedback about a user'"'"'s posture, comprising:

an environmental module for determining the user'"'"'s physical environment;

a biomechanical module for determining at least a portion of a user'"'"'s posture in the user'"'"'s physical environment; and

an output module for providing to the user a real-time indication of at least the determined user'"'"'s posture relative to at least a target correct posture associated with the determined user'"'"'s physical environment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental module includes:

a scene module; and

a snapshot module, the scene and the snapshot modules capture a digital representation of a background of the user'"'"'s physical environment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the biomechanical module includes:

an active scene module for capturing a digital representation of the user in the user'"'"'s physical environment; and

a runtime mirror module for processing the digital representation of the user in the user'"'"'s physical environment.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the output module includes a display for displaying to the user the user'"'"'s posture relative to a target correct posture.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the output module further includes an audio device for outputting to the user an audio indication of the user'"'"'s posture relative to the target correct posture.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the output is displayed in a window of a multi-window environment.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein a representation of the user'"'"'s posture is superimposed with the target correct posture.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the physical environment includes one of a computer workstation environment, a manufacturing environment, a gaming environment, and a keypadding environment.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one digital camera is used in determining the user'"'"'s physical environment.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one digital camera is used in determining the user'"'"'s posture.

22. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one indicator providing signals to the user indicating the user'"'"'s posture relative to the target correct posture.

11. A method for providing real-time feedback about a user'"'"'s posture, comprising computer implemented steps of:

determining the user'"'"'s physical environment;

determining at least a portion of a user'"'"'s posture based on the user'"'"'s physical environment; and

providing to the user a real-time indication of the determined user'"'"'s posture relative to a target correct posture associated with the determined user'"'"'s physical environment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the user'"'"'s physical environment includes:

capturing a digital representation of a background of the user'"'"'s physical environment.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining a user'"'"'s posture based on the user'"'"'s physical environment includes:

capturing a digital representation of the user in the user'"'"'s physical environment; and

processing the digital representation of the user in the user'"'"'s physical environment.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein outputting to the user an indication of the user'"'"'s posture includes displaying to the user the user'"'"'s posture relative to the target correct posture.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein outputting to the user an indication of the user'"'"'s posture further includes outputting to the user an audio indication of the user'"'"'s posture relative to a target correct posture.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the output is displayed in a window of a multi-window environment.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein a representation of the user'"'"'s posture is superimposed with the target correct posture.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the physical environment includes one of a computer workstation environment, a manufacturing environment, a gaming environment, and a keypadding environment.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one digital camera is used in determining the user'"'"'s physical environment.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one digital camera is used in determining the user'"'"'s posture.

23. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing a signal to the user indicating the user'"'"'s posture relative to the target posture.

21. A system for providing real-time feedback about a user'"'"'s posture, comprising:

means for determining the user'"'"'s physical environment;

computer means for determining at least a portion of a user'"'"'s posture based on the user'"'"'s physical environment; and

means for providing to the user a real-time indication of the determined user'"'"'s posture relative to a target correct posture associated with the determined user'"'"'s physical environment.