5323results about "Psychotechnic devices" patented technology

A detecting, monitoring and reporting apparatus includes at least two sensors for facilitating the generation of data indicative of physiological parameters of the individual and/or data indicative of a contextual parameters of the individual. A processor is coupled to the sensors and is adapted to generate at least one of derived data from at least a portion of the data indicative of physiological parameters and analytical status data from at least a portion of at least one of the data indicative of physiological parameters, the data indicative of contextual parameters, the derived data and the analytical status data. A memory retrievably stores the data and one of various ways of transmitting the data is provided.

A monitoring apparatus that includes a sensor device and an I/O device in communication with the sensor device that generates derived data using the data from the sensor device. The derived data cannot be directly detected by the associated sensors. Alternatively, an apparatus that includes a wearable sensor device and an I/O device in communication with the sensor device that includes means for displaying information and a dial for entering information. Alternatively, an apparatus for tracking caloric consumption and caloric expenditure data that includes a sensor device and an I/O device in communication with the sensor device. The sensor device includes a processor programmed to generate data relating to caloric expenditure from sensor data. Alternatively, an apparatus for tracking caloric information for an individual that utilizes a plurality of classification identifiers for classifying meals consumed by the individual, each of the classification identifiers having a corresponding caloric amount.

According to the present invention, physical health indicators computed for a particular user are received in a common transmittable data format at a computer system, wherein each of the physical health indicators is output by an electronic health measurement device from among multiple diverse electronic health measurement devices monitoring the physical health of the particular user. Each of the physical health indicators is analyzed at the computer system in view of acceptable health levels retrieved at the computer system from a personal storage device proffered by the particular user. Output of an indicator of acceptability of the physical health indicators for the particular user is controlled from the computer system, in response to the analysis of each of the physical health indicators, such that a computer system monitors the physical health of an individual in view of acceptable health levels retrieved from the personal storage device.

A detecting, monitoring and reporting apparatus includes at least two sensors for facilitating the generation of data indicative of physiological parameters of the individual and/or data indicative of a contextual parameters of the individual. A processor is coupled to the sensors and is adapted to generate at least one of derived data from at least a portion of the data indicative of physiological parameters and analytical status data from at least a portion of at least one of the data indicative of physiological parameters, the data indicative of contextual parameters, the derived data and the analytical status data. A memory retrievably stores the data and one of various ways of transmitting the data is provided.

Disclosed are devices and methods for detecting, preventing, and/or treating neurological disorders. These devices and methods utilize electrical stimulation, and comprise a unique concentric ring electrode component. The disclosed methods involve the positioning of multiple electrodes on the scalp of a mammal; monitoring the mammal's brain electrical patterns to identify the onset of a neurological event; identifying the location of the brain electrical patterns indicative of neurological event; and applying transcutaneous or transcranial electrical stimulation to the location of the neurological event to beneficially modify brain electrical patterns. The disclosed methods may be useful in the detection, prevention, and/or treatment of a variety of indications, such as epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, depression, bipolar disorder, phobia, schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder, migraine or headache, concussion, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorder, substance abuse, and anxiety. The disclosed methods may also be used in combination with other peripheral stimulation techniques.

The present invention is directed to a method and system for measuring the biometric (physically, behaviorally, biologically and self-report based) responses of an audience to a presentation or interactive experience that provides a sensory stimulating experience and determining a measure of the level and pattern of engagement of that audience and impact of the presentation or interactive experience. In particular, the invention is directed to a method and system for measuring one or more biometrically based responses of one or more persons being exposed to the presentation in order to determine the moment-to-moment pattern or event based pattern and overall level of engagement. The method and system can include eye tracking to determine areas of the presentation that correspond to high and low levels of biometric responses suggesting high and low levels of visual impact. Further, the invention can be used to determine whether the presentation or the content in the presentation is more effective in a population relative to other presentations (or content) and other populations and to help identify elements of the presentation that contribute to the high level of engagement or impact and the effectiveness and success (or failure) of the presentation for that population.

The invention relates to a system and method for determining human emotion by analyzing a combination of eye properties of a user including, for example, pupil size, blink properties, eye position (or gaze) properties, or other properties. The system and method may be configured to measure the emotional impact of various stimuli presented to users by analyzing, among other data, the eye properties of the users while perceiving the stimuli. Measured eye properties may be used to distinguish between positive emotional responses (e.g., pleasant or “like”), neutral emotional responses, and negative emotional responses (e.g., unpleasant or “dislike”), as well as to determine the intensity of emotional responses.

The invention is a system and method for determining visual attention, and supports the eye tracking measurements with other physiological signal measurements like emotions. The system and method of the invention is capable of registering stimulus related emotions from eye-tracking data. An eye tracking device of the system and other sensors collect eye properties and/or other physiological properties which allows a subject's emotional and visual attention to be observed and analyzed in relation to stimuli.

A digital computer and method for processing data indicative of images of facial and head movements of a subject to recognize at least one of said movements and to determine at least one mental state of said subject is provided. The outputting instructions for providing to a user information relating to at least one said mental state. A further processing data reflective of input from a user, and based at least in part on said input, confirming or modifying said determination and generating with a transducer an output of humanly perceptible stimuli indicative of said at least one mental state.

A method of assessing vehicle operator performance includes the steps of receiving vehicle operating data (502); monitoring an interior portion of the vehicle and receiving operator activity data from the interior portion vehicle (504); receiving vehicle environment data from the environment external to the vehicle (506); monitoring the vehicle operator and receiving operator condition data (508); and determining an operator assessment value (510). The operator assessment value is based upon the vehicle operating data, the operator activity data, the environment data and the operator condition data and is indicative of vehicle operator performance.

A home control system using galvanic skin responses and heart rate information and a method thereof. Whether a user is awake is judged using a galvanic skin response sensor, and the extent of stress of a user is determined using the user's heart rate, thereby extracting a user's emotional state and sleeping state. Furthermore, based on these, various systems in the home network of a user are controlled according to the user's emotional state and sleeping state. In addition, those control results are stored in a database so as to create the optimum control conditions.

A user-friendly reliable process is provided to help diagnose (assess) and treat (rehabilitate) impairment or deficiencies in a person (subject or patient) caused by a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or other neurocognitive disorders. The economical, safe, effective process can include: generating and electronically displaying a virtual reality environment (VRE) with moveable images; identifying and letting the TBI person perform a task in the VRE; electronically inputting and recording the performance data with an electronic interactive communications device; electronically evaluating the person's performance and assessing the person's impairment by electronically determining a deficiency in the person's cognitive function (e.g. memory, recall, recognition, attention, spatial awareness) and/or motor function (i.e. motor skills, e.g. balance) as a result of the TBI or other neurocognitive disorder.

A noise-free portable EEG system is provided. The system has hardware and software and can evaluate mental state quantitatively. The quantitative data of mental states and their levels can be applied to various areas of brain-machine interface including consumer products, video game, toys, military and aerospace as well as biofeedback or neurofeedback.

The present invention is directed to a method and system for predicting the behavior of an audience based on the biologically based responses of the audience to a presentation that provides a sensory stimulating experience and determining a measure of the level and pattern of engagement of that audience to the presentation. In particular, the invention is directed to a method and system for predicting whether an audience is likely to view a presentation in its entirety. In addition, the present invention may be used to determine the point at which an audience is likely to change their attention to an alternative sensory stimulating experience including fast forwarding through recorded content, changing the channel or leaving the room when viewing live content, or otherwise redirecting their engagement from the sensory stimulating experience.

Apparatus for relating pain and activity experienced by a patient comprises: pain transducing means for allowing a patient to select any one pain level from a predetermined number of pain levels and for producing a pain level signal indicative of the selected level; activity transducing means responsive to the pain level signal for measuring a level of a parameter of a physical activity of the patient near the time corresponding to the selection of the pain level and for producing an activity parameter level signal indicative of the measured level of the parameter; and relating means responsive to the pain level signal and the activity parameter level signal for characterizing the activity of the patient corresponding to the selected level of pain to be one activity level of a predetermined number of predefined activity levels and for producing a signal indicative of the characterized level of activity and the corresponding pain level.

The invention is a wireless communications device, such as a cellular telephone, having sensors to generate data indicative of a physiological or contextual parameters of a user. A processor on the wireless communications device is adapted derive physiological state information of the user from the contextual or physiological parameters. The apparatus may include a central monitoring unit remote from the sensors for storing data and transmitting data to a recipient.

Imaging methods and systems are provided that use affective information. In one aspect an image of a scene is captured. Affective information is collected. The affective information is associated with the image.

Apparatus for rehabilitating a patient who has a paretic body part, the apparatus comprising: a) at least one electromyography (EMG) sensor adapted to being applied to a voluntary muscle of a healthy body part of the same type as the paretic body part which at least one sensor produces at least one EMG signal; b) a neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) device adapted to stimulating at least one voluntary muscle of the paretic body part; and c) a controller which controls the NMES device, making the amplitude of stimulation of the paretic body part at least partly dependent on the EMG signal from the healthy body part.

An interactive automatic system and technique for measuring and training of mental ability. In the illustrative embodiment, the invention is implemented on a computer which automatically presents a variety of visual and auditory stimuli. The system then measures reaction to the stimuli, adjusts certain stimulus parameters, and provides scores in response thereto. The scores are tabulated and displayed for analysis. In particular embodiments, the invention tests for physical reaction time, perceptual awareness thresholds, attention level, speed, efficiency and capacity of information processing by the brain and elementary cognitive processes, including memory, memory access and decision-making speed. The invention measures, identifies and quantifies noise in the subject's brain and elementary cognitive processing system, and the information exchange rate between the subject's left and right brain hemispheres. The inventive system compiles a history of the test scores, renders an overall performance rating, and delivers comments based on the subject scores. The complexity of the tests are adjusted based on the scores to optimally challenge cognitive capacities, thereby rendering more accurate evaluations of cognitive capacity, and optimizing learning of desired improvements in perceptual, physical and mental response speeds and efficiencies.

A system evaluates source materials such as videos, imagery, web pages, text, etc., in order to determine priming characteristics associated with the source materials. The system also obtains user preferences such as user interests, purchase history, location information, etc. The priming characteristics and user characteristics are blended to obtain blended attributes. The blended attributes are correlated with stimulus material attributes to intelligently and dynamically select stimulus material such as marketing, entertainment, informational materials, etc., for introduction into the source material. The stimulus material may be inserted in real-time or near real-time into the source material for delivery to a user.

A system and method of objectively testing the functional capacity of a patient over a range of motion and with a limited resistance are provided. A selected number of visual indicators are applied and maintained at selected points with respect to the patient. The patient is directed through a series of exercise movements. The patient's movements are captured on a video record. This video record is digitized. The motion of the indicators is tracked in the digitized video record. A patient data set is developed including performance parameters based, at least in part, on the position and the time of each indicator during the movements. The patient data set is compared to a base data set. If the patient's performance parameters fall within certain ranges, it can be determined that the patient is or is not exerting a true effort. The functional capacity of the patient is determined based, at least in part, on the comparison of the patient data set with the base data set.

A portable apparatus for monitoring the reaction of a user to a performance contains one or more sensors for detecting an indirect user response to the performance and a user interface enabling the user to provide a direct user response to the performance. A processor in the portable apparatus is programmed to provide a user reaction signal comprising a combination of the indirect user response and the direct user response to the performance. This user reaction signal may be transmitted to to remote apparatus. A monitoring system using such portable apparatus, and a music playing system using such a monitoring system, are also described.

Hat, helmet, and other headgear apparatus includes dry electrophysiological electrodes and, optionally, other physiological and/or environmental sensors to measure signals such as ECG from the head of a subject. Methods of use of such apparatus to provide fitness, health, or other measured or derived, estimated, or predicted metrics are also disclosed.