Computerized assessment system and method for assessing opinions or feelings

Abstract

A computerized assessment system and method may be used to assess opinions or feelings of a subject (e.g., a child patient). The system and method may display a computer-generated face image having a variable facial expression (e.g., changing mouth and eyes) capable of changing to correspond to opinions or feelings of the subject (e.g., smiling or frowning). The system and method may receive a user input signal in accordance with the opinions or feelings of the subject and may display the changes in the variable facial expression in response to the user input signal. The system and method may also prompt the subject to express an opinion or feeling about a matter to be assessed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 634,709, filed on Dec. 9, 2004, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] This invention was made with government support under SBIR grant No. 2 R44 NS042387-02 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The Government has certain rights in the invention.TECHNICAL FIELD [0003] The present invention relates to methods for assessing opinions or feelings and more particularly, relates to a computerized assessment system and method for assessing opinions or feelings by allowing a subject to dynamically adjust a variable facial expression on a computer-generated face image. BACKGROUND INFORMATION [0004] Studies have been performed using static facial expressions to assess a child's self-reported pain. Instruments used in the studies include a small set of cartoon fac...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

One measurement problem is that there is no continuous variable that is associated with the facial expression and that changes systematically as the emotion being depicted ranges from the extremes of “no hurt” to “hurts worst.” Thus, there is no objective measure associated with the emotional or painful intensity being indicated.

Another problem is that the number and type of features depicted in each face is not always the same.

A further problem is that the Face Scale is asymmetric.

However, there appears to be no published (and peer reviewed) evidence to support this assumption.

One implementation problem is that the verbal instructions given to the child may not match the facial expression being expressed.

Another implementation problem is that such methods do not allow the child to continuously change or fine-tune their judgments before deciding on a final judgment.

A further implementation problem is that static methods do not allow for the recording of dynamic changes over time.

Another implementation problem is that ratings associated with the selected faces are not automatically stored in a computer file for later analysis.

The ratings must be entered into the computer by hand, thus increasing the time burden on the investigator or clinician, and increasing the chance of error in the input of data.

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