Systems, devices and methods for sensory augmentation to achieve desired behaviors or outcomes

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods for altering sensory perceptions are disclosed. The systems and methods of the present invention comprise operably coupling at least one device for capturing sensory data to a computing device, identifying the captured data, querying at least one data base to identify desired behaviors and / or outcomes, querying the same data base or other data bases to identify and / or calculate modified, enhanced and / or virtual sensory data likely to achieve the desired behaviors or outcomes, generating modified, enhanced and / or virtual sensory data, and substituting the altered sensory data in real or near real time for the sensory data. The present invention advantageously alters sensory perceptions to promote health, ease patient's fears and allow safe performance of medical procedures, promote personal and public safety, and improve the success of military mission and operations.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61 / 952,759, 61 / 952,781, 61 / 952,788, 61 / 952,792, and 61 / 952,799, all filed Mar. 13, 2014. The text and contents of each of these provisional patent applications are hereby incorporated into this application by reference as if fully set forth herein.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]The subject disclosure generally relates to the field of augmented reality. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods and systems for modifying sensory data in order to achieve a desired behavior and / or outcome.DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND[0003]For the purposes of this specification, the present invention will be described in language and examples relating to achieving desired personal health benefits, patient responses to medical procedures, appropriate responses to threats to personal safety, and increased effectiveness of military missions and operations. However...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a system that can modify a person's sensory perception to make them feel like they have more or less of something than they actually have. This can be useful for making people more careful about food choices or making safety warnings more effective. The system can also share data between ground units and a control center to help with support and prevent threats. This invention can make military units and operations more effective.

Problems solved by technology

There are numerous situations where the sensory data evokes an improper or non-optimal response.

There are other situations where the sensory data evokes an evolutionarily appropriate response (such as resisting being stuck with a sharp stick), but one that is undesirable (such as when the sharp stick is in fact a needle bearing a vaccine).

For example, hunger was a persistent problem during the primary periods during which human sensory response evolved, putting a premium on consumption of all available foods and creating a preference for high-fat food, sweet food, and other foods that provide substantial numbers of calories but which, in the presence of abundant food choices, are relatively undesirable foods.

There are numerous situations where sensory data evokes an improper or non-optimal response, whether based on evolutionary biology, social norms, personal history, or other factors.

For example, a fixed amount of food on a large plate may seem inadequate while the same amount of food on a small plate may seem to be too much.

Human self-perception is also well known to create unhealthy behaviors.

Less acute behavioral issues may also occur in a manner related to self-perception, such as when a person exercises excessively because they think their musculature is not yet large enough, or when a person eats too much because they have worn loose clothes and thus do not accurately perceive themselves as overweight.

Not only does Fred put the nurses at risk of an accidental needle puncture, but Fred may harm himself or be unable to receive the treatment.

Fear of the experience of the procedure may even result in a failure of a patient or guardian to consent to a medically beneficial procedure.

Ultimately, however, existing treatments rely on the patient not seeing the needle (or other implements), not knowing the needle is part of the treatment, or simply tolerating seeing the needle (or other implements).

For example, a person with a phobia of snakes may be unable to walk in certain wilderness areas—even areas where the only snakes present are harmless—because of this phobia.

In a somewhat opposite example, a person's retina may receive an image of a mosquito on their arm nestled among dark hair, but the sensory data may be insufficient to cause the human to identify and react to the mosquito, even though the mosquito may carry malaria or other diseases.

In such situations, a response (i.e., killing of the mosquito) is desired, yet because the sensory data is insufficient, no response is forth coming.

Native human sensory capability is well suited to applications such as finding food on a savannah, but poorly suited to maximizing efficacy in military or public safety applications.

However, simply enhancing data is insufficient to overcome the sensory deficits that put humans at risk in modern situations, and the fundamental problem remains: humans do not innately perceive combat threats or policing threats with the same native fluency as they perceive the threats human sensory systems have evolved to address.

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