Information processing method and information processing system

Abstract

The information processing method includes: acquiring, by a sensor, first cerebral blood flow information corresponding to a change over time in cerebral blood flow in a central portion in a left-right direction of a user's forehead; acquiring, by the sensor, second cerebral blood flow information corresponding to a change over time in the cerebral blood flow at the end of the user in the left-right direction (step S101); and determining, by the processor, whether the degree of divergent thinking of the user is in a rising state or whether the degree of convergent thinking is in a rising state on the basis of a comparison between the first cerebral blood flow information and the second cerebral blood flow information (steps S104 and S105).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an information processing method and an information processing system. Background Art

[0002] Human creative thinking includes: convergent thinking, which is to enter into logical thinking based on known information and come up with a single solution; and divergent thinking, which is to generate new ideas through repeated thinking based on known information.

[0003] Conventionally, there is a technology for estimating a person's concentration based on cerebral blood flow (see Patent Document 1).

[0004] Prior art literature

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-140107

[0007] Non-patent literature

[0008] Non-patent document 1: Koichiro Tomimoto, Hiroshi Hashiura, Kozo Tsuji, Kenki Kimura, "Office lighting system for improving workers' creativity - Research on lighting conditions suitable for creative office scenes", Proceedings of the Kansai Branch Conference of the Japanese Ergonomics Society 2009, pp. 171-174, December 5, 2009 Summary of the invention

[0009] The present disclosure provides an information processing method and the like that can objectively evaluate a subject's creative thinking state.

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information processing method of one embodiment of the present invention includes: using a sensor to obtain first cerebral blood flow information, the first cerebral blood flow information corresponds to the temporal changes in the cerebral blood flow in the central part of the user's forehead in the left-right direction; using the sensor to obtain second cerebral blood flow information, the second cerebral blood flow information corresponds to the temporal changes in the cerebral blood flow at the end parts of the user's forehead in the left-right direction; based on the comparison between the first cerebral blood flow information and the second cerebral blood flow information, the processor determines whether the degree of divergent thinking of the user is in an upward state or whether the degree of convergent thinking is in an upward state.

[0011] In addition, these general or specific methods can be implemented through systems, devices, integrated circuits, computer programs, or computer-readable recording media such as CD-ROMs, or can be implemented through any combination of systems, devices, integrated circuits, computer programs, and recording media.

[0012] The information processing method disclosed in the present invention can objectively evaluate the creative thinking state of the subject. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1A It is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of a cerebral blood flow measurement device.

[0014] Figure 1B It is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the structure of a cerebral blood flow measurement device.

[0015] Figure 1C This is an explanatory diagram showing the change in the cerebral blood flow of the subject for each mental state.

[0016] Figure 2A This is a first explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the change in cerebral blood flow and the mental state of the subject.

[0017] Figure 2B This is a second explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the change in cerebral blood flow and the mental state of the subject.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a living body measurement device according to an embodiment.

[0019] Figure 4A This is a first flowchart showing a method of determining a user's mental state executed by the biological measurement device in the embodiment.

[0020] Figure 4B This is a second flowchart showing a method of determining a user's mental state executed by the biological measurement device in the embodiment.

[0021] Figure 5 It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the user's mental state determined by the biological measurement device in the embodiment.

[0022] Fig. 6A This is an explanatory diagram of a first example of presentation of determination results by the living body measurement apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0023] Figure 6B It is an explanatory diagram of a second example of display of determination results in the embodiment.

[0024] Figure 6C It is an explanatory diagram of a third example of the display of the determination result in the embodiment.

[0025] Fig.6D It is an explanatory diagram of a fourth example of the display of the determination result in the embodiment.

[0026] Fig. 6E It is an explanatory diagram of a fifth example of the display of the determination result in the embodiment.

[0027] Fig. 6F It is an explanatory diagram of a sixth example of the display of the determination result in the embodiment.

[0028] Figure 6G It is an explanatory diagram of a seventh example of the display of the determination result in the embodiment.

[0029] Figure 7 This is a flowchart showing an example of a process of controlling lighting according to a determination result in the embodiment.

[0030] Figure 8 It is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the illuminance and color temperature of lighting and the user's mental state in lighting control according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] (Insights forming the basis of this disclosure)

[0032] Before describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, the findings found by the inventors of the present application will be described.

[0033] The government is promoting work style reforms in the context of a labor shortage in an aging society with a low birth rate. Companies are working to build various mechanisms to improve employees' intellectual productivity. Employees' willingness to work is closely related to office space, and environmental design or space control that improves intellectual productivity is being developed.

[0034] In order to improve intellectual productivity, it is important not only for employees to be able to focus on their work, but also to be able to think more creatively. Creative thinking includes: convergent thinking, which is to enter logical thinking based on known information and come up with a single solution; and divergent thinking, which is to think repeatedly based on known information to generate new ideas.

[0035] Although methods for evaluating the impact of the surrounding environment on thinking state have been studied in the past, no standardized objective quantitative indicators have been established.

[0036] The present disclosure provides an information processing method and the like capable of objectively evaluating a person's creative thinking state.

[0037] The following describes an example of biological information when the subject is asked to perform a task requiring convergent thinking and a task requiring divergent thinking. The biological information is information related to cerebral blood flow (more specifically, the amount of change in cerebral blood flow in the center of the forehead and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow in the end of the forehead).

[0038] Figure 1A 2 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of the cerebral blood flow measurement device 10 . Figure 1B It is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the structure of the cerebral blood flow measurement device 10. Figure 1C This is an explanatory diagram showing the changes in the cerebral blood flow of the subject in each mental state. Figures 1A to 1C To illustrate the relationship between the subjects' cerebral blood flow and their thinking state.

[0039] like Figure 1A As shown, the cerebral blood flow measurement device 10 is worn at a position covering the forehead of a user U who is a subject.

[0040] The cerebral blood flow measurement device 10 can measure the cerebral blood flow (more specifically, the amount of oxygenated hemoglobin OxyHb) of the user U at a plurality of positions (also referred to as measurement positions) 11 covering the central part (also referred to as "central part of the forehead") and the ends (also referred to as "ends of the forehead") of the forehead of the user U in the left-right direction. The number of measurement positions 11 is, for example, 16. Figure 1A Characters "1" to "16" are added in . The measurement position 11 is provided at a position on the forehead of the user U that is opposite to a position on the forehead to be measured for cerebral blood flow when the cerebral blood flow measurement device 10 is worn on the forehead.

[0041] The cerebral blood flow measurement device 10 includes one or more light emitting units and one or more light receiving units for measuring the cerebral blood flow at a plurality of measurement locations 11 .

[0042] Reference Figure 1B An example of arrangement of one or more light emitting units and one or more light receiving units will be described.

[0043] Figure 1B The cerebral blood flow measuring device 10 shows 16 measurement positions 11, 6 light emitting units 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 (also referred to as light emitting units 21, etc.), and 6 light receiving units 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 (also referred to as light receiving units 31, etc.).

[0044] The light emitting unit 21 and the like are provided on the surface facing the forehead of the user U when the cerebral blood flow measurement device 10 is worn on the forehead of the user U, that is, provided on the surface capable of emitting light to the forehead of the user U. When the cerebral blood flow measurement device 10 is worn on the forehead of the user U, the light receiving unit 31 and the like are provided on the surface facing the forehead of the user U, that is, provided on the surface capable of receiving light from the forehead of the user U.

[0045] The cerebral blood flow measurement device 10 is constructed using the following structure: a light-emitting unit among the six light-emitting units 21, etc., which is located closer to the position of the object (also called the object position) for measuring the cerebral blood flow of the forehead of the user U; and a light-receiving unit among the six light-receiving units 31, etc., which is located closer to the object position.

[0046] For example, when measuring the cerebral blood flow at the measurement position 11 of “2”, the light emitting unit 22 closer to the measurement position 11 of “2” and the light receiving unit 31 closer to the measurement position 11 of “2” are used.

[0047] Similarly, for example, when measuring the cerebral blood flow at the measurement position 11 of “9”, the light emitting unit 23 closer to the measurement position 11 of “9” and the light receiving unit 34 closer to the measurement position 11 of “9” are used.

[0048] in addition, Figure 1B The arrangement and number of the light emitting parts 21 and the light receiving parts 31 are merely examples and are not limited thereto.

[0049] The cerebral blood flow rate, which is the measured value of the cerebral blood flow at the plurality of measurement positions 11 , is also referred to as a channel. In addition, the cerebral blood flow rate at one measurement position 11 is indicated by adding a character added to the channel.

[0050] For example, channels 1 to 6 represent the cerebral blood flow at the forehead end (right side) of user U, channels 7 to 10 represent the cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead of user U, and channels 11 to 16 represent the cerebral blood flow at the forehead end (left side) of user U.

[0051] Figure 1C An example of the amount of change in cerebral blood flow measured by the cerebral blood flow measurement device 10 when 50 subjects were asked to perform tasks requiring convergent thinking and tasks requiring divergent thinking, respectively, is shown. Figure 1C In the figure, the average value of the cerebral blood flow changes of the 50 subjects is represented by a bar graph, and the standard error of the cerebral blood flow changes of the 50 subjects is represented by an error bar.

[0052] Figure 1C The cerebral blood flow changes of channels 2, 9 and 14 shown in the figure are values ​​obtained based on the cerebral blood flow of channels 2, 9 and 14, respectively, and are the changes in cerebral blood flow at the time of ending the subject based on the cerebral blood flow at the time of starting the subject. The time from the start to the end of the subject is about 5 minutes. Figure 1C The cerebral blood flow changes of channels 2, 9, and 14 shown respectively show the cerebral blood flow changes at the forehead end (right side), forehead center, and forehead end (left side) of the subject.

[0053] according to Figure 1C The cerebral blood flow changes shown in the figure show that when the subject is performing a task that requires convergent thinking or a task that requires divergent thinking, the cerebral blood flow changes in the central part of the forehead and the end of the forehead are greater than 0. In addition, it can be seen that when the subject is performing a task that requires divergent thinking, the cerebral blood flow changes in the central part of the forehead are greater than the cerebral blood flow changes in the end of the forehead. In addition, it can be seen that there is no significant difference between the left and right sides of the end of the forehead.

[0054] according to Figure 1CThe cerebral blood flow change shown, for example, is based on the cerebral blood flow in the state where the subject is not performing the task (also called the calm state). When the cerebral blood flow change in the state where the subject is performing the task (also called the execution state) is greater than 0, it is possible to determine that the degree of convergent thinking or divergent thinking of the subject is increasing. In addition, when the cerebral blood flow change in the central part of the forehead is greater than the cerebral blood flow change in the end of the forehead, it is possible to determine that the degree of divergent thinking of the subject is increasing. In addition, when the cerebral blood flow change in the end of the forehead is greater than the cerebral blood flow change in the central part of the forehead, it is possible to determine that the degree of convergent thinking of the subject is increasing.

[0055] Figure 2A This is a first explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the change in cerebral blood flow and the mental state of the subject.

[0056] Figure 2A The cerebral blood flow change in the central part of the forehead is set as the x-axis, and the cerebral blood flow change in the end of the forehead is set as the y-axis, showing the thinking state of the subject determined based on the cerebral blood flow change in the central part of the forehead and the end of the forehead.

[0057] exist Figure 2A In the region of x>0 and y>0, i.e., the first quadrant, the area corresponds to the state where the cerebral blood flow changes at both the central and the end of the forehead are increasing. The measured values ​​of the cerebral blood flow changes at the central and the end of the forehead of the subject correspond to one position in the first quadrant.

[0058] Based on the positional relationship between the measured values ​​of the change in cerebral blood flow at the center and end of the subject's forehead (i.e., one position in the first quadrant) and the straight line L (equivalent to y=x), it is possible to determine whether the subject's degree of convergent thinking is increasing or whether the degree of divergent thinking is increasing.

[0059] That is, when the change in cerebral blood flow at the end of the subject's forehead is smaller than that in the central part of the forehead (in other words, when y is less than x, that is, when area A1 is located at the lower right of straight line L), it is possible to judge that the subject's divergent thinking level is increasing.

[0060] On the other hand, when the change in cerebral blood flow at the end of the subject's forehead is greater than that in the central part of the forehead (in other words, when y>x, in area A2 located to the upper left of straight line L), it is possible to judge that the subject's degree of convergent thinking is increasing.

[0061] In addition, when the change in cerebral blood flow at the end of the subject's forehead is equal to the change in cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead (in other words, when y = x, that is, when located on the straight line L), it may be possible to determine that the degree of the subject's divergent thinking is increasing, or it may be possible to determine that the degree of the subject's convergent thinking is increasing.

[0062] In addition, when the degree of convergent thinking is increasing, it sometimes means being in a state of divergent thinking and changing towards a state of convergent thinking, and sometimes means being in a state of convergent thinking and the degree of this convergent thinking is increasing. Similarly, when the degree of divergent thinking is increasing, it sometimes means being in a state of convergent thinking and changing towards a state of divergent thinking, and sometimes means being in a state of divergent thinking and the degree of this divergent thinking is increasing.

[0063] In addition, in order to improve the accuracy of the determination of the thinking state, a buffer area can be set.

[0064] Figure 2B It is a second explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the change in cerebral blood flow of the subject and the thinking state.

[0065] And Figure 2A Similarly, in Figure 2B the change in cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead is set as the x-axis, and the change in cerebral blood flow at the end of the forehead is set as the y-axis, showing the thinking state of the subject determined based on the changes in cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead and the end of the forehead.

[0066] In Figure 2B there is a straight line L1 located at a position advancing d1 in the positive y-axis direction from the straight line L, and a straight line L2 located at a position advancing d2 in the negative y-axis direction from the straight line L.

[0067] Based on the positional relationship between the measured values of the changes in cerebral blood flow at the center of the subject's forehead and the end of the forehead (that is, a position in the first quadrant) and the positions of the straight lines L1 and L2, it may be possible to determine whether the degree of the subject's convergent thinking is increasing, or whether the degree of the subject's divergent thinking is increasing.

[0068] That is, when the change in cerebral blood flow at the end of the subject's forehead is less than d2 or more than the change in cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead (in other words, when y < x - d2, that is, in the area A3 located右下 of the straight line L2), it may be possible to determine that the degree of the subject's divergent thinking is increasing.

[0069] On the other hand, when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow at the end of the subject's forehead is greater than d1 more than the amount of change in cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead (in other words, when y > x + d1, that is, in region A4 located to the upper left of line L1), it may be possible to determine that the degree of the subject's convergent thinking is increasing.

[0070] In addition, when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow at the end of the subject's forehead is greater than a value smaller than the amount of change in cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead by d2 and smaller than a value greater than the amount of change in cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead by d1 (in other words, when x - d2 < y < x + d1, that is, in a position sandwiched between line L1 and line L2), it may be possible to determine that neither the degree of the subject's convergent thinking is in an increasing state nor the degree of the subject's divergent thinking is in an increasing state.

[0071] In addition, when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow at the end of the subject's forehead is smaller than the amount of change in cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead by d2 (in other words, when y = x - d2, that is, on line L1) or greater than the amount of change in cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead by d1 (in other words, when y = x + d1, that is, on line L2), it can be assumed that it may be possible to determine that the degree of the subject's divergent thinking is increasing, or it can be assumed that it may be possible to determine that the degree of the subject's convergent thinking is increasing.

[0072] In addition, when determining the thinking state of the subject, it is possible to determine the thinking state of the subject when staying in the same region for more than an arbitrarily set time t.

[0073] Hereinafter, the technology obtained from the disclosure of this specification will be exemplified, and the effects obtained from this technology will be described.

[0074] (1) An information processing method, comprising: obtaining first cerebral blood flow information using a sensor, the first cerebral blood flow information corresponding to the temporal change of cerebral blood flow at the central part of the user's forehead in the left-right direction; obtaining second cerebral blood flow information using the sensor, the second cerebral blood flow information corresponding to the temporal change of cerebral blood flow at the end part of the user's forehead in the left-right direction; and determining, by a processor, whether the degree of the user's divergent thinking is in an increasing state or whether the degree of the user's convergent thinking is in an increasing state based on a comparison between the first cerebral blood flow information and the second cerebral blood flow information.

[0075] According to the above-mentioned method, the temporal changes in the cerebral blood flow in the central part and the end of the user's forehead can be used to determine whether the user's divergent thinking level is on the rise, or whether the convergent thinking level is on the rise. In the past, the technology for determining the user's divergent thinking or convergent thinking level based on the temporal changes in the cerebral blood flow in the central part and the end of the user's forehead was unknown. According to the above-mentioned information processing method, the temporal changes in the cerebral blood flow in the central part and the end of the user's forehead can be used to determine whether the user's divergent thinking level is on the rise, or whether the convergent thinking level is on the rise. In this way, according to the above-mentioned information processing method, the creative thinking state of the subject can be objectively evaluated.

[0076] (2) According to the information processing method described in (1), the sensor obtains the cerebral blood flow at a first time point in the central part and the cerebral blood flow at a second time point after the first time point, and obtains the cerebral blood flow at a first time point in the end part and the cerebral blood flow at the second time point, and the judgment includes judging that the degree of divergent thinking of the user is in a positive rising state when it is judged that the increase in the cerebral blood flow at the second time point in the central part relative to the first time point is greater than the increase in the cerebral blood flow at the second time point in the end part relative to the first time point.

[0077] According to the above method, by using the increase in cerebral blood flow at the first time point and the second time point in the center and end of the user's forehead, it is easier to determine that the degree of divergent thinking of the user is increasing. In this way, according to the above information processing method, it is possible to more easily and objectively evaluate the creative thinking state of the subject.

[0078] (3) According to the information processing method described in (1) or (2), the sensor repeatedly obtains the cerebral blood flow in the central part and repeatedly obtains the cerebral blood flow in the end part, and the judgment includes, when it is judged that the ratio of the change of the cerebral blood flow in the central part relative to time is greater than the ratio of the change of the cerebral blood flow in the end part relative to time, judging that the degree of divergent thinking of the user is in a positive rising state.

[0079] According to the above-mentioned method, by using the ratio of the change of cerebral blood flow relative to time at the central part and the end of the user's forehead at the first time point and the second time point, it is possible to more easily determine that the degree of divergent thinking of the user is on the rise. In addition, since the ratio of the change of cerebral blood flow relative to time (in other words, the slope in the graph representing the change of cerebral blood flow over time) is used, it also has the effect of being able to determine that the degree of divergent thinking of the user is on the rise by measuring the cerebral blood flow only in a relatively short period of time. In this way, according to the above-mentioned information processing method, the creative thinking state of the subject can be more easily and objectively evaluated in a short period of time. Since the evaluation can be performed in a short period of time, the processing load of the processor can be reduced.

[0080] (4) According to the information processing method described in any one of (1) to (3), the sensor obtains the cerebral blood flow at a first time point in the central part and the cerebral blood flow at a second time point after the first time point, and obtains the cerebral blood flow at the first time point at the end and the cerebral blood flow at the second time point, and the judgment includes judging that the degree of convergent thinking of the user is in a positive rising state when it is judged that the increase in the cerebral blood flow at the second time point at the end relative to the first time point is greater than the increase in the cerebral blood flow at the second time point in the central part relative to the first time point.

[0081] According to the above method, by using the increase in cerebral blood flow at the first time point and the second time point of the center and the end of the user's forehead, it is easier to determine that the degree of convergent thinking of the user is increasing. In this way, according to the above information processing method, it is possible to more easily and objectively evaluate the creative thinking state of the subject.

[0082] (5) According to the information processing method described in any one of (1) to (4), the sensor obtains the first cerebral blood flow information and the second cerebral blood flow information respectively during multiple periods, and the judgment includes, for the multiple periods, judging whether the degree of divergent thinking of the user in the period is in a positive rising state, or whether the degree of convergent thinking is in a positive rising state, based on the first cerebral blood flow information and the second cerebral blood flow information obtained in the period, respectively. The information processing method also includes generating a graph representing the ratio of the periods in which the degree of convergent thinking of the user is in a positive rising state and the periods in which the degree of divergent thinking of the user is in a positive rising state among the multiple periods, and displaying the graph.

[0083] According to the above aspect, since a graph showing the ratio of the user's thinking state in each of the multiple periods is displayed, it is helpful for the viewer of the graph to centrally grasp the user's thinking state throughout the multiple periods. Therefore, according to the above information processing method, the creative thinking state of the subject throughout the multiple periods can be objectively evaluated, and the viewer can easily grasp the subject's thinking state.

[0084] (6) The information processing method according to (2) or (3), further comprising controlling a lighting device that illuminates the vicinity of the user to increase the color temperature of the lighting light and the illuminance.

[0085] According to the above method, when it is determined that the degree of divergent thinking of the user is increasing, the lighting device can be used to appropriately guide the user to a convergent thinking state. Therefore, according to the above information processing method, the creative thinking state of the subject can be objectively evaluated, and the user whose degree of divergent thinking is determined to be increasing can be guided to a convergent thinking state.

[0086] (7) The information processing method according to (4), further comprising controlling a lighting device that illuminates the vicinity of the user to lower the color temperature of the lighting light and increase the illuminance.

[0087] According to the above method, when it is determined that the degree of convergent thinking of the user is increasing, the lighting device can be used to appropriately guide the user to a divergent thinking state. Therefore, according to the above information processing method, the creative thinking state of the subject can be objectively evaluated, and the user whose degree of convergent thinking is determined to be increasing can be guided to a divergent thinking state.

[0088] (8) An information processing method, comprising using a processor to: obtain target information indicating that a user is in a state set as a target, i.e., a target state; obtain cerebral blood flow information indicating the time-dependent changes in the cerebral blood flow of the user; determine the user's thinking state based on the cerebral blood flow information; compare the target state shown in the target information with the determined thinking state of the user; and as a result of the comparison, when the target state and the determined thinking state of the user do not match, control a change in the characteristics of the illumination light irradiated by the illumination device that illuminates the vicinity of the user.

[0089] According to the above aspect, the same effects as those of the above information processing method are achieved.

[0090] According to the above method, when the user's thinking state determined based on the user's cerebral blood flow information is different from the target state, the user's thinking state can be appropriately guided to the target state using the lighting device. Therefore, according to the above information processing method, the creative thinking state of the subject can be objectively evaluated, and the user's thinking state can be guided to the target state.

[0091] (9) An information processing system comprising: a light source that emits a first light toward the center of a user's forehead in the left-right direction, and emits a second light toward the ends of the user's forehead in the left-right direction; a detector that detects a third light from the center generated by the first light, and detects a fourth light from the ends generated by the second light; a processing circuit; and a display device, wherein the processing circuit generates first cerebral blood flow information based on the third light, the first cerebral blood flow information including information on the time-varying hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the center, and the processing circuit generates second cerebral blood flow information based on the fourth light, the second cerebral blood flow information including information on the time-varying hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow at the ends, and the processing circuit generates second cerebral blood flow information based on the first The cerebral blood flow information and the second cerebral blood flow information perform a comparison process of comparing the change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the central part and the change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the end part, and based on the comparison process, perform a judgment process, and the judgment process judges that the degree of divergent thinking of the user is in a positive rising state when it is judged that the change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the central part is greater than the change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the end part, and judges that the degree of convergent thinking of the user is in a positive rising state when it is judged that the change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the end part is greater than the change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the central part, and displays the result of the judgment process on the display.

[0092] According to the above aspect, the same effects as those of the above information processing method are achieved.

[0093] In addition, these general or specific methods can be implemented by systems, devices, integrated circuits, computer programs, or computer-readable recording media such as CD-ROMs, or by any combination of systems, devices, integrated circuits, computer programs, or recording media.

[0094] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0095] In addition, the embodiments described below all represent general or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, constituent elements, configuration positions and connection methods of constituent elements, steps, and the order of steps shown in the following embodiments are all examples, and their purport is not to limit the present disclosure. In addition, among the constituent elements of the following embodiments, constituent elements not recorded in the independent technical solutions representing the highest concept are described as arbitrary constituent elements.

[0096] (Implementation Method)

[0097] In this embodiment, an information processing method capable of objectively evaluating the creative thinking state of a subject will be described.

[0098] Figure 3 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the living body measurement apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

[0099] The biometric measurement device 100 is an information processing device that measures biometric information of the user U. The biometric measurement device 100 may be a non-contact NIRS (Near-Infrared Spectroscopy) device. The biometric information of the user U is information related to the cerebral blood flow of the user U (more specifically, the amount of change in cerebral blood flow in the center of the forehead and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow in the end of the forehead). The biometric measurement device 100 may also be said to be a sensor that measures information related to the cerebral blood flow of the user U.

[0100] The living body measurement device 100 includes a camera unit 110 , a processing device 130 , and a display device 200 .

[0101] The camera unit 110 measures the cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead of the user U and the cerebral blood flow at the end of the forehead of the user U. The camera unit 110 has one or more light emitting units 112 and one or more light receiving units 114. The one or more light emitting units 112 and the one or more light receiving units 114 correspond to, for example, Figure 1B The light emitting section 21 and the light receiving section 31 shown in FIG.

[0102] The light emitting unit 112 is a light source of near-infrared light. The near-infrared light emitted by the light emitting unit 112 includes near-infrared light of a wavelength (for example, a wavelength of 800 nm) that is easily absorbed by hemoglobin.

[0103] More specifically, the light emitting unit 112 of the camera unit 110 for measuring the cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead of the user U emits near-infrared light (equivalent to the first light) toward the center of the forehead of the user U. The light emitting unit 112 of the camera unit 110 for measuring the cerebral blood flow at the end of the forehead of the user U emits near-infrared light (equivalent to the second light) toward the end of the forehead of the user U.

[0104] The light receiving unit 114 is a sensor (also referred to as a detector) that detects the reflected light of the near-infrared light emitted by the light emitting unit 112, and is, for example, an image sensor. More specifically, the light receiving unit 114 (equivalent to the first sensor) provided by the camera unit 110 for measuring the cerebral blood flow in the central part of the forehead of the user U detects the near-infrared light (equivalent to the third light) from the central part of the forehead generated by the above-mentioned first light. The light receiving unit 114 (equivalent to the second sensor) provided by the camera unit 110 for measuring the cerebral blood flow at the end of the forehead of the user U detects the near-infrared light (equivalent to the fourth light) from the end of the forehead generated by the above-mentioned second light.

[0105] The reflected light from the entire forehead including the forehead end, the central part, and the part different from the forehead end and the central part can be detected, and the cerebral blood flow of the forehead end and the central part can be derived based on the reflected light, and the cerebral blood flow of the part different from the forehead end and the central part is not derived. Since the reflected light from the forehead end and the central part can be detected, and the reflected light from the part different from the forehead end and the central part is not detected, it is possible to suppress the acquisition of redundant data while maintaining the accuracy of measurement, and it is possible to reduce the processing load.

[0106] The camera unit 110 irradiates the forehead of the user U with near-infrared light Ie through the light-emitting unit 112 under the control of the control circuit 132. The irradiated near-infrared light Ie is divided into a surface component I1 and a diffuse component I2, wherein the surface component I1 is a component reflected on the surface of the forehead, and the diffuse component I2 is a component that passes through the scalp and skull and diffuses in the cerebral neocortex. A portion of the diffuse component I2 returns to the camera unit 110 via the cerebral neocortex of the user U and is received by the light receiving unit 114. The remaining portion of the diffuse component I2 other than the above-mentioned portion is absorbed by the hemoglobin contained in the cerebral blood flow or diffuses in the cerebral neocortex. Therefore, the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit 114 reflects the temporal changes in the cerebral blood flow.

[0107] The light receiving unit 114 generates information indicating the intensity of the received light and provides it to the processing device 130 (more specifically, the processing circuit 134 ).

[0108] The processing device 130 includes a control circuit 132 , a processing circuit 134 , and a memory 136 .

[0109] The control circuit 132 controls the camera unit 110. Specifically, the control circuit 132 controls the light emission of the light emitting unit 112 and the light reception of the light receiving unit 114. The control circuit 132 may be a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an integrated circuit such as a microcontroller with a built-in processor.

[0110] The control circuit 132 controls the light emitting unit 112 to emit light at the timing when the cerebral blood flow of the user U should be measured, and also controls the light receiving unit 114 to receive light (i.e., the above-mentioned part of the surface component I1 and the diffuse component I2, etc.) that reaches from the user U due to the light emitted by the light emitting unit 112. The control circuit 132 continuously uses the camera unit 110 to obtain the intensity of the near-infrared light reflected from the user U from when the user U is in a calm state to when the thought state of the user U should be determined.

[0111] The processing circuit 134 obtains a signal indicating the intensity of the near-infrared light received by the light receiving unit 114 from the camera unit 110 , and generates cerebral blood flow information of the user U by performing arithmetic processing on the signal. In addition, the processing circuit 134 determines the thought state of the user U based on the cerebral blood flow information of the user U.

[0112] The cerebral blood flow information generated by the processing circuit 134 includes first cerebral blood flow information and second cerebral blood flow information. It can be said that the first cerebral blood flow information and the second cerebral blood flow information are acquired by the biological measurement device 100, that is, the sensor.

[0113] The first cerebral blood flow information is cerebral blood flow information obtained using the camera unit 110 (more specifically, the light receiving unit 114) that measures the cerebral blood flow in the central part of the forehead of the user U. In other words, the first cerebral blood flow information is obtained by performing arithmetic processing by the processing circuit 134 on the signal obtained by the camera unit 110 that measures the cerebral blood flow in the central part of the forehead of the user U. The first cerebral blood flow information includes information on the temporal change of the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the central part of the forehead.

[0114] The second cerebral blood flow information is cerebral blood flow information obtained using the camera unit 110 (more specifically, the light receiving unit 114) that measures the cerebral blood flow at the forehead of the user U. In other words, the second cerebral blood flow information is obtained by performing arithmetic processing on the signal obtained by the camera unit 110 that measures the cerebral blood flow at the forehead of the user U by the processing circuit 134. The second cerebral blood flow information includes information on the temporal change of the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow at the forehead.

[0115] As a judgment of the thinking state of the user U, the processing circuit 134 compares the first cerebral blood flow information with the second cerebral blood flow information, and based on the comparison result, judges whether the degree of divergent thinking of the user U is increasing or whether the degree of convergent thinking is increasing. More specifically, when the processing circuit 134 judges that the change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the central part of the forehead is greater than the change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the end part of the forehead, it judges that the degree of divergent thinking of the user U is in a positive increasing state, and when the processing circuit 134 judges that the change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the end part of the forehead is greater than the change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the central part of the forehead, it judges that the degree of convergent thinking of the user U is in a positive increasing state.

[0116] The memory 136 is a storage device used as a work area used when the control circuit 132 operates. In addition, the memory 136 is also used as a storage area for the measured value of the cerebral blood flow.

[0117] The display device 200 displays the measurement result of the biological measurement device 100. More specifically, the display device 200 displays the determination result of the mental state of the user U by the processing circuit 134. The display device 200 may be a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal computer, etc. connected to the biological measurement device 100. The connection between the display device 200 and the biological measurement device 100 may be wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark), or wired communication such as USB or Ethernet (registered trademark).

[0118] In addition, the biometric device 100 may be connected to another output device (e.g., a speaker or a communication interface) instead of the display device 200, or may be connected to another output device together with the display device 200. When a speaker is connected to the biometric device 100, the biometric device 100 generates sound data indicating the determination result and supplies the sound data to the speaker, causing the speaker to output the sound.

[0119] Figure 4A 1 is a first flowchart showing a method of determining the mental state of the user U executed by the biological measurement device 100 in this embodiment. Figure 4A The series of processing shown is a process of continuously measuring the cerebral blood flow at the center and ends of the forehead of the user U.

[0120] In step S11, the biometric measurement device 100 uses the camera unit 110 and the processing circuit 134 to measure the cerebral blood flow in the center of the forehead and the cerebral blood flow at the end of the forehead of the user U at the reference time point. The processing circuit 134 stores the measured cerebral blood flow of the user U at the reference time point in the memory 136. The reference time point is a time point when the user U is in a calm state, for example, it can be a time point when the user U starts a project or work. The reference time point is also called a first time point.

[0121] In step S12, the biological measurement device 100 measures the cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead and the cerebral blood flow at the end of the forehead of the user U at the current time point using the camera unit 110 and the processing circuit 134. The processing circuit 134 stores the measured cerebral blood flow at the current time point of the user U in the memory 136. The time point at which the processing of step S12 is performed is also referred to as the second time point.

[0122] In step S13, the biometric measurement device 100 uses the cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead and the cerebral blood flow at the end of the forehead of the user U measured in step S12 as a reference, and calculates the change in the cerebral blood flow at the center of the forehead and the cerebral blood flow at the end of the forehead of the user U measured in step S12 by the following (Formula 1) and (Formula 2). In addition, when the change in cerebral blood flow is greater than 0, it can also be said to be an increase in cerebral blood flow.

[0123] The change in cerebral blood flow in the central forehead = the cerebral blood flow in the central forehead measured in step S12 - the cerebral blood flow in the central forehead at the reference time point (Formula 1)

[0124] Change in cerebral blood flow at the forehead end = cerebral blood flow at the forehead end measured in step S12 - cerebral blood flow at the forehead end at the reference time point (Formula 2)

[0125] When the process of step S13 is completed, the biometric measurement device 100 executes the process of step S12 again. When the biometric measurement device 100 completes the determination of the mental state of the user U, the execution of step S12 is terminated.

[0126] When the biological measurement device 100 repeatedly executes steps S12 and S13, Figure 4B For example, each time the biological measurement device 100 executes step S13, Figure 4B Processing shown.

[0127] Figure 4B This is a second flowchart showing a method of determining the mental state of the user U executed by the biological measurement device 100 in this embodiment.

[0128] In step S101, the processing circuit 134 obtains the cerebral blood flow change amount at the center of the forehead and the cerebral blood flow change amount at the end of the forehead of the user U. The cerebral blood flow change amount obtained by the camera unit 110 is obtained in step S13 (see Figure 4A ) is the change in cerebral blood flow of user U calculated in .

[0129] In step S102, the processing circuit 134 determines whether the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead obtained in step S101 is greater than 0 or whether the cerebral blood flow change amount in the end part of the forehead is greater than 0. If it is determined that the cerebral blood flow in the central part of the forehead is greater than 0 or the cerebral blood flow in the end part of the forehead is greater than 0 (yes in step S102), the process proceeds to step S103, and otherwise (no in step S102), the process proceeds to step S106.

[0130] In step S103, the processing circuit 134 determines whether the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead obtained in step S101 is greater than the cerebral blood flow change amount in the end part of the forehead. If it is determined that the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead is greater than the cerebral blood flow change amount in the end part of the forehead (yes in step S103), the process proceeds to step S104, and otherwise (no in step S103), the process proceeds to step S105.

[0131] In step S104 , the processing circuit 134 determines that the thinking state of the user U is in a state where the degree of divergent thinking is increasing.

[0132] In step S105 , the processing circuit 134 determines that the thought state of the user U is in a state where the degree of convergent thought is increasing.

[0133] In step S106 , the processing circuit 134 determines that the thinking state of the user U at the current time point is in a state where neither the degree of divergent thinking nor the degree of convergent thinking has increased (also referred to as a neutral state).

[0134] like Figure 4B As shown in the flowchart of , when the processing circuit 134 determines in step S106 that the thinking state of the user U at the current time point is in a state where neither the degree of divergent thinking nor the degree of convergent thinking has increased (also referred to as a neutral state), after the processing circuit 134 obtains the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead and the cerebral blood flow change amount in the end of the forehead of the user U in step S101, before performing the judgment in step S106, the comparison of the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead and the cerebral blood flow change amount in the end of the forehead shown in S103 is not performed. As a result, the processing circuit 134 can determine the thinking state of the user U while reducing the amount of calculation.

[0135] In step S107 , the processing circuit 134 outputs the determination result of step S104 , S105 or S106 using the display device 200 .

[0136] pass Figure 4A and Figure 4B The processing shown can determine, as the thinking state of the user U, whether the degree of divergent thinking of the user U is increasing or whether the degree of convergent thinking of the user U is increasing.

[0137] In addition, the processing circuit 134 performs the following processing instead of Figure 4A and Figure 4B as shown, or by Figure 4A and Figure 4B The following processing is performed together with the processing shown, and it can be determined that the degree of divergent thinking of the user U is in a positively increasing state.

[0138] That is, when the processing circuit 134 determines that the ratio of the change in cerebral blood flow in the central part of the forehead relative to time is greater than the ratio of the change in cerebral blood flow in the end of the forehead relative to time, the processing circuit 134 can determine that the degree of divergent thinking of the user U is in a positively increasing state. In this case, it is assumed that the first sensor repeatedly obtains the cerebral blood flow in the central part of the forehead and the second sensor repeatedly obtains the cerebral blood flow in the end of the forehead. Here, the ratio of the change in cerebral blood flow relative to time is equivalent to the time-dependent change of cerebral blood flow (refer to Figure 5 ) in other words, is equivalent to the differential value of the temporal change of cerebral blood flow.

[0139] Figure 5 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the mental state of the user U determined by the biological measurement device 100 in this embodiment.

[0140] Figure 5 (a) shows the temporal change of the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead of the user U with respect to time. Figure 5 (b) shows the temporal change of the cerebral blood flow change amount at the forehead end of the user U with respect to time.

[0141] Here, yes Figure 5 The time intervals T1, T2 and T3 are shown for illustration.

[0142] In the case of time interval T1, the processing circuit 134 determines in step S102 that the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead is greater than 0, and the cerebral blood flow change amount in the end of the forehead is greater than 0. In addition, the processing circuit 134 determines in step S103 that the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead is greater than the cerebral blood flow change amount in the end of the forehead. As a result, the processing circuit 134 determines that the thinking state of the user U is in a state where the degree of divergent thinking is increasing (step S104).

[0143] In the case of time interval T2, the processing circuit 134 determines in step S102 that the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead is greater than 0, and the cerebral blood flow change amount in the end of the forehead is greater than 0. In addition, the processing circuit 134 determines in step S103 that the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead is greater than the cerebral blood flow change amount in the end of the forehead. As a result, the processing circuit 134 determines that the thinking state of the user U is in a state where the degree of convergent thinking is increasing (step S105).

[0144] In the case of time interval T3, the processing circuit 134 determines in step S102 that the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead is not greater than 0, and the cerebral blood flow change amount in the end part of the forehead is not greater than 0. As a result, the processing circuit 134 determines that the thinking state of the user U is in a neutral state (step S106).

[0145] In the following, the display of information related to the status of user U is described. The prompted information includes Figure 4B The determination result output by the processing circuit 134 in step S107 is presented to the user U using the display device 200 .

[0146] The display device 200 presents the thought state of the user U determined by the biometric measurement device 100 , in other words, visualizes the thought state of the user U (so-called visualization).

[0147] The diagram (e.g., graph) indicating the determination result presented by the display device 200 may be a diagram (e.g., a chart) indicating the thinking state of the user U (i.e., whether the degree of convergent thinking is increasing or whether the degree of divergent thinking is increasing) in time series. Fig.6D ), or a graph showing the ratio or rate of the thought state of the user U ( Figure 6C or Fig. 6E ). In addition, only the thinking state of the user U may be shown ( Fig. 6A , Figure 6C or Fig.6D ), the evaluation value of the judgment may also be displayed together with the thinking state of the user U ( Figure 6B or Fig. 6E). The evaluation value may be a value indicating the degree of appropriateness of the thinking state of the user U, a value indicating the degree of stability of thinking based on the time that a certain thinking state can be maintained continuously, or a value indicating the proportion of the time in a certain thinking state in the task time. When displaying the evaluation value, it may be displayed as a score in the form of x points for convergent thinking or y points for divergent thinking ( Figure 6B ). In addition, more general expressions can be used to express convergent thinking as "concentration" and divergent thinking as "creativity". The judgment result can be the result of evaluating the entire business time or the result of judging the status of a specific time period.

[0148] After the processing circuit 134 determines the state of mind of the user U, when the determined state of mind is scored, the score is determined based on the amount of change to the biological information in the execution state based on the biological information of the user U in the calm state obtained in advance. In addition, the score can be calculated by comparing the average value of the biological information measured in the execution state of the user U with the value of the average feature quantity of the data of multiple people obtained in advance through experiments. Further, the score can be calculated by comparing the value of the amount of change to the biological information in the execution state calculated based on the biological information of the user U in the calm state obtained in advance and the value of the average change of the feature quantity data of multiple people obtained in advance through experiments.

[0149] FIG. 6A to FIG. 6G An example of display when displaying the determination result according to the present embodiment is shown.

[0150] Fig. 6A It is an explanatory diagram of a first example of display of determination results according to the present embodiment. Fig. 6A This is an example of using language to show what the tendency of the user U's state of mind is during the task. Fig. 6A The "divergent thinking" in is the abbreviation of "divergent thinking". In addition, the abbreviation of "convergent thinking" can also be "convergent thinking". The same is true for the following. In addition, Fig. 6A The display is not limited to the display on the screen, and the sound prompt can also be used.

[0151] Figure 6B It is an explanatory diagram of a second example of display of determination results according to the present embodiment. Figure 6B This is an example of displaying the judgment result of the state of mind of user U during the business with a score. The displayed score can be a score only for a specific state of mind or a score for multiple states of mind. The upper limit of the score can be 100 points or 5 points.

[0152] Figure 6C It is an explanatory diagram of a third example of the display of the determination result according to the present embodiment. Figure 6C This is an example of using a pie chart to represent the ratio of the thinking state (ie, convergent thinking or divergent thinking) of the user U during the task.

[0153] Fig.6D It is an explanatory diagram of a fourth example of display of determination results according to the present embodiment. Fig.6D This is an example of representing the thinking state of user U during the business in time series. The horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the thinking state of user U (i.e., convergent thinking or divergent thinking). In addition, the time shown on the horizontal axis can represent a time point or a few minutes.

[0154] Fig. 6E It is an explanatory diagram of a fifth example of the display of the determination result according to the present embodiment. Fig. 6E This is an example of representing the convergent thinking score (also called convergent thinking degree) of user U during the business period in time series. The horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the convergent thinking score of user U. In addition, the vertical axis can be set to the divergent thinking score. In addition, the results of multiple thinking states can be integrated and displayed.

[0155] Fig. 6F It is an explanatory diagram of a sixth example of presentation of determination results according to the present embodiment. Fig. 6F 1 is a diagram showing a presentation example including information other than the determination result. 2 is an example of a display image G1 displayed as presentation information on the display device 200. The display image G1 includes a graph G11, an input field G12, and message display fields G13 and G14.

[0156] Figure G11 and Figure 6C The diagrams shown are the same.

[0157] The input bar G12 is a bar where the user U selects and inputs whether to save the judgment result. In the input bar G12, a message "Do you want to save the result?", a "Yes" button, and a "No" button are displayed. The "Yes" button is a button for the user U to choose to save the judgment result. The "No" button is a button for the user U to choose not to save the judgment result. When the user U selects the "Yes" button, the display device 200 accepts the operation and changes the color of the "Yes" button. When the user U selects the "No" button, the display device 200 accepts the operation and changes the color of the "No" button. In this way, the user U can easily confirm which button has been selected.

[0158] When the user U selects the "Yes" button, the display device 200 accepts the operation, determines whether the result can be saved or not, and changes the judgment to "Permit", and saves the judgment result about the thought state of the user U. When the user U selects the "No" button, the display device 200 accepts the operation, determines whether the result can be saved or not, and does not save the judgment result about the thought state of the user U. Since the judgment result that is not permitted is not saved in the storage unit, unnecessary consumption of memory can be reduced.

[0159] The message display field G13 includes a QR code (registered trademark). In addition, the message display field G13 includes a message for notifying the user U that the user U can confirm the result of this time on his / her own portable terminal by reading the QR code. Fig. 6F In the example, the message display field G13 includes a message such as "If you want to confirm the result on your smartphone, please read the QR code here" and a QR code. In addition, although the QR code is shown in the example, the email address of the user U can also be input. In addition, when a card reader is installed on the display device 200 and a card such as an employee ID card is read by the card reader, the determination result can be sent to the user U and his supervisor.

[0160] The message display field G14 includes messages that take into account the biological information of the user U during the business period, the weather of the day, the time period, etc. Fig. 6F In the example, it is assumed that for user U who is in a specific state of mind for a long time during the early morning period, a positive message “Your state of mind is stable. If you can think deeply, you should be able to achieve better results. I wish you a good day.” is displayed.

[0161] Figure 6G It is an explanatory diagram of a seventh example of the display of the determination result in this embodiment.

[0162] Figure 6G This is an example of representing the ratio of the thinking state (i.e., convergent thinking or divergent thinking) of the user U during the task in the form of a meter. The ratio of convergent thinking to divergent thinking is represented by the position indicated by the arrow.

[0163] In this embodiment, the biometric measurement device 100 may control the lighting device so as to change the color temperature or illuminance of the lighting light that illuminates the vicinity of the user U according to the determination result. For example, when the user U inputs in advance to the biometric measurement device 100 that he wants to perform a task in a certain state of mind and start the task under a certain lighting state, the illuminance or color temperature of the room may be changed at regular intervals during the task according to the determination result of the state of mind of the user U. In addition, when the user U feels comfortable with the lighting at a certain time, the lighting setting may be stored through the operation terminal connected to the biometric measurement device 100. The next time the user U wants to be in the same state of mind, the task may be started according to the stored lighting setting.

[0164] Figure 7 This is a flowchart showing an example of a process of controlling lighting according to a determination result in the present embodiment.

[0165] In step S201 , the biometric measurement device 100 acquires information on the mental state targeted by the user U. The information is acquired by receiving input of information from the user U via an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, or a microphone.

[0166] The processing from step S202 to step S203 is the same as Figure 4B The processing from step S101 to step S107 is the same as in.

[0167] In step S204, the processing circuit 134 determines whether the target thinking state obtained in step S201 matches the thinking state determined in step S203. Specifically, when the target thinking state is a divergent thinking state and the degree of divergent thinking is determined to be on the rise in the determination of the thinking state, the processing circuit 134 determines that the two thinking states match. In addition, when the target thinking state is a convergent thinking state and the degree of convergent thinking is determined to be on the rise in the determination of the thinking state, the processing circuit 134 determines that the two thinking states match. Moreover, in cases other than the above, the processing circuit 134 determines that the two thinking states do not match. In the case where it is determined that the two thinking states match (yes in step S204), step S206 is entered, and in the case where it is determined to be other than this (no in step S204), step S205 is entered.

[0168] In step S205, the processing circuit 134 controls at least one of the illuminance and the color temperature of the lighting. The details of the control will be described later.

[0169] In step S206, the processing circuit 134 determines whether to end Figure 7For example, the processing circuit 134 may determine whether the acquisition of new biological information (step S202) is successful, and if it is determined to be unsuccessful, it is determined to be terminated. Figure 7 In addition, the processing circuit 134 can determine whether a preset time has passed, and determine that the process is finished if the preset time has passed. Figure 7 The series of determination processes shown in the figure. By ending the determination process, the amount of processing by the processor can be reduced.

[0170] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing the relationship between the illuminance and color temperature of lighting suitable for guiding the user U into a certain thinking state (ie, convergent thinking or divergent thinking). Such a relationship between the illuminance and color temperature of lighting is described in Non-Patent Document 1.

[0171] Therefore, as an example, the biometric measurement device 100 can guide the user U to a divergent thinking state or a convergent thinking state by controlling the lighting device. When the biometric measurement device 100 controls the lighting device, for example, the biometric measurement device 100 can achieve this by sending communication data including a control command for changing the color temperature or illuminance of the lighting light emitted by the lighting device to the lighting device. When the lighting device receives the communication data, it changes the color temperature or illuminance of the lighting light emitted according to the control command included in the received communication data.

[0172] (1) Control of guiding user U to a divergent thinking state

[0173] For example, Non-Patent Document 6 describes the use of lighting with high illuminance and low color temperature as a condition suitable for work such as brainstorming, that is, a condition for a divergent thinking state.

[0174] On the other hand, when the user U is to be guided to a divergent thinking state, it is estimated that the thinking state of the user U is different from the divergent thinking state in a positively increasing state, for example, the convergent thinking state in a positively increasing state or a neutral state.

[0175] At this time, if the biometrics measuring device 100 controls the lighting device to lower the color temperature of the lighting light and increase the illuminance, it is possible that the user U can be guided to a divergent thinking state (see Figure 8 ).

[0176] Therefore, when the biometric measurement device 100 determines that the cerebral blood flow change in the central part of the forehead of the user U is greater than 0 or the cerebral blood flow change in the end of the forehead is greater than 0, and determines that the cerebral blood flow change in the central part of the forehead from the reference time point to the current time point is not greater than the cerebral blood flow change in the end of the forehead from the reference time point to the current time point (that is, when it is determined that the degree of convergent thinking is in a positive rising state), if the lighting device is controlled to lower the color temperature of the lighting light and increase the illuminance, it is possible to guide the user U to a divergent thinking state.

[0177] In addition, when the biometric measurement device 100 determines that both the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead and the cerebral blood flow change amount in the end part of the forehead are less than 0 (i.e., when determined to be in a neutral state), if the lighting device is controlled to lower the color temperature of the lighting light and increase the illuminance, it is possible to guide the user U to a divergent thinking state.

[0178] (2) Control of guiding user U to a convergent thinking state

[0179] For example, Non-Patent Document 6 describes the use of lighting with a high color temperature and a high illuminance as a condition suitable for a convergent thinking state.

[0180] On the other hand, when the user U is to be guided to a convergent thinking state, it is estimated that the thinking state of the user U is different from the convergent thinking state and is in an increasing state, for example, the divergent thinking state is in an increasing state or a neutral state.

[0181] At this time, if the biological measurement device 100 controls the lighting device to increase the color temperature of the lighting light and the illuminance, it is possible to guide the user U to a convergent thinking state (see Figure 8 ).

[0182] Therefore, when the biometric measurement device 100 determines that the cerebral blood flow change in the central part of the forehead of the user U is greater than 0 or the cerebral blood flow change in the end of the forehead is greater than 0, and determines that the cerebral blood flow change in the central part of the forehead from the reference time point to the current time point is greater than the cerebral blood flow change in the end of the forehead from the reference time point to the current time point (that is, when it is determined that the degree of divergent thinking is in a positive rising state), if the lighting device is controlled to increase the color temperature of the lighting light and increase the illuminance, it is possible to guide the user U to a convergent thinking state.

[0183] In addition, when the biometric measurement device 100 determines that both the cerebral blood flow change amount in the central part of the forehead and the cerebral blood flow change amount in the end part of the forehead are less than 0 (i.e., when determined to be in a neutral state), if the lighting device is controlled to increase the color temperature of the lighting light and increase the illuminance, it is possible to guide the user U to a divergent thinking state.

[0184] As described above, the biological measurement device 100 can objectively evaluate the creative thinking state of the subject.

[0185] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, each component is composed of dedicated hardware, but it can also be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component can be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. Here, the software that realizes the information processing device and the like of the above-mentioned embodiments is the following program.

[0186] That is, the program causes the computer to execute an information processing method, which includes: using a sensor to obtain first cerebral blood flow information, the first cerebral blood flow information corresponding to the temporal changes in the cerebral blood flow in the central part of the user's forehead in the left-right direction; using the sensor to obtain second cerebral blood flow information, the second cerebral blood flow information corresponding to the temporal changes in the cerebral blood flow at the end parts of the user's forehead in the left-right direction; based on the comparison between the first cerebral blood flow information and the second cerebral blood flow information, the processor determines whether the degree of divergent thinking of the user is in an upward state or whether the degree of convergent thinking is in an upward state.

[0187] Furthermore, any one of the CPU, the processor, and the storage device that performs the mental state determination process may be a configuration included in a server that communicates with a sensor that detects biological information of a user via a network.

[0188] The above describes one or more information processing methods based on the embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments. As long as it does not deviate from the main purpose of the present disclosure, various modifications that a person skilled in the art can think of and apply to the embodiments, and the methods constructed by combining the constituent elements in different embodiments can also be included in the scope of one or more embodiments.

[0189] Industrial Applicability

[0190] The present disclosure can be used in a device for sensing a person's state.

[0191] Description of Reference Numerals

[0192] 10. Cerebral blood flow measurement device

[0193] 11 Measurement location

[0194] 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 112 light emitting parts

[0195] 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 114 light receiving part

[0196] 100 Biological Measurement Devices

[0197] 110 Camera Unit

[0198] 130 Processing device

[0199] 132 control circuit

[0200] 134 processing circuit

[0201] 136 Memory

[0202] 200 display devices

[0203] A1, A2, A3, A4 area

[0204] G1 Display Image

[0205] G11 Chart

[0206] G12 Input Bar

[0207] G13, G14 message display bar

[0208] I1 surface component

[0209] I2 diffusion component

[0210] IeNear infrared light

[0211] L, L1, L2 straight lines

[0212] UUser

[0213] T1, T2, T3 time interval

Claims

1. An information processing method, wherein: include: acquiring first cerebral blood flow information using a sensor, the first cerebral blood flow information corresponding to a temporal change in cerebral blood flow in a central portion of a forehead of a user in a left-right direction; acquiring second cerebral blood flow information using the sensor, the second cerebral blood flow information corresponding to a temporal change in cerebral blood flow at an end portion in a left-right direction of the forehead of the user; as well as Based on the comparison between the first cerebral blood flow information and the second cerebral blood flow information, the processor determines whether the degree of divergent thinking of the user is in a positive increasing state or whether the degree of convergent thinking is in a positive increasing state.

2. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein: The sensor obtains the cerebral blood flow at a first time point in the central part and the cerebral blood flow at a second time point after the first time point, and obtains the cerebral blood flow at the first time point in the end part and the cerebral blood flow at the second time point, The determination includes: When it is determined that the increase in cerebral blood flow at the second time point in the central part relative to the first time point is greater than the increase in cerebral blood flow at the second time point in the end part relative to the first time point, it is determined that the degree of divergent thinking of the user is in a positive rising state.

3. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein: The sensor repeatedly obtains the cerebral blood flow at the central part and repeatedly obtains the cerebral blood flow at the end part. The determination includes: When it is determined that the ratio of the change in cerebral blood flow with respect to time in the central portion is greater than the ratio of the change in cerebral blood flow with respect to time in the end portions, it is determined that the degree of divergent thinking of the user is increasing.

4. The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The sensor obtains the cerebral blood flow at a first time point in the central part and the cerebral blood flow at a second time point after the first time point, and obtains the cerebral blood flow at the first time point in the end part and the cerebral blood flow at the second time point, The determination includes: When it is determined that the increase in cerebral blood flow at the second time point at the end portion relative to the first time point is greater than the increase in cerebral blood flow at the second time point at the central portion relative to the first time point, it is determined that the degree of convergent thinking of the user is in a positive rising state.

5. The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The sensor acquires the first cerebral blood flow information and the second cerebral blood flow information during a plurality of periods respectively. The determination includes: For each of the plurality of periods, based on the first cerebral blood flow information and the second cerebral blood flow information obtained during the period, it is determined whether the degree of divergent thinking of the user during the period is in a positively increasing state, or whether the degree of convergent thinking of the user during the period is in a positively increasing state, The information processing method further includes: generating a graph showing the ratio of the period during which the degree of convergent thinking of the user is increasing and the period during which the degree of divergent thinking of the user is increasing among the plurality of periods; and displaying the graph.

6. The information processing method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The information processing method further includes: A lighting device that illuminates the vicinity of the user is controlled to increase the color temperature of the lighting light and the illuminance.

7. The information processing method according to claim 4, wherein: The information processing method further includes: A lighting device that illuminates the vicinity of the user is controlled to lower the color temperature of the lighting light and increase the illuminance.

8. An information processing method, wherein: include: Using the processor, Obtaining target information, wherein the target information indicates that the user is in a state set as a target, i.e., a target state, acquiring cerebral blood flow information indicating temporal changes in cerebral blood flow of the user, Determining the user's mental state based on the cerebral blood flow information, comparing the target state indicated by the target information with the determined thought state of the user, When the result of the comparison indicates that the target state and the determined mental state of the user do not match, control is performed to change the characteristics of the illumination light irradiated by the illumination device that illuminates the vicinity of the user.

9. An information processing system, wherein: have: a light source that emits a first light toward a center portion of a user's forehead in a left-right direction, and emits a second light toward ends of the user's forehead in a left-right direction; a detector that detects third light from the central portion generated by the first light and detects fourth light from the end portion generated by the second light; Processing circuit; as well as display device, the processing circuit, generating first cerebral blood flow information based on the third light, the first cerebral blood flow information including information on a temporal change in hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the central portion, generating second cerebral blood flow information based on the fourth light, the second cerebral blood flow information including information on a temporal change in hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow at the end portion, performing a comparison process of comparing the amount of change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the central portion with the amount of change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the end portion based on the first cerebral blood flow information and the second cerebral blood flow information, Based on the comparison process, executing a determination process, wherein, if it is determined that the amount of change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the central portion is greater than the amount of change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the end portion, the determination process determines that the degree of divergent thinking of the user is in a positively increasing state, and, if it is determined that the amount of change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the end portion is greater than the amount of change in the hemoglobin concentration of the cerebral blood flow in the central portion, the determination process determines that the degree of convergent thinking of the user is in a positively increasing state, The result of the determination process is displayed on a display.

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