Nail evaluating program, device and method

Abstract

Provided are a nail evaluating program, device and method that enable objective evaluation of each item included in a nail technique.　The program causes a computer to execute: an image acquisition step for acquiring image data of a nail skill evaluation target; an evaluation acquisition step for acquiring evaluation data for a plurality of evaluation items defined for each of a plurality of evaluation categories, for an evaluation performed on the basis of the image data acquired in the image acquisition step; an evaluation step for generating an evaluation for each of the plurality of evaluation categories on the basis of the evaluations of the plurality of evaluation items belonging to each evaluation category; and an output step for displaying the evaluations of the evaluation categories and the evaluations of the plurality of evaluation items.

Description

Nail evaluation program, device and method

[0001] The present invention relates to a nail evaluation program, device, and method for evaluating nails based on nail images of a subject.

[0002] As nails become more popular, the number of nail technicians is increasing. Many nail technicians improve their skills independently by referring to public information and videos on websites, or by learning from instructors at nail technician schools.

[0003] However, there is a problem that information and teaching methods related to nail techniques vary widely, making it difficult to objectively evaluate. Also, although there are various items in nail techniques, the items themselves are unclear, making it difficult to know what needs to be improved.

[0004] The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a nail evaluation program, device, and method that enable objective evaluation of each item included in nail technique. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a nail evaluation program, device, and method that allows the person being evaluated to easily further improve their technique based on the evaluation they received.

[0005] The present invention is a nail evaluation program that causes a computer to execute an image acquisition process for acquiring image data of a nail skill evaluation target, an evaluation acquisition process for acquiring evaluation data for a plurality of evaluation items defined for each of a plurality of evaluation categories based on the image data acquired in the image acquisition process, an evaluation process for generating an evaluation for each of the plurality of evaluation categories based on evaluations of the plurality of evaluation items belonging to that evaluation category, and an output process for outputting the evaluation of the evaluation category and the evaluation of the plurality of evaluation items.

[0006] Preferably, required evaluation items are defined as part of the plurality of evaluation items, and the evaluation process performs a first evaluation in which, if the required evaluation item does not meet a certain standard, the evaluation of the evaluation category including the required evaluation item is evaluated as failing, regardless of the evaluation of other evaluation items.

[0007] Preferably, the evaluation items are composed of a mid-evaluation item and a plurality of sub-evaluation items subordinate to the mid-evaluation item, and the required evaluation sub-item is specified as part of the plurality of sub-evaluation items, and the evaluation process performs a first evaluation in which, if the required evaluation sub-item does not meet a certain standard, the mid-evaluation item including the required evaluation item is evaluated as failing, regardless of the evaluation of the other sub-evaluation items.

[0008] Preferably, the evaluation process performs a second evaluation in which the average of the evaluations of the multiple evaluation sub-items subordinate to the evaluation item is used as the evaluation of the evaluation item, and the average of the evaluations of the multiple evaluation items subordinate to the category is used as the evaluation of the category, and the smaller of the first evaluation and the second evaluation is used as the evaluation of the category and the evaluation item.

[0009] Preferably, the first evaluation is performed so that the evaluation of the category and the item under evaluation is equal to or lower than the evaluation of the required evaluation sub-item that is subordinate to the category and the item under evaluation.

[0010] Preferably, the output process displays an evaluation sub-item display column in which the multiple evaluation sub-items are arranged in vertical order and the evaluation of each evaluation sub-item is shown by a bar graph extending horizontally, and an evaluation current item display column in which the multiple evaluation current items are arranged in horizontal order and the evaluation of each evaluation current item is shown by a bar graph extending vertically.

[0011] Preferably, the evaluation process uses a human evaluation input in response to the operation of the person for human evaluation items among the plurality of evaluation items that are evaluated by a person based on the image, and uses an image analysis evaluation generated by performing image analysis on the acquired image based on predetermined criteria for image analysis evaluation items among the plurality of evaluation items that are evaluated automatically.

[0012] Preferably, the output step displays past evaluations in at least one of the sub-evaluation item display field and the intermediate evaluation item display field so that the past evaluations can be compared with the current evaluation.

[0013] Preferably, based on association information that preliminarily associates the evaluation of the evaluation sub-items with teaching materials or lesson plans, recommendation information recommending teaching materials or lesson plans that correspond to the evaluation of the evaluation sub-items of the person being evaluated is provided to the person being evaluated.

[0014] The nail evaluation method of the present invention is carried out by a computer through an image acquisition process for acquiring image data of a nail skill evaluation target, an evaluation acquisition process for acquiring evaluation data for a plurality of evaluation items defined for each of a plurality of evaluation categories based on the image data acquired in the image acquisition process, an evaluation process for generating an evaluation for each of the plurality of evaluation categories based on evaluations of the plurality of evaluation items belonging to that evaluation category, and an output process for outputting the evaluation of the evaluation category and the evaluation of the plurality of evaluation items.

[0015] The nail evaluation device of the present invention has an image acquisition means for acquiring image data of a nail skill evaluation target, an evaluation acquisition means for acquiring evaluation data for a plurality of evaluation items defined for each of a plurality of evaluation categories based on the image data acquired by the image acquisition means, a first evaluation means for generating an evaluation for each of the plurality of evaluation categories based on the evaluation of the plurality of evaluation items belonging to that evaluation category, and a display means for outputting the evaluation of the evaluation category and the evaluation of the plurality of evaluation items.

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a nail evaluation program, device, and method that enables objective evaluation of each item included in nail technique. Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a nail evaluation program, device, and method that enables an evaluation subject to easily further improve their technique based on the evaluation they received.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network environment in which a nail evaluation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the nail evaluation device 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating evaluation items used in nail evaluation by the nail evaluation device 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the nail evaluation device 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen 31 showing nail evaluation results. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another evaluation method in the nail evaluation device 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating time evaluation by the nail evaluation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display of time evaluation by the nail evaluation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a reference time displayed on the time evaluation screen display shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display of an overall evaluation by the nail evaluation device 1.

[0018] Hereinafter, a nail evaluation program, an apparatus, and a method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The embodiment shown below is an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0019] 1 is a diagram for explaining a network environment in which a nail evaluation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. As shown in FIG. 1, the nail evaluation device 1 communicates with an evaluation subject terminal device 3 via a network 9.

[0020] The evaluation subject terminal device 3 is used by the person to be evaluated (such as a student), and the person to be evaluated takes an image of the nails that they have done using a camera or the like, and transmits the image data to the nail evaluation device 1. The evaluation subject terminal device 3 may download a predetermined app from the nail evaluation device 1 or the like, and use the functions of the app to take images and transmit and receive data to and from the nail evaluation device 1.

[0021] Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of the nail evaluation device 1 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the nail evaluation device 1 includes, for example, a display 51, a camera 52, an operation unit 53, a communication unit 55, a memory 59, and a processing unit 61.

[0022] The display 51 displays an image based on a signal from the processing unit 61. The camera 52 captures an image of the subject. The operation unit 53 is an operation means such as a touch panel, keyboard, or mouse. The communication unit 55 communicates with the evaluation subject terminal device 3.

[0023] The input unit 57 is a terminal or the like for inputting data from the outside. The memory 59 stores a nail evaluation program PRG1 executed by the processing unit 61. The processing unit 61 executes the nail evaluation program PRG1 stored in the memory 59 to perform the processing of the nail evaluation device 1 defined in this embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the evaluation items used in nail evaluation by the nail evaluation device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the evaluation items used in nail evaluation by the nail evaluation device 1 are composed of an evaluation category, an evaluation item in progress, and a sub-evaluation item. The evaluation category is the highest-level evaluation item, and the evaluation item in progress is located below the evaluation category. Furthermore, the evaluation item in progress is located below the sub-evaluation item. Some of the sub-evaluation items are specified as required evaluation items.

[0025] In this embodiment, the evaluation categories include Care, One Color, Gradation, and Time. These are just examples. The evaluation categories include the following: AAA: Top-class basic skills for a manicurist chosen by customers; AA: Ideal basic skills for a manicurist chosen by customers; A: Standard basic skills for a manicurist chosen by customers; B: Basic skills that need improvement for a manicurist chosen by customers.

[0026] Fig. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the nail evaluation device 1 shown in Fig. 1. Step ST11: The communication unit 55 of the nail evaluation device 1 receives image data and text data of the nails of the person to be evaluated from the terminal device 3 of the person to be evaluated, and stores the data in the memory 59 in association with the identification information of the person to be evaluated.

[0027] Step ST12: The communication unit 55 displays images and text corresponding to the nail image data and text data acquired in step ST11 on the display 51. The evaluator looks at the nail images and text displayed on the display 51 and inputs an evaluation of the evaluation subitems for each category by operating the operation unit 53. The processing unit 61 stores the input evaluation of the evaluation subitems in the memory 59 in association with the identification information of the person being evaluated.

[0028] Step ST13: The processing unit 61 reads the evaluations (data) of the evaluation sub-items from the memory 59, and for each evaluation item, generates an evaluation of the evaluation item based on the evaluations of the evaluation sub-items belonging to the evaluation item, and stores the evaluation in the memory 59.

[0029] Step ST14: The processing unit 61 reads out the evaluations (data) of the items currently being evaluated from the memory 59, and for each evaluation category, generates an evaluation for the evaluation category based on the evaluations of the items currently being evaluated that belong to that evaluation category, and stores the evaluation in the memory 59.

[0030] Step ST15: The processing unit 61 reads out the evaluations (data) of the items under evaluation from the memory 59, generates an overall evaluation based on the evaluations of each evaluation category, and stores the generated evaluation in the memory 59.

[0031] Step ST16: The processing unit 61 reads out from the memory 59 the sub-evaluation items stored in the memory 59 in step ST12, the intermediate evaluation items generated in step ST13, the evaluation of the evaluation category generated in step ST14, and the overall evaluation generated in step ST15, and generates evaluation screen data to be displayed on the terminal device 3 of the person being evaluated.

[0032] 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the evaluation results displayed on the evaluation display screen 31. As shown in FIG. 5, the evaluation display screen 31 includes, for example, a sub-item evaluation display field 33, a current evaluation item display field 35, and an overall evaluation display field 37.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows an example of care, but other evaluation categories are also displayed in a similar way.

[0034] The evaluation sub-item display field 33 arranges multiple evaluation sub-items in a vertical order, and the evaluation of each evaluation sub-item is shown by a bar graph extending horizontally. The currently evaluated item display field 35 is located to the left of the evaluation sub-item display field 33. The currently evaluated item display field 35 arranges multiple currently evaluated items in a horizontal order, and the evaluation of each currently evaluated item is shown by a bar graph extending vertically.

[0035] The previous evaluation is displayed as a line graph in the evaluation item display field 35. The evaluation sub-item display field 33 and the evaluation item display field 35 show the target evaluation value (pass value), for example, as a red line.

[0036] The following describes other evaluation methods in the nail evaluation device 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining other evaluation methods in the nail evaluation device 1.

[0037] Step ST21: When a required evaluation item does not meet a certain standard, the processing unit 61 of the nail evaluation device 1 performs a first evaluation in which the evaluation of the intermediate evaluation items and evaluation categories higher than the required evaluation item that does not meet the certain standard is evaluated as failing (for example, "1 point"), regardless of the evaluation of other sub-evaluation items.

[0038] Furthermore, in the first evaluation, the processing unit 61 assigns an evaluation to each mid-evaluation item that is equal to or lower than the lowest (minimum) evaluation of the required evaluation sub-item below that mid-evaluation item.

[0039] Step ST22: The processing unit 61 also performs a second evaluation in which the average of the evaluations of multiple evaluation sub-items below the evaluation item is used as the evaluation of the evaluation item, and the average of the evaluations of multiple evaluation items below the evaluation category is used as the evaluation of the evaluation category.

[0040] Step ST23: Then, the processing unit 61 identifies the smaller (lower) of the first evaluation and the second heavy equipment evaluation.

[0041] Step ST24: The processing unit 61 stores the evaluation identified in step ST23 in the memory 59 as the evaluation category and the evaluation of the item under evaluation.

[0042] In the above-described embodiment, images and text corresponding to the nail image data and text data are displayed on the display 51, and the evaluator visually views them and inputs evaluations for the evaluation sub-items. However, the processing unit 61 may perform image analysis of the nail image to automatically generate some or all of the evaluation sub-items. That is, for the human evaluation items among the multiple evaluation sub-items, which are evaluated by a person based on an image, the human evaluation input in response to the person's operation is used. Furthermore, for the image analysis evaluation items among the multiple evaluation sub-items, the image analysis evaluation generated by the processing unit 61 through image analysis of the acquired image based on predetermined criteria is used.

[0043] When the evaluation sub-items are associated with lesson materials (videos, etc.) or lesson plans, the processing unit 61 may provide or recommend materials or lesson plans to each evaluation subject according to the evaluation content of the evaluation sub-items.

[0044] The processing unit 61 may provide or recommend the above, for example, as follows: 1. Selling lesson videos for the problem item. → Providing know-how and self-practice. 2. Proposing online one-on-one lessons with a lecturer who is good at problem solving (a lecturer who has been determined to have a proven track record) or face-to-face one-on-one lessons with the PNA certified lecturer closest to the user's home → Directly identifying the habits that are the cause of the user's unique weaknesses in the problem item. 3. Selling a six-month intensive school (choose online or face-to-face) and proposing the lecturer and curriculum that are best suited to solving the problem.

[0045] The processing unit 61 may analyze how the evaluation of the subject has changed after incorporating the lesson materials (videos, etc.) and lesson plans, and may perform processing to make further suggestions. It may also provide feedback to the lesson instructors on the changes in each evaluation item of the subject. It may also provide incentives, such as monetary incentives, to the instructors for the improvement in the subject's skills after taking each instructor's lesson.

[0046] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining time evaluation by the nail evaluation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the nail evaluation device 1 defines preparation, off, fill-in, one color, and gradation as mid-evaluation items for time evaluation. Each mid-evaluation item defines one or more sub-evaluation items. In the example of FIG. 7, evaluations 1 to 4 times are listed.

[0047] 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of a time evaluation display by the nail evaluation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the nail evaluation device 1 performs processing to display sub-items, intermediate items, and an overall evaluation for the time evaluation.

[0048] Fig. 9 is a diagram for explaining the reference time displayed on the time evaluation screen display shown in Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 9, the nail evaluation device 1 displays each evaluation item and a reference evaluation of the time for each evaluation item.

[0049] Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display of the overall evaluation by the nail evaluation device 1. As shown in Fig. 10, the nail evaluation device 1 displays the overall evaluation on the display of the evaluation subject terminal device 3 in step ST16 shown in Fig. 4 described above. The evaluation subject can know their own skill level as a manicurist based on the overall evaluation. In addition, they can understand their strengths and weaknesses for each evaluation category.

[0050] Furthermore, the nail evaluation device 1 may analyze the evaluations of the evaluation categories, intermediate evaluation items, and sub-evaluation items of the registered multiple evaluation subjects, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of each item, the progress of improvement according to the contents of the teaching materials and educational programs, etc. This provides information that can be used as a reference for improving the teaching materials and educational programs.

[0051] As described above, the nail evaluation device 1 can objectively evaluate each item (e.g., intermediate evaluation item, sub-evaluation item, etc.) included in nail technique, making it easier for the person being evaluated to further improve their nail technique based on the evaluation they received.

[0052] Furthermore, the nail evaluation device 1 can objectively prove the skill evaluation of each manicurist, which can be useful for nail salons when hiring staff. Also, manicurists can advertise their own skill level.

[0053] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art may make various modifications, combinations, subcombinations, and substitutions of the components of the above-described embodiments within the technical scope of the present invention or equivalents thereof.

[0054] The method of generating (calculating) each evaluation item of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the evaluations are divided into a hierarchy of evaluation categories, intermediate evaluation items, and sub-evaluation items, but the division method is not limited to the above-described method.

[0055] The method of displaying the evaluation results of the present invention is not limited to those shown in Figures 5, 8, 9, and 10. The output step of the present invention may be not only a screen display on a display but also a printing process.

[0056] The present invention is applicable to a nail evaluation system.

[0057] 1... Nail evaluation device 3... Evaluation subject terminal device PRG1... Nail evaluation program

Claims

1. A nail evaluation program that causes a computer to execute the following steps: an image acquisition step of acquiring image data of a nail skill evaluation target; an evaluation acquisition step of acquiring evaluation data for a plurality of evaluation items defined for each of a plurality of evaluation categories based on the image data acquired in the image acquisition step; an evaluation step of generating an evaluation for each of the plurality of evaluation categories based on evaluations of the plurality of evaluation items belonging to that evaluation category; and an output step of outputting evaluations of the evaluation category and evaluations of the plurality of evaluation items.

2. The nail evaluation program according to claim 1, wherein a required evaluation item is defined as part of the plurality of evaluation items, and the evaluation process performs a first evaluation in which, if the required evaluation item does not meet a certain standard, the evaluation of the evaluation category including the required evaluation item is evaluated as failing, regardless of the evaluation of other evaluation items.

3. The nail evaluation program according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation items are composed of a mid-evaluation item and a plurality of sub-evaluation items subordinate to the mid-evaluation item, a required evaluation sub-item is defined as a part of the plurality of sub-evaluation items, and the evaluation process performs a first evaluation in which, if a required evaluation sub-item does not reach a certain standard, the evaluation of the mid-evaluation item including the required evaluation item is evaluated as a failing evaluation, regardless of the evaluation of other evaluation sub-items.

4. The nail evaluation program according to claim 3, wherein the evaluation step comprises: performing a second evaluation in which the average of the evaluations of the multiple evaluation sub-items subordinate to the evaluation item is set as the evaluation of the evaluation item in question, and the average of the evaluations of the multiple evaluation sub-items subordinate to the evaluation category is set as the evaluation of the evaluation category in question; and setting the smaller of the first evaluation and the second evaluation as the evaluation of the evaluation category and the evaluation item in question.

5. The nail evaluation program according to claim 4, wherein the first evaluation is performed so that the evaluation of the evaluation category and the evaluation item is equal to or lower than the evaluation of the required evaluation sub-item that is lower than the evaluation of the evaluation category and the evaluation item.

6. The nail evaluation program according to claim 5, wherein the output process displays: a sub-evaluation item display field in which the plurality of evaluation sub-items are arranged in vertical order and the evaluation of each evaluation sub-item is shown by a bar graph extending horizontally; and a current evaluation item display field in which the plurality of evaluation items are arranged in horizontal order and the evaluation of each evaluation item is shown by a bar graph extending vertically.

7. The nail evaluation program according to claim 6, wherein the evaluation process uses a human evaluation input in response to a human operation for a human evaluation item among the plurality of evaluation items that is evaluated by a person based on an image, and uses an image analysis evaluation generated by performing image analysis on an acquired image based on a predetermined criterion for an image analysis evaluation item among the plurality of evaluation items that is evaluated automatically.

8. The nail evaluation program according to claim 6, wherein the output step displays past evaluations in at least one of the sub-evaluation item display field and the ongoing evaluation item display field so that the past evaluations can be compared with the current evaluation.

9. The nail evaluation program according to claim 6, further comprising: providing the subject with recommendation information for a teaching material or lesson plan corresponding to the subject's evaluation of the sub-item based on association information that previously associates the evaluation of the sub-item with the teaching material or lesson plan.

10. A nail evaluation method in which a computer executes the following steps: an image acquisition step for acquiring image data of a nail skill evaluation target; an evaluation acquisition step for acquiring evaluation data for a plurality of evaluation items defined for each of a plurality of evaluation categories based on the image data acquired in the image acquisition step; an evaluation step for generating an evaluation for each of the plurality of evaluation categories based on the evaluation of the plurality of evaluation items belonging to that evaluation category; and an output step for outputting the evaluation of the evaluation category and the evaluation of the plurality of evaluation items.

11. A nail evaluation device comprising: an image acquisition means for acquiring image data of a nail skill evaluation target; an evaluation acquisition means for acquiring evaluation data for a plurality of evaluation items defined for each of a plurality of evaluation categories based on the image data acquired by the image acquisition means; a first evaluation means for generating an evaluation for each of the plurality of evaluation categories based on the evaluation of the plurality of evaluation items belonging to that evaluation category; and an output means for outputting the evaluation of the evaluation category and the evaluation of the plurality of evaluation items.

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