Attention Testing with Central Fixation and Peripheral Reaction Tasks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current attention ability testing techniques fail to accurately assess an individual's visual attention ability, particularly in peripheral vision, and cannot detect eye deviation from the central fixation point, making them inadequate for determining fitness to drive or monitoring changes due to alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation, or other factors.
Innovation Solution
An attention ability test device that randomly generates center and peripheral tasks within a display area, measuring reaction times to evaluate attention ability, with a memorizing task to ensure the examinee maintains focus on the central area, and calculates evaluation values using both central and peripheral reaction times to assess attention ability accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a visual field examining apparatus displays examination marks around a center fixation mark to inspect visual field, then the visual field can be examined, but the attention ability cannot be accurately measured because the apparatus cannot detect eye deviation from the center fixation point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a memorizing task as an intermediary mechanism to ensure proper fixation. The examinee must memorize a sequence of numbers displayed at the center fixation point, which serves as a mediator to verify that the examinee is actually looking at the center area. This intermediary task enables indirect detection of eye deviation without requiring direct eye tracking technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by requiring the examinee to perform the memorizing task before the actual attention ability measurement. This preliminary task ensures that the examinee is properly fixated on the center area and understands the test requirements, thereby preparing the system for accurate subsequent measurements.
2Measurement precision
If the periphery task uses an appearing task where an image appears, then the task is easier to perform, but the attention ability in peripheral vision cannot be accurately tested when the display area is small
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of task difficulty by using a changing task instead of an appearing task. In the changing task, the peripheral image changes its state (e.g., from red to green) rather than simply appearing. This parameter change increases the task difficulty and allows for more sensitive measurement of peripheral attention ability even when the display area is limited, as the examinee must detect subtle changes rather than obvious appearances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by using a changing task where the peripheral image dynamically changes its state. This dynamic approach allows the system to test attention ability more effectively in limited display areas, as the changing nature of the task requires continuous monitoring and processing, thereby providing more sensitive measurements of peripheral attention capacity.
3Device complexity
If only a center task is executed to test attention ability, then the test is simpler to implement, but the attention ability in peripheral vision cannot be individually evaluated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the attention ability test into separate center task and periphery task components. This segmentation allows for independent evaluation of central and peripheral attention abilities, providing more comprehensive and precise measurements. The center task evaluates attention in the central visual field while the periphery task evaluates attention in the peripheral visual field, with each task being independently measurable and analyzable.
Data Source
AI summary
An attention ability test device includes a display having a display area, an input device for receiving an operation performed by an examinee, and a test controller. While displaying a central image in the central area of the display area and displaying one or more peripheral images in the peripheral area of the display area, the test controller generates at random at least one of a center task of changing the central image and a periphery task of changing the peripheral image, and measures, as a reaction time, the period of time from generation of the center task or the periphery task to execution of a predetermined operation performed by the examinee having recognized the generation, and evaluates the attention ability of the examinee, based on the reaction time.