Cellphone IMU Gait Tracking for Dual-Task Cognitive Alerts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cognitive assessment methods are infrequent and resource-intensive, lacking universal recommendations for ideal intervals, and many at-risk individuals are not evaluated regularly due to resource constraints, especially in non-clinic settings.
Innovation Solution
A system using a cellphone with an IMU to continuously measure gait parameters during dual-tasking and non-dual-tasking periods, computing differences, and generating cognitive health alerts through a hardware processor for continuous, automatic cognitive status monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional cognitive assessment methods are used, then cognitive status can be evaluated, but the assessments are infrequent and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/manual cognitive assessment methods with an automated sensor-based system. IMU sensors in mobile devices automatically track gait parameters, and voice activity detection algorithms automatically analyze speech patterns, eliminating the need for manual administration and scoring of cognitive tests while enabling continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service cognitive monitoring where the mobile device automatically collects gait and voice data without requiring active user participation or cooperation. The sensors continuously capture movement and speech patterns, and the processing system automatically analyzes these data streams to detect cognitive status changes, making the assessment process autonomous and resource-efficient.
2Measurement precision
If traditional cognitive assessment methods are used, then cognitive status can be evaluated, but resource constraints prevent regular evaluation of at-risk individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces resource-intensive manual cognitive assessments with automated sensor-based monitoring. Mobile devices with IMU sensors and voice activity detection algorithms automatically collect and analyze gait and speech data, eliminating the need for trained personnel to administer and score tests, thereby dramatically reducing human and financial resource requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service cognitive monitoring using the mobile device's existing sensors and processing capabilities. The device automatically captures gait parameters through accelerometers and gyscopes, detects voice activity through the microphone, and processes this data locally to determine cognitive status, requiring minimal external resources while enabling continuous monitoring of at-risk individuals.
3Productivity
If passive gait measurement is used, then continuous cognitive monitoring is enabled, but the system requires automatic detection of dual-tasking periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple detection functions into a unified system. The voice activity detection algorithm simultaneously serves as both a cognitive assessment tool and a dual-tasking detection mechanism. When voice activity is detected during gait measurement, the system automatically identifies this as a dual-tasking period, combining two assessment functions into one integrated process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from voice activity detection to automatically adjust gait measurement interpretation. When voice activity is detected, the system knows the user is engaged in a dual task and adjusts its analysis accordingly, using the presence or absence of voice activity as a feedback signal to determine cognitive load and dual-tasking periods without requiring additional sensors or complex detection algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
A health monitoring method, system and computer program product comprising using a cellphone having an IMU, to (typically repeatedly) measure at least one gait parameter of a human bearing the cellphone during a first period in which the human is known to be dual-tasking; and/or at least one gait parameter of the human bearing the cellphone during a second period in which the human is known not to be dual-tasking; and/or using a hardware processor to receive the gait parameters and/or to compute at least one difference (in value e.g.) between gait parameter/s during the first period and (typically the same) gait parameter/s during the second periods, and, accordingly, to generate a cognitive health alert at least once e.g. according to an alert generation criterion defined over at least the difference/s so computed.