Medical Visualization Perceptibility Control for Peripheral Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical visualization systems conflict with human perception, leading to a decline in situation awareness, as vital signs with low perceptibility, such as slow animations or subtle changes, often go unnoticed, especially in peripheral vision.
Innovation Solution
A system and method to control perceptibility by independently adjusting visualization parameters, such as color, size, and animation frequency, based on reference perceptibility values, to enhance noticeability, and optionally adding auditory signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visualization parameters are adjusted to reflect physiological data accurately, then the visual encoding scheme remains faithful to the data, but the perceptibility of critical changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control of visualization parameters into two independent systems: a visual encoding scheme that maps physiological data to visual representations, and a perceptibility control mechanism that independently adjusts parameters like animation frequency, color intensity, and size. This allows the encoding to remain accurate while the perceptibility is optimized separately through reference perceptibility values and independent parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting visualization parameters (color, size, animation frequency) based on reference perceptibility values. When a parameter's perceptibility falls below the reference value, the system modifies that parameter to bring it into the acceptable range, thereby ensuring critical changes are perceptible without altering the underlying data mapping.
2Measurement precision
If animation frequency is reduced to match slow physiological rhythms, then the visualization accurately represents the physiological state, but the noticeability of the animation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing the animation frequency to be independently adjusted from the physiological data rate. The system can display slow physiological rhythms accurately while simultaneously enhancing the animation frequency or adding visual effects to maintain noticeability. This dynamic separation enables the visualization to be both physiologically accurate and perceptually effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic action by introducing reference perceptibility values that define acceptable ranges for animation parameters. The system continuously monitors whether animation parameters (like frequency or duration) fall within these periodic reference ranges and adjusts them accordingly to ensure critical changes remain noticeable while maintaining physiological accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If visualization parameters are made more subtle to avoid alarming users, then user calmness is maintained, but the detectability of critical situations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using reference perceptibility values as thresholds that trigger parameter adjustments. When a visualization parameter falls below the reference value (indicating reduced detectability), the system automatically adjusts that parameter to restore detectability. This feedback mechanism ensures critical situations remain detectable while maintaining overall visual subtlety to avoid unnecessary alarm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies color changes by using color intensity and hue as adjustable visualization parameters that can be independently controlled. The system can maintain subtle color variations for normal physiological states while using color changes as a specific tool to enhance detectability when critical situations arise, without requiring alarmist visual effects.
Data Source
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AI summary
Some embodiments are directed to a system and a method for controlling perceptibility of a medical visualization, wherein physiological data of a patient is mapped to a medical visualization, wherein the mapping is defined by visualization parameters comprised in a visual encoding scheme. A perceptibility of a visualization parameter of the visual encoding scheme is compared to a reference perceptibility value, wherein the reference perceptibility value indicates a level of perceptibility to a human perception system of a user. Based on a decision if one or more visualization parameters of the visual encoding scheme are to be modified, perceptibility of the medical visualization is controlled by modifying the one or more visualization parameters of the visual encoding scheme, the modifying causing the rendering part to adjust the medical visualization accordingly.