Passive Mental Acuity Tracking via Device Interaction Metadata
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating mental acuity lack spontaneity, invasiveness, and continuity, failing to provide accurate and real-time data over extended periods, which is crucial for industries relying on precise work product and for monitoring mental health.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system that retrieves timestamps of user interactions with a client device, tags them with application metadata, forms an aggregated dataset, associates an acuity value, and modifies application output to indicate mental acuity, enabling passive and non-invasive tracking of mental acuity over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional mental acuity tests are administered to evaluate user cognitive function, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to test anxiety and invasiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the user's own device interaction data to assess their mental acuity, eliminating the need for external testers or test administrators. The device itself collects and analyzes the user's typing patterns, click behaviors, and interaction timing to provide self-service cognitive assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical testing methods (paper tests, verbal questioning) with automated digital analysis of user interactions. The system substitutes direct cognitive testing with indirect measurement through analysis of motor skills and interaction patterns captured by the device's existing sensors and input mechanisms.
2Reliability
If continuous mental acuity monitoring is implemented, then reliability of assessment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the device's existing input mechanisms (keyboard, mouse, touchscreen) for dual purposes: both for normal user operations and for cognitive assessment data collection. The same hardware components that users interact with for productivity tasks are also utilized to gather behavioral data for mental acuity monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces software layers and algorithms as intermediaries that process raw interaction data and translate it into meaningful cognitive metrics. These intermediary processing layers analyze typing patterns, click timing, and interaction sequences to infer mental acuity without requiring direct measurement of cognitive functions.
3Loss of time
If passive tracking of user interactions is performed, then loss of time is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to lack of controlled testing conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously collects interaction data during normal device usage without interrupting the user's workflow. Instead of periodic testing that stops productivity, the assessment occurs continuously in the background as users naturally interact with the device, maintaining both productivity and data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system collects and stores interaction data in real-time as users work, preparing the dataset for later analysis. By gathering comprehensive interaction records during normal usage, the system prepares sufficient data beforehand to conduct accurate retrospective analysis of cognitive function.
Data Source
AI summary
A method including retrieving, from an operating system of a client device, a timestamp associated with a physical action on an input device coupled with the client device, is provided. The method includes tagging the timestamp with an action metadata of an application running in the client device, the physical action being associated with the application, and forming an aggregated dataset comprising the timestamp and the action metadata. The method also includes associating an acuity value to the timestamp based on the aggregated dataset, and modifying a display of an application output to indicate the acuity value within the application. A system and a non-transitory, computer readable medium storing instructions to perform the method are also provided.