Passive Mouse and Keyboard Sensors for Impairment Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Employers face challenges in detecting employee impairment due to exhaustion, physical or mental illness, or addiction, which can impact productivity and safety, and existing systems lack effective biometric monitoring in computer peripherals to address these issues.
Innovation Solution
A biometric and performance monitoring system integrated into computer peripherals like mice and keyboards, using sensors to measure biometric and performance parameters, and analyze them to detect deviations from a baseline, alerting users, medical providers, or supervisors to potential impairment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If biometric sensors are integrated into computer peripherals, then employee impairment detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines biometric sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, barometer, GPS, camera, microphone) with standard computer peripheral functionality into integrated devices. The sensors are embedded within the peripheral device housing and share the same physical structure, allowing simultaneous health monitoring and computer interaction without requiring separate standalone devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The computer peripheral device performs multiple functions: standard input device operations (mouse control, keyboard input) and biometric health monitoring (detecting falls, seizures, impairments). This multi-functionality allows a single device to serve both traditional computing purposes and medical monitoring purposes, reducing the need for additional specialized equipment.
2Measurement precision
If multiple biometric sensors are integrated into computer peripherals, then health monitoring accuracy is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the health monitoring system into modular sensor components (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, barometer, GPS, camera, microphone) that can be independently manufactured and then integrated into the peripheral device. This segmentation allows each sensor type to be optimized separately and assembled through standardized processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensor modules are nested within the housing of the computer peripheral device. The sensors are arranged in a compact configuration where smaller sensor components are integrated within the larger peripheral structure, allowing efficient use of space and streamlined manufacturing assembly sequences.
3Reliability
If biometric parameters are continuously monitored, then impairment detection reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic sampling of biometric parameters rather than continuous monitoring. Sensors take measurements at predetermined time intervals or when triggered by specific events (falls, seizures), reducing energy consumption while maintaining detection reliability for critical health events.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses passive sensing where the sensors automatically detect and record health events without requiring active user engagement or additional power-intensive processing. The device monitors its own operational status and environmental conditions, enabling reliable detection with minimal energy expenditure.
Data Source
AI summary
The biometric and performance monitoring system includes a computer having a mouse and a keyboard electronically coupled thereto. A first sensor is disposed in the mouse, and is electrically coupled to the computer. A second sensor is disposed in the keyboard and is electrically coupled to the computer. The first sensor and the second sensor measure biometric parameters of a user. A computer-readable storage medium is associated with the computer and is adapted for storing the biometric parameters and the performance parameters. The computer measures performance parameters associated with the mouse and with the keyboard. The computer at least one of provides an alert to the user, electronically communicates with a medical service provider, and electronically communicates with a supervising entity responsive to analysis of changes in the biometric parameters and the performance parameters.