JP2007117639A - Rearing device and program of virtual living body - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide rearing device and program of virtual living body, having a game sense, not requiring the artificial operation such as motion, and a function of using biological information of living things, especially mankind or the like. <P>SOLUTION: This rearing device of a virtual living body includes: a sensor part for detecting biological information; a rearing simulation part 200 using the information from the sensor part as input information to simulate rearing of the virtual living body, and outputting the information for visualizing the reared virtual living body; and an output part 300 for visualizing the virtual living body using the information for visualizing the virtual living body and outputting the same. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a virtual life form training apparatus and program, and particularly includes means for measuring and using biological information of a human or the like.

  In recent years, the word “health boom” has been heard a lot, and many health-related publications, health foods, and health goods such as a health meter with body fat percentage measurement function have been released. It is thought that the interest in, and the growing interest in health goods are reflected. Among health goods, measuring devices that can easily and easily measure biological information such as pulse are desired, and such products are actually being sold in stores. On the other hand, in order to make up for the tiredness of people during training such as walking and jogging to solve lack of exercise, measuring devices such as pedometers that incorporate game sensation are also on sale.

On the other hand, a portable life-form simulation (in which a virtual life form (hereinafter referred to as a character) is present in a game machine and a character is raised by performing a key operation corresponding to the action pattern of the character displayed by the user ( (Game) devices are known. This portable breeding simulation device allows users to communicate through care and care, etc. as if they were against real-life creatures in response to calls and requests from characters in the simulation device. Is intended to grow and grow virtual creatures (Patent Document 1). However, since the conventional training simulation device trains a character by a key operation, the operation options that the user can perform are limited. In view of this, a virtual life form training apparatus has been developed in which a character grows when a user performs an exercise such as walking or jogging (Patent Documents 2 and 3). This uses training results such as vibrations in exercise, for example, the number of steps of the user, as input.
Patent No. 3389489 JP 2002-360923 A WO98 / 41299

  However, this conventional technique (Patent Document 2) cannot be operated unless the user exercises. For example, the user cannot operate when the user is in an unconscious state such as sleeping. . In addition, there is a disadvantage that it is possible to arbitrarily control the growth of the virtual creature. For example, when the growth of a character is promoted by the number of steps, the character can be artificially grown by intentionally vibrating the device.

  Furthermore, in the virtual life form training apparatus in a form that constantly grows the character, if the user does not exercise, the character cannot be grown. It is not useful for users who cannot exercise.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a virtual life form training apparatus and a program that have a function of using biological information of a living organism such as a human being, and that has a sense of play and does not require an artificial operation such as exercise. Is an issue.

  A virtual life form breeding apparatus according to the present invention is a virtual life form breeding apparatus that performs simulation of virtual life form breeding according to external input information, a sensor unit that detects living body biological information, and the sensor The information from the unit is used as the input information, the growth simulation unit for simulating the growth of the virtual life form, and outputting the information for visualizing the raised virtual life form, and visualizing the virtual life form And an output unit that visualizes and outputs a virtual creature using information.

  The sensor unit outputs the biological information as a biological information signal, and the breeding simulation unit analyzes a waveform of the biological information signal with respect to the time axis direction, and each peak of the waveform has an amplitude, a frequency, and a waveform. It may have a function of digitizing using at least one of the average period and the variance value using a statistical technique for obtaining at least one of the intervals between the periods and outputting the numeric value as a processing parameter.

  Further, the breeding simulation unit determines the state of the organism in a stepwise manner according to the value of the processing parameter, associates the stage of the virtual life form with the state of the organism, Visual information regarding the appearance of the virtual creature corresponding to the stage of the growth process may be output.

  The stage of the growth process of the virtual life form may be a stage of a virtual growth process including at least one of evolution and degeneration of the virtual life form and a change in the health state of the virtual life form. .

  The sensor unit may include an unconstrained sensor including at least one of a sheet-like capacitance sensor and a pressure sensor using a piezoelectric element.

  The biological information may include at least one of information on heartbeat, information on pulse, information on brain waves, and information on respiration.

  The program according to the present invention is a program for realizing the functions of the virtual life form training apparatus described above.

  The evolution of the virtual life form in the present invention is based on a biological definition of “being gradually changing as a living organism passes through generations and increasing the difference from the original species to produce various species”. Including, for example, changes in the solid growth process of animals and plants, not only in the process of evolution of organisms from plankton to humans, especially when animals such as humans and pets are targeted as organisms In addition to physical changes, it also includes changes such as mental changes and habit changes. In addition, the degeneration of the virtual life form in the present invention is not limited to the biological definition “being advanced but changing to the pre-evolution state”, but the growth of solid animals and plants. In particular, in the case of animals such as humans and pets as organisms, it includes physical changes as well as reverse changes such as mental changes and habit changes. Shall be.

  For example, the evolution of the virtual life form means that when a character is a human being, the human being grows from a child to an adult, the human appearance becomes beautiful, and the human grows up to be a good person. Etc. On the other hand, the degeneration of the virtual life form means that, for example, when the living thing is a human being, the human being returns to the child, the human being ill or injured, or the appearance of the human being is in a poor state. For example, to grow up as a villain. Furthermore, for example, when a butterfly is adopted as a character, the evolution corresponds to each stage of change from egg to larvae, larvae to pupae, and pupae to adults. Will be applicable.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to enjoy the growth of a virtual creature without requiring an artificial operation such as exercise by using biological information of a living organism such as a human. Moreover, it can be expected that the health awareness of the user is enhanced in the course of enjoying the development of the virtual life form.

  In addition, since the biological information reflects the state of the user, it is possible to respond to cases where the growth parameters cannot be manipulated arbitrarily or when control is not possible such as during sleep. The virtual life form can be further enjoyed from the point that the virtual life form can be nurtured without being conscious of it.

  The significance or effect of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments.

  However, the following embodiment is merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the meaning of the term of the present invention or each constituent element is not limited to that described in the following embodiment. Absent.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of a virtual life form breeding apparatus using living body biological information according to an embodiment as input information. In the present embodiment, the organism is described as a human unless otherwise specified.

  In FIG. 1, 100 is a biological information input sensor that detects an electroencephalogram waveform, a cardiac potential waveform, a respiratory waveform, and the like, 200 is a simulation unit that performs a virtual life form breeding simulation calculation, and 300 is an output unit that displays a virtual life form and the like. (Hereinafter, referred to as LCD [Liquid Crystal Display]), 400 is a commercial power source for supplying power to the simulation unit 200 and the like, a power source such as a battery, and 500 is a switch for a user to input a command to the simulation unit 200 and the like. In the present embodiment, the biological information captured from the biological information input sensor 100 is that while the user is sleeping.

  In the simulation unit 200, reference numeral 1 denotes biological information output from the biological information input sensor 100, and an input interface unit to which A / D converted data is input. Reference numeral 2 denotes input from the input digitized biological information data. A biological information filter unit 3 for removing unnecessary irregular data that deviates from the normal range caused by malfunction of the sensor 100 or generation of some electrical noise, etc., 3 is a biological information storage RAM in which biological information data is stored. is there. The biometric information storage RAM 3 is configured so that a write operation and a read operation can be performed simultaneously (hereinafter referred to as W read / write memory), and the biometric information storage RAM 3 is overwritten in order from the oldest data in a certain cycle. . 4 is a CPU that controls all processes, judgments, calculations, controls, etc. (for example, processes, judgments, calculations, controls, etc. of biological information data, processes, judgments, calculations, controls, etc. of evolution of virtual creatures), Is a work RAM used when the CPU 4 performs calculations, 6 is a picture data ROM in which character data (image data) of a virtual creature is stored, and 7 is a judgment when the virtual creature is evolved or degenerated. A condition storage ROM in which conditions used for the above are stored, 8 is a logic circuit such as a multiplication circuit used when the CPU 4 performs operations and the like, and 9 is an output interface unit for outputting display data to the LCD 300. A power supply circuit 10 performs step-down of voltage supplied from the power supply 400, current control, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram in which a portion from the biometric information input sensor 100 to the input interface unit 1 when using three types of electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, and respiration information as biometric information is observed. The three waveform diagrams on the left side of the figure represent the waveforms in the brain wave, cardiac potential, and respiratory action from the top, respectively, the vertical axis represents the signal level, and the horizontal axis represents the time direction. These waveforms are obtained by detecting biological information as an electrical signal by the biological information input sensor 100 and grasping it as a waveform in the time axis direction by the simulation unit 200.

  As such biological information input sensors, there are constrained sensors (such as biological dish electrodes and disposable electrodes) that directly contact the detection electrode with the human body, and unconstrained sensors that do not directly contact the electrode with the human body. For example, in particular, when detecting biological information of a sleeping human body, an unconstrained sensor (hereinafter referred to as an unconstrained sensor) that has less burden on humans and does not inhibit sleeping compared to a restraint sensor is preferable. . As such an unconstrained sensor, there is a sensor that detects a radio wave emitted by the brain for an electroencephalogram, and for an electrocardiogram, since the operation of the heart is indirectly obtained from the valve opening / closing sound or pulse, the valve opening / closing sound is There are a sound sensor to detect and a sensor such as a photocoupler to detect a pulsation operation with an optical signal, and a breathing operation includes a sheet-like capacitance sensor that can be installed on a bed, a pressure sensor using a piezoelectric element, and the like.

  The biological information (analog signal) from the biological information input sensor 100 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 11 in the simulation unit 200 and output to the input interface unit 1. The input interface unit 1 receives digital values of brain waves, electrocardiograms, and / or respiratory information. An amplification amplifier (not shown) exists during this process.

  It should be noted that at least one of electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, and respiratory information may be used as the biological information (in the following, description will be made using respiratory information unless otherwise specified).

  The virtual life form is trained by the input biological information. That is, it evolves or degenerates due to biological information. In addition to evolution and degeneration, a virtual life form may be in a diseased state by biological information. However, in the present embodiment, it is considered that the analogy can be easily inferred even if only the evolution and degeneration of the virtual life form are described, and therefore the description of the disease state of the virtual life form is omitted.

  Next, the evolution and degeneration of the virtual creature will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, there are two patterns in evolution, and in the case of degeneration, the character is degenerated to the stage immediately before evolving to that stage. In the initial state, the character is in stage 1.

When the simulation unit 200 is turned on and started up, the virtual life form is selected from k characters from the virtual life form (1, 1) to the virtual life form (1, k). A virtual life form is a character such as an animal, a human being, or an angel. In the virtual life form (m, n), m represents the stage of raising the virtual life form, and n represents the type of character at that stage. In the present embodiment, m is incremented by 1 each and 1 is decremented by the evolution and degeneration of the virtual creature, and n is in the range of ^{1 to} 2 ^m−1 k. In addition, how to change these m and n is not limited to the system in this embodiment.

  Here, if the virtual life form (1, 1) is selected, the virtual life form will be evolved when the biological information satisfies the condition. In addition, when biometric information does not satisfy the conditions, the current state is maintained without evolution. The above conditions are stored in the condition storage ROM 7. In the figure, as an example, the virtual life form (1, 1) has evolved into two patterns of virtual life form (2, 1) or virtual life form (2, 2). ) Here, if it has evolved into the virtual life form (2, 1), it is determined whether the virtual life form evolves, degenerates, or maintains the current state when the biological information satisfies the condition. In the figure, as an example, the virtual life form (2, 1) evolves into two patterns of the virtual life form (3, 1) or the virtual life form (3, 2), or to the virtual life form (1, 1). It is an example of degeneration (maintenance not shown).

In this way, the virtual creature repeatedly evolves and degenerates. When a virtual life form evolves to a virtual life form (N, x) (x = 1 to 2 ^N-1 k), the virtual life form will evolve because the lifetime has come at the time of the next evolution process. Without death. This makes it possible to cause a sudden change that does not bore the user. Further, the virtual creature does not degenerate from the virtual creature (1, y) (y = 1 to k). The evolution may be the evolution or degeneration of the entire character, or may change for each part of the character. When the entire character evolves, for example, the genre of the character may be changed with respect to stage m so that it can be understood at a glance (change from a bad character to a good character step by step). ,Such). In the case of type n, for example, the shape, sex, belongings, and ornaments of a virtual creature may be changed, and as the value of n increases, they may become poor.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, an operation flow in the virtual life form breeding apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. In the explanation of the flow, explanations other than the contents related to the cultivation of the virtual creature are omitted. 4 and 5 operate in parallel. The flow in FIG. 4 is mainly related to the input interface unit 1, the biometric information filter unit 2, and the biometric information storage RAM 3. The flow in FIG. 5 is mainly related to the biometric information storage RAM 3, CPU 4, work RAM 5, picture data ROM 6, and condition storage. This is a flow relating to the ROM 7, the logic circuit 8, the output interface unit 9, and the LCD 300.

  In FIG. 4, in step S <b> 100, biometric information data is input to the input interface unit 1.

  In step S101, the biological information filter unit 2 collects the biological information data input to the input interface unit 1. At this time, the obtained digital value is converted into a range that is optimal for the simulation unit 200 to handle. In the automatic collection process, the biological information data is sorted as described later and stored in the biological information storage RAM 3.

  In step S102, the biometric information filter unit 2 determines whether the biometric information data is normal, that is, irregular data or saturated data. If it is normal data, the process proceeds to step S103, and if it is not normal data, the process returns to step S100.

  In step S103, the biometric information data is stored in the biometric information storage RAM 3. Thereafter, the process returns to step S100.

  Next, the flow in FIG. 5 will be described.

  When the power of the simulation unit 200 is turned on, the flow moves to step S200.

  In step S200, based on the biological information data obtained after the power is turned on, the virtual life form is a virtual life form (1, 1) to virtual life form (1, k) in accordance with the method in steps S203 and S204. It is selected from the inside. Details will be described later. Note that the virtual creature character is stored in the picture data ROM 6.

  In step S <b> 201, a virtual creature character, character information not described in the present embodiment, time information, and the like are displayed on the output unit 300. The display of the virtual life form character is achieved by reading out the character corresponding to the virtual life form (m, n) from the picture data ROM 6.

  In step S202, it is determined whether the virtual life form has reached the end of its life using a timer or the like. If the virtual life form has not reached the life, the process proceeds to step S203. If the virtual life form has reached the life, the virtual life form is considered to have died, and it is determined that the series of virtual life forms has been completed and the end processing is performed. Transition. In the end process, for example, an end screen may be displayed to prompt the user to press the power switch or the reset switch, or the process may proceed to start after confirmation with the user.

  In step S202, it is considered that the growth of a series of virtual creatures has ended due to the lifespan. However, in addition, it is considered that the number of degenerations has exceeded a certain threshold value, or death or virtual creatures (1, y) ( After degeneration into y = 1 to k), it may be regarded as death.

  In step S203, features of the biological information data are extracted. The CPU 4 reads out the biometric information data stored in the biometric information storage RAM 3 and uses the work RAM 5, the logic circuit 8, and the like, for example, on the waveform of the biometric information data (peak value, peak interval time, period, period Change).

  The operation in which the CPU 4 reads biometric information data from the biometric information storage RAM 3 in step S203 is performed simultaneously with the operation of step S103. As described above, the biometric information storage RAM 3 is a W read / write memory. Simultaneous access to the information storage RAM 3 is possible. Therefore, the parallel operation of the flows of FIGS. 4 and 5 is possible as described above.

  In step S204, each feature extracted in step S203 is stored in a buffer.

  In step S205, using each feature stored in the buffer, a state change parameter used when determining a change (evolution, degeneration, current status maintenance) of the virtual creature is calculated (described later). At this time, when three pieces of brain waves, electrocardiograms, and respiratory information are input to the input interface unit 1 as biological information, weighting or the like may be performed between the three. In the present embodiment, this calculation uses the time order as a processing unit, that is, the calculation is performed every hour, and the calculation is performed for data for the past one hour and all data from power-on to the present.

  In step S206, with reference to the state change parameter calculated in step S205, it is determined whether the virtual creature changes or the current state is maintained. If the virtual creature changes, the process proceeds to step S207, and if the current state is maintained, the process returns to step S201.

  In step S207, it is determined whether the virtual creature is degenerated or evolved with reference to the state change parameter. If the virtual creature evolves, the process proceeds to step S209, and if it degenerates, the process proceeds to step S208.

  In step S208, the stage is decremented by one in order to degenerate the virtual creature character to the character in the stage just before it evolves to that stage. For example, the character in the past stage is stored in the buffer, and the character is traced and degenerated. From step S208, the process returns to step S201.

  In this embodiment, the virtual creature evolves into one of two patterns. In step S209, with reference to the state change parameter, it is determined which of the two virtual creatures (virtual creature 1 or virtual creature 2 in FIG. 5) has evolved. This determination will be described later in the description of FIG. When the virtual life form evolves to the virtual life form 1, the process proceeds to step S210, and when it evolves to the virtual life form 2, the process proceeds to S211.

In step S210, in order to evolve the virtual creature into virtual creature 1, the stage is incremented by 1, and virtual creature 1 is set as a training target. In the present embodiment, the virtual creature 1 is determined by the stage m and the type n in the previous stage and the stage m ′ (= m + 1) of the virtual creature 1. That is, types n ₁ ′ and n ₂ ′ in virtual life form 1 (two types exist as described above. For example, if n ₁ ′ <n ₂ ′, n ₂ ′ = n ₁ ′ +1) is stage m, type n, which is determined by a simple arithmetic operation from the stage m ′. For example, by setting the type of the virtual life form 1 to n ₁ ′, the virtual life form 1 is determined as a virtual life form (m ′, n ₁ ′). In this case, the type n ₂ ′ is the virtual life form 2.

  From step S210, the process returns to step S201.

In step S211, in order to evolve the virtual creature into the virtual creature 2, the stage is incremented by 1, and the virtual creature 2 is set as the breeding target. The virtual creature 2 is a virtual creature (m ′, n ₂ ′) as described above. From step S211, the process returns to step S201.

  By repeating the above flow, the virtual life form is repeatedly evolved and degenerated, and the user can grow the virtual life form using his / her biological information. In addition, since the above is a flow that uses biometric information while sleeping, when it is confirmed from the biometric information that the user has woken up, for example, the flow enters a wait state in step S201. This confirmation may be performed, for example, in step S205 or step S201.

  Since the evolution of the virtual life form, the deterioration, and the change in the current status can be grasped visually, the user can be aware of his / her health condition while having fun. Even if the points of evolution are the same, it is possible to give more interest to one's own health condition by giving the virtual life form after evolution a little superiority or inferiority between the virtual life form 1 and the virtual life form 2. Thus, biological information can be indirectly fed back to the user by the user grasping the evolution, degeneration, and change in the current status of the virtual creature.

  A method of determination in step S206, step S207, and step S209 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the determinations in step S206, step S207, and step S209 may be performed at one time, and in this case, the process may proceed to step S201, step S208, and step S210, respectively.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the determination of when the character changes to the state of evolution, degeneration, or maintenance of the current state.

  The change of the character is determined by using the average value and the variance value of the input biometric information obtained by the CPU 4 by a statistical method using the logic circuit 8 and the like, and comparing each with a threshold value. Specifically, it changes based on a variable z ′ obtained by the following equation. This variable z 'is the state change parameter described above. The sample value here is a sample value of respiratory information as previously defined. In addition, as described above, when three pieces of brain waves, electrocardiograms, and respiratory information are input to the input interface unit 1 as biological information, sample values are created by performing weighting between the three pieces. Also good.

z = (x−U) / V [x: average value of sample values for each hour
U: Average of sample values from the start
V: variance of sample values from the start]
z ′ = z−z ₀ [z ₀ is z value at start time]
In this embodiment, z ′ is calculated every hour. That is, the character change timing is in units of time. Then, the z ₀ is a value of z of 1 hour after the time of start of measurement of biological information (during start).

According to the table shown in the figure, since the character is in stage 1 immediately after the start, the table relating to evolution in stage 1 is referred to. A comparison is made between z ′ and threshold _2H . When z ′ is equal to or greater than threshold _2H , the character evolves. Other than that, the status quo is maintained. Note that v (lower case) in the table represents a variance of sample values for each hour. Depending on the comparison result between v and the threshold value v _th1 , the evolved character of the virtual creature is determined as one of the two states (stage 2a or 2b in the table).

A case where the character is in stage 2 will be described. Refer to the table on evolution / degeneration in stage 2. A comparison is made between z ′, threshold _3H , and threshold _2L . When z ′ is equal to or greater than threshold _3H , the character evolves. When z ′ is less than threshold _2L , the character degenerates. Other than that, the status quo is maintained. Depending on the comparison result between v and the threshold value v _th2 , the evolved character of the virtual creature is determined as one of the two states (stage 3a or 3b in the table).

From the above, when the character is at stage N, the table relating to evolution / degeneration at stage N is referred to. A comparison is made between z ′, threshold _{(N + 1) H} and threshold _NL, and when z ′ is equal to or greater than threshold _{(N + 1) H} , the character evolves. When z ′ is less than threshold _NL , the character degenerates. Other than that, the status quo is maintained. Depending on the comparison result between v and the threshold value v _thN , the evolved character of the virtual creature is determined as one of the two states (stage Na or Nb in the table).

The relationship between the threshold _values of z such as threshold _2H and threshold _{2L is} as shown on the right side of the figure. Further, the threshold value v _thα relating to the dispersion such as v _th1 represents the threshold value of v in the stage α.

  From the above formula for calculating z, it can be understood that, for example, whether biological information is stable affects changes between evolution, degeneration, and maintenance of the current state of a virtual creature.

  The stable state and unstable state in each of the electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, and respiratory information will be described with reference to FIG. In any of these pieces of biological information, if the allowable range of the periodicity of the waveform that should be in a stable state (for example, the repetition period of the waveform) is known for the organism to be measured, in this case, human beings, The biological information corresponding to the range of the periodicity of the waveform that should be in the state is determined to be in a stable state as described in the upper half of the figure. In addition, when the periodicity of the waveform that should be in a stable state is not known, it is determined that the organism to be measured is in a resting state, that is, during a predetermined time (for example, 1 hour, but this is not the only case). The periodicity of these waveforms in the absence of an abrupt change (eg, ± 10%, but not limited to) in the autocorrelation values of the waveforms of the electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, and respiratory information. Detecting in advance, and centering on this, for example, a range of ± 30% can be regarded as an allowable range of the stable state.

  Therefore, for example, as described in the lower half of the figure, breathing is in a state where the amplitude is larger and the period is shorter than the upper half of the figure, exceeding the allowable range of the stable state. Sometimes it is unstable. As for the electrocardiogram, as described in the lower half of the figure, compared with the description of the upper half of the figure, the case where the cycle is short and the period is short is not stable. is there. As for the electroencephalogram, if it differs beyond the allowable range of the stable state as described in the lower half of the figure, it is an unstable state because the person is not sleeping, that is, awake.

  In the stable state and unstable state in each of the electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, and respiratory information, the characteristics of the state appear in the waveform, which greatly affects the average value and the variance value of the sample values. Therefore, the stable state or the unstable state has a great influence on the determination of the variable Z ′, and thus has a large influence on the determination of evolution and degeneration in FIG. 6.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to enjoy the growth of a virtual creature using human biological information. Furthermore, the biological information acquired from various sensors is measured to nurture a virtual creature, and the measurement result can be fed back to the user through the growth result, the biological information, the user's health state and sleep state, By outputting the form of the virtual creature corresponding to the state of the creature, the state of the creature can be visualized and fed back to the user in a form that can be easily grasped. In order to enjoy more, it is possible to deepen interest in health for users and to raise awareness of health.

  In the embodiment described above, human beings have been described as examples of living organisms, but the living organisms may be pets such as dogs or animals. In addition, since the embodiment in this case can be easily grasped from the above human example, detailed description is omitted. On the other hand, the organism may be a plant. In this case, the sensor unit detects information related to the growth such as the height and stem diameter of the plant and any vibration generated by the plant. In addition, since embodiment in the case of a plant can be easily grasped | ascertained from the said human example, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The virtual life form training apparatus in the present embodiment can be realized in hardware by a CPU, memory, or other LSI of an arbitrary computer. Further, in terms of software, it is realized by a program having a function of raising a virtual creature having means for processing measured biological information loaded in a memory. FIG. 1 shows functional blocks of a virtual life form training apparatus realized by hardware and software. However, it goes without saying that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms such as hardware only, software only, or a combination thereof.

  The embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately modified in various ways within the scope of the technical idea shown in the claims.

It is the schematic of the hardware constitutions of the virtual life form training apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of a virtual life form breeding apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a figure explaining the evolution and degeneration of the virtual life form concerning an embodiment. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the virtual life form training apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the virtual life form training apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure explaining judgment of the state of a character (evolution, degeneration, and the present condition maintenance) in the virtual life form breeding device concerning an embodiment. It is a figure explaining the case where it is not stable, when the biometric information in the virtual organism growing device concerning an embodiment is stable.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input interface part 2 Biometric information filter part 3 Biometric information storage RAM
4 CPU
6 Picture data ROM
7 Condition storage ROM
9 Output Interface Unit 100 Biological Information Input Sensor 200 Simulation Unit 300 Output Unit 500 Switch

Claims (7)

A virtual life form training apparatus that performs simulation of virtual life form growth according to external input information,
A sensor unit for detecting living body biological information;
Using the information from the sensor unit as the input information, simulating the growth of the virtual life form, and outputting the information for visualizing the raised virtual life form;
Using information for visualizing the virtual life form, and having an output unit for visualizing and outputting the virtual life form,
A virtual life form training apparatus characterized by the above. The sensor unit outputs the biological information as a biological information signal,
The growth simulation unit analyzes a waveform of the biological information signal with respect to the time axis direction, and at least one of an amplitude, a frequency, and a period between vertices of the waveform is one of an average value and a variance value. Or, it has a function of digitizing using a statistical method for obtaining both and outputting the numerical value as a processing parameter.
The virtual life form breeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The breeding simulation unit determines the state of the organism in a stepwise manner according to the value of the processing parameter, associates the stage of the virtual life form with the state of the organism, and the growth process of the virtual life form Outputting visual information regarding the appearance of the virtual creature according to the stage of
The virtual life form breeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: The stage of the growth process of the virtual life form is a stage of a virtual growth process including at least one of the evolution and degeneration of the virtual life form and the change in the health state of the virtual life form.
The virtual life form breeding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The virtual life form according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit includes an unconstrained sensor including at least one of a sheet-like capacitance sensor and a pressure sensor using a piezoelectric element. Training device. The virtual living body training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biological information includes at least one of information related to a heartbeat, information related to a pulse, information related to an electroencephalogram, and information related to respiration. The program which implement | achieves the function of the cultivation apparatus of the virtual life form of Claim 1 thru | or 6.

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