WO2010074907A1

WO2010074907A1 - Device and method for limiting television and/or computer gaming time based upon recording physical and/or educational activities

Info

Publication number: WO2010074907A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/066493
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Mitchnick
Original assignee: Mark Mitchnick
Priority date: 2008-12-15
Filing date: 2009-12-03
Publication date: 2010-07-01

Abstract

Devices and methods for recording physical and/or educational activities of an individual which interface with passive recreational activities and award activity credits applicable by the individual toward these passive recreational activities and other rewards are provided.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LIMITING TELEVISION AND/OR COMPUTER GAMING TIME BASED UPON RECORDING PHYSICAL AND/OR EDUCATIONAL

ACTIVITIES

This patent application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/122,470, filed December 15, 2008, teachings of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices and methods for awarding time to be spent on passive recreational activities such as watching television and/or playing computer games based upon time spent on physical and/or educational activities.

Background of the Invention

Obesity is among the most widespread medical problems affecting children and adolescents living in the United States and other developed countries. According to the

American Obesity Association, about 15% of adolescents (aged 12-19 years) and children (aged 6-11 years) are obese in the United States and these numbers are expected to continue increasing. See emedicinehealth with the extension . com/obesity_in_children/article_em. htm of the world-wide web. Obesity not only increases a child's risk of numerous health problems, but it also can create emotional and social problems. Obese children are also more likely to be obese as adults, increasing their risk of serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke. See emedicinehealth with the extension . com/obesity_in_children/article_em.htm of the world wide web. Excessive time spent watching television, using the computer, and playing video games is partly to blame for this escalating rate. Children, on average, spend up to five to six hours a day involved in these sedentary activities. See life with the extension .familyeducation.com/health/ obesity/29523. html of the world-wide web.

The present invention provides a means for limiting the amount of time children are engaged in passive activities based upon the amount of time they are engaged in physical and/or educational activities.

Summary of the Invention

An aspect of the present invention relates to a device for recording physical and/or educational activities of an individual which interfaces with passive recreational activities and awards activity credits applicable by the individual toward these passive recreational activities.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for measuring physical and/or educational activities of an individual and awarding to the individual activity credits applicable toward passive recreational activities.

Brief Description of the Figure

Figure 1 provides a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a device of the present invention which monitors physical activity of an individual interfaced with a device providing a passive recreational activity.

Figure 2a and 2b provide an exemplary embodiment of the present invention wherein the activity monitor is worn on the wrist of an individual (see Figure 2a) . In this embodiment, the activity monitor is interfaced with a handheld gaming device (see Figure 2b) . Detailed Description of the Invention

With obesity in children and adolescents at an all time high, restraints or limitations on time spent on passive recreational activities and rewards for physical and/or educational activities are needed. The present invention provides both.

In the present invention, devices and methods are provided for an individual, in most instances a child or adolescent, to record physical and/or educational activities which are then translated into a certain number of activity credits that can be used to obtain time to be spent on passive recreational activities such as computer games and TV time.

Figure 1 provides a block diagram depicting in simplest form an embodiment of a device of the present invention which monitors physical activity of an individual via a physical activity monitor 2. This physical activity monitor 2 communicates with a device providing a passive recreational activity 4 via an interface 3. In one embodiment, the device of the present invention comprises an activity monitor worn by an individual to monitor their physical activity. The activity monitor is worn on the body directly or attached to an article of clothing or accessory and records time and level of activity. In simplest form, the activity monitor comprises a motion sensor, a power source and memory. Additional input data which can be monitored include, but are not limited to, respiratory rate, oxygen consumption, cardiac rate, global positioning, room and/or body temperature, sound, proximity to sensible signals, proximity to similar monitors, and phone use. Such data can be used to further refine monitored time and level of activity in terms of actual energy expended. Examples of activity monitors include, but are not limited to, an accelerometer, a pedometer, a cardiac monitor, a pulse monitor, a respiratory monitor, an oxygen (PO₂ or PPO₂) monitor, and/or information from an exercise device such as, but not limited to, a bicycle or treadmill. The activity monitor is preferably sized for easy wear by an individual and may be incorporated into, for example, a button or a wrist watch, or may fit into, for example, a shoe, a hat, an arm band, a wrist band a headband, a belt or any other piece of clothing or accessory that moves with the wearer.

Figure 2a depicts an exemplary embodiment of an activity monitor 2 worn on the wrist of an individual.

Alternatively, the activity monitor may simply comprise a written or electronic log of time spent on a physical activity by an individual. This type of written log can also be used to track educational activities such as, but not limited to doing homework, reading, and/or playing music for which activity credits toward passive recreational activities can be awarded. The log can be electronic and can be simple text or scale driven.

The device further comprises an interface which downloads or otherwise communicates the recorded activity information from the activity monitor or the log to a receiving device. The activity monitor, the interface or the receiving device comprises a means for performing an algorithm of activity monitored versus time to be awarded to a passive recreational activity. In some embodiments, the activity monitor or interface comprises a means for performing more complicated calculations utilizing other inputs such as respiratory, cardiac, GPS and/or temperature data. In these embodiments, activity credits may be awarded based upon estimates of calories burned instead of, or in addition to, time spent at a physical activity. The receiving device can be any number of passive recreational devices including, but in no way limited to, computers, gaming devices such as, but not limited, Wii, PlayStation, XBox, handheld gaming devices such as GameBoy, or televisions. The receiving device can also be a standalone device that communicates with any number of devices such as, for example, those named above. In another embodiment the receiving device may be a person who then allocates time to be awarded toward the passive recreational device.

Figure 2b depicts an exemplary embodiment of an activity monitor 2 communicating with a passive recreational activity device 4, in this example a hand-held gaming device, via an interface 3. As will be understood by the skilled artisan upon reading this disclosure, the activity credits monitored and interfaced through the device of the present invention can also be used to reward other items, such as, but in no way limited to, access to the cookie jar or candy bowl. The credits/activity ratio can be altered by the individual, the individual's parent or guardian, or the maker of the receiving device so that the ratio of physical or educational activity to activity credits can be set high or low or at any number of steps between. The device of the present invention may further comprise a user interface capable of allowing the user or a third party to input time spent on non-physical activities such as playing music, doing homework, reading and other activities . The device of the present invention may further comprise a means for recording consumed foodstuffs through user entry or automated detection by, for example RF or bar code . The present invention also relates to a method for measuring physical and/or educational activities of an individual and awarding to the individual activity credits applicable toward passive recreational activities. In one embodiment, time spent or energy expended on a physical activity by an individual is monitored via an activity monitor or tracked by a written log. Similarly, time spent on an educational activity can be tracked via a written or electronic log. This information is then downloaded or otherwise communicated via an interface to a receiving device and the activity monitor, the interface or the receiving device performs an algorithm of time spent or energy expended on the physical activity or time spent on the educational activity versus time to be awarded to a passive recreational activity. The receiving device, which in most embodiments functions to provide a passive recreational activity, then functions for the awarded time for the passive recreational activity. Alternatively, the receiving device is a standalone device that communicates with any number of passive recreational devices.

As will be understood by the skilled artisan upon reading this disclosure, the activity credits monitored and interfaced through to a receiving device in accordance with the method of the present invention can also be used to reward other items, such as, but in no way limited to, access to the cookie jar or candy bowl.

The following nonlimiting example further illustrates the present invention.

EXAMPLE

A 12 year old boy has a wrist watch that contains an activity monitor and plays tennis for 30 minutes. The device stores the activity level/duration. The boy then downloads this information via an interface to receiving device, in this example, a GameBoy which then calculates that this physical activity buys him 20 minutes of play time which he can use all at once or in part.

Claims

What is Claimed is :

1. A device for monitoring physical or educational activities of an individual which interfaces with passive recreational activities and awards activity credits applicable by the individual toward these passive recreational activities, said device comprising: a means for monitoring physical or educational activities; an interface which communicates information relating to the monitored physical or educational activities to a receiving device; and a means for performing an algorithm of activity monitored versus time to be awarded to a passive recreational activity.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for monitoring physical or educational activities is an activity monitor which monitors physical activities and comprises a motion sensor, a power source and memory.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the activity monitor further comprises a means for monitoring and interfacing data relating to respiratory rate, oxygen consumption, cardiac rate, global positioning, room and/or body temperature, sound, proximity to sensible signals, proximity to similar monitors, and/or phone use of the individual to award time to a passive recreational activity based on the data.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the activity monitor is sized for wear by an individual.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the activity monitor is incorporated into a button or a wrist watch, or fit into a shoe, a hat, an arm band, a wrist band, a head band, a belt, or any other piece of clothing or accessory that moves with the wearer.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for monitoring physical or educational activities is a written or electronic log maintained by the individual.

7. The device of claim 1 which monitors physical and educational activities.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a user interface which permits the user or a third party to input time spent on non-physical educational activities.

9. The device in claim 1 further comprising a means for recording foodstuffs.

10. A method for measuring physical or educational activities of an individual and awarding to the individual activity credits applicable toward passive recreational activities, said method comprising: monitoring time spent or energy expended on a physical activity by an individual or time spent on an educational activity; communicating the monitored information via an interface to a receiving device which provides a passive recreational activity; and calculating activity credits to be awarded to the passive recreational activity based upon time spent or energy expended on a physical activity by an individual or time spent on an educational activity.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein physical and educational activities of an individual are monitored and activity credits are calculated based upon time spent or energy expended on a physical activity by an individual and time spent on an educational activity.