Posture observer for ergonomic observation, posture analysis and reconstruction
A system and method for analysis of steps of action of a person in activity in an environment with potential occlusion and without the need to use of invasive equipment. Non-limiting implementations use posture registration and postural analysis based on an observation protocol that allows reconstruction, in a digital human simulation environment, of the adopted postures observed in a real time situation or by video.
1. A computer-operated method of analyzing individual activities using a processor that automatically processes received input data, the method comprising:
recording observed posture and activities of a subject;
characterizing the subject's recorded posture and activities based on a posture observation protocol;
storing the characterized posture and activities in a computer data file;
using a processor coupled to the computer data file, reconstructing the subject's posture and activities over time based on the computer data file;
using the processor, ascertaining based on the reconstructing, the subject's activity/movement volume in the space the subject occupies over time as the subject moves for a certain amount of time; and
determining areas in the space that the subject occupied over time from the ascertained volume.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the characterizing includes characterizing the subject's head, trunk, arms and legs and feet postures separately using a coding scheme.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the characterizing includes characterizing the position of moveable objects in the subject's environment.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the characterizing includes using a desktop computer to match video-recorded subject posture with predetermined patterns in a database.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the characterizing includes real time characterizing of the subject's posture with a handheld device.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the characterizing includes real time characterizing of the subject's posture with a print spreadsheet.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein ascertaining volume includes using computer-generated 3D object representations to ascertain the total volume in space the subject occupies over the certain time.
8. A computer system for analyzing individual activities including a processor that automatically processes received input data, the system comprising:
an input means that captures the posture and movement of a subject;
a processor coupled to the input means that characterizes the subject's posture and activities based on a posture observation protocol and stores the characterized posture and activities in a computer data file;
a reconstructor that reconstructs the subject's posture and activities over time based on the computer data file, ascertains based on the reconstructing, the subject's activity/movement volume in the space the subject occupies as he moves for a certain amount of time; and determines areas in the space that the subject occupies over time from the ascertained volume.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor characterizes the subject's head, trunk, arms and legs and feet postures separately using a coding scheme.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor characterizes the position of moveable objects in the subject's environment.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor comprises a desktop computer that matches video-recorded subject posture with predetermined patterns in a database.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the comprises a handheld device that characterizes the subject's posture in real time.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein the reconstructor ascertains volumes in space includes using computer-generated 3D object representations to determine the total volume in space that the subject occupies over time.
14. A computer system for analyzing individual activities comprising:
an input device that captures the posture and movement of a subject;
a memory device that stores information;
a processor coupled to the input device and the memory device, the processor being configured to characterize the subject's posture and activities based on a posture observation protocol and to store the characterized posture and activities in the memory device; and
a reconstructor that (a) reconstructs the subject's posture and activities over time based on the stored characterized posture and activities, (b) ascertains based on the reconstructing, the subject's activity/movement volume in the space the subject occupies as the subject moves for a certain amount of time; and (c) determines areas in the space that the subject occupies over time from the ascertained volume.