System and method for activity monitoring
Aspects of the present invention provides a system for monitoring and reminding a user of specific activities. In one embodiment, a machine detectable element is provided to an appropriate contactless reader that, when read, provides a proxy for the user completing the activity. Schedule and adherence information may be provided via a display-containing portable electronic device that may also be configured as the contactless reader. The system may also be configured to provide reminders or other information to the user or third parties.
1. An activity tag reader, comprising:
a housing having a surface;
a display on the surface of the housing;
a scanner within the housing below the surface of the housing adapted and configured to detect a machine readable activity tag element positioned above the surface of the housing in proximity to the portion of the housing containing the scanner;
an icon on the surface of the housing to indicate a position of the scanner beneath the surface within the house;
a computer within the housing in communication with the scanner and the display including computer readable instructions to change the display in response to a detection of the machine readable activity tag element by the scanner; and
a bezel that forms an upper boundary of the activity tag reader around a portion of the surface of the housing containing the display and the icon, the bezel is in electronic communication with and responsive to electronic signals from the computer, wherein the bezel is configured to provide visual indications corresponding to operation, warnings, or feedback provided by the activity tag reader.
2. The activity tag reader of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of user interaction buttons on the surface of the housing.
3. The activity tag reader of claim 1 wherein the scanner is positioned within the housing below the surface of the housing on one side of the display and a plurality of user interaction buttons are positioned within on the surface of the housing on the opposite side of the display.
4. The activity tag reader of claim 3 , wherein the bezel extends around the surface forming a bezel defined perimeter of the housing wherein the display, the user interaction buttons and the icon on the surface of the housing to indicate the position of the scanner are within the bezel defined perimeter.
5. The activity tag reader of claim 4 wherein a bezel color change occurs and is adapted and configured to change colors in response to instructions from the computer.
6. The activity tag reader of claim 1 wherein the computer readable instructions include computer readable instructions for displaying a unique icon on the display for each one of a predetermined number of states based on an interaction of a unique machine readable activity tag element with the scanner.
7. The activity tag reader of claim 1 wherein the computer readable instructions include computer readable instructions for displaying a unique icon on the display for each one of four predetermined activity status states of a user activity associated with the machine readable activity tag element.
8. The activity tag reader of claim 7 wherein the four predetermined status states of a user activity are a completed scheduled activity, an uncompleted future activity, an incomplete scheduled activity and an additional unscheduled activity.
9. The activity tag reader of claim 8 wherein the four predetermined activity status states of a user activity are associated with the user activity of the user taking one or more pills.
10. The activity tag reader of claim 7 wherein a bezel color change changes colors is responsive to each one of the four predetermined activity status states of the user activity in response to instructions from the computer as a result of an interaction between the machine readable activity tag element and the scanner.
11. The activity tag reader of claim 1 wherein the machine readable activity tag element contains less than 8 bits of data.
12. The activity tag reader of claim 1 wherein the machine readable activity tag element contains about 1 one bit of data.
13. The activity tag reader of claim 1 wherein the machine readable activity tag element contains only data used to associate the machine readable activity tag element with a user selected activity tag.
14. The activity tag reader of claim 1 wherein the machine readable activity tag element contains only data used to associate the machine readable activity tag element with a user selected icon.
15. The activity tag reader of claim 1 wherein the bezel changes color or the activity tag reader emits a sound when the scanner interacts with a machine readable activity tag element.
16. The activity tag reader of claim 15 wherein the bezel changes color to a unique color selected to identify with a preselected user activity status wherein a preselected user activity status is one or more of an indication of wellness, completion of an activity, or degree of adherence to a schedule of activities.
17. The activity tag reader of claim 15 wherein the sound emitted by the activity tag reader changes sounds to a unique sound selected to identify with a preselected user activity status wherein a preselected user activity status is one or more of an indication of wellness, completion of an activity, or degree of adherence to a schedule of activities.
18. The activity tag reader of claim 6 wherein a preselected user activity status is one or more of an indication of wellness, completion of an activity, or degree of adherence to a schedule of activities.
19. The activity tag reader of claim 6 wherein the predetermined number of states correspond to a subjective characteristic of the user.
20. The activity tag reader of claim 1 the computer readable instructions including instructions for presenting a unique icon on the display for each one of a predetermined number of activity states associated with an activity utilizing an object coupled to the unique machine readable activity tag element.
21. The activity tag reader of claim 20 wherein each one of the predetermined number of activity states associated with an activity utilizing the object relate to a scheduled use of the object.
22. The activity tag reader of claim 1 further comprising a six sided object having a unique icon and an associated machine readable tag on each of the six sides wherein when one of the six associated machine readable tags is positioned within range of the scanner, the activity tag reader includes computer readable instructions to indicate a unique subjective user state associated with the unique icon on one of the six sides.
23. The activity tag reader of claim 1 the computer readable instructions further comprising recognizing an indication of a subjective user condition when a surface of a multisided object is placed within range of the scanner.
24. The activity tag reader of claim 23 wherein the indication of a subjective user condition relates to one or more of a user's mood, mental state, wellness or tracked characteristic.