Motion sickness reduction, directional indication, and neural rehabilitation device

1. A device for motion sickness reduction associated with physical movement, comprising:

an annular-shaped headband configured to be worn about a horizontal circumference of a human head, ale headband having a circumference and comprising:

a plurality of transducers arranged about the circumference of the headband, each transducer being configured to provide haptic feedback to a wearer of the headband in the form of pressure, vibration, or electrical stimulation; and

a sensor configured to periodically measure a direction and magnitude of an acceleration of the headband;

a controller comprising a processor, a memory, and a plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, cause the controller to:

periodically receive acceleration data from the sensor, the acceleration data indicating the direction and the magnitude of the acceleration of the headband;

identify a first transducer of the plurality of transducers that is closest in direction to the direction of the acceleration;

operate the first transducer, the intensity of transducer operation corresponding to the magnitude of the acceleration;

while the magnitude of the acceleration meets or exceeds a threshold value, operate a second transducer to the left of the first transducer and a third transducer to the right of the first transducer, the intensity of operation of the second and third transducers corresponding to the magnitude of the acceleration, but at a lower intensity than the operation of the first transducer;

while the magnitude of the acceleration falls below the threshold value, cease the operation of the second and third transducers; and

repeat the operations of the controller set forth above periodically as acceleration data is periodically received from the sensor.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein, when a new direction of the acceleration is contained in a periodic receipt of acceleration data from the sensor and a newly-selected first transducer is selected by the controller to reflect the new direction, one or more transducers are activated in sequence between the previously-selected first transducer and the newly-selected first transducer to indicate a rotational transition from the old direction to the new direction.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the intensity of operation of the one or more transducers activated in sequence is gradually reduced in the reverse order of their activation so as to cause a trailing off of intensity following the indication of rotational transition.

4. A device for reducing motion sickness associated with perceived movement in a virtual environment, comprising:

an annular-shaped headband configured to be worn about a horizontal circumference of a human head, the headband having a circumference and comprising:

a plurality of transducers arranged about the circumference of the headband, each transducer being configured to provide haptic feedback to a wearer of the headband in the form of pressure, vibration, or electrical stimulation; and

an input port configured to periodically receive a direction and magnitude of an acceleration;

a controller comprising a processor, a memory, and a plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, cause the controller to:

periodically receive acceleration data at the input port, the acceleration data indicating the direction and the magnitude of the acceleration;

identify a first transducer of the plurality of transducers that is closest in direction to the direction of the acceleration;

operate the first transducer, the intensity of transducer operation corresponding to the magnitude of the accelerations;

while the magnitude of the acceleration meets or exceeds a threshold value, operate a second transducer to the left of the first transducer and a third transducer to the right of the first transducer, the intensity of operation of the second and third transducers corresponding to the magnitude of the accelerations, but at a lower intensity than the operation of the first transducer;

while the magnitude of the acceleration falls below the threshold value, cease the operation of the second and third transducers; and

repeat the operations of the controller set forth above periodically as acceleration data is periodically received from the sensor.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the direction and magnitude of acceleration are received from a computer generated virtual environment.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein when a new direction of the acceleration is contained in a periodic receipt of acceleration data from the input port and a newly-selected first transducer s selected by the controller to reflect the new direction, one or more transducers are activated in sequence between the previously-selected first transducer and the newly-selected first transducer to indicate a rotational transition from the old direction to the new direction.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the intensity of operation of the one or more transducers activated in sequence is gradually reduced in the reverse order of their activation so as to cause a trailing off of intensity following the indication of rotational transition.

8. A method of treatment for reducing motion sickness, comprising the steps of:

arranging a plurality of transducers a circumference of an annular-shaped headband configured to be worn about a horizontal circumference of a human head, each transducer being configured to provide haptic feedback to a wearer of the headband in the form of pressure, vibration, or electrical stimulation;

using a controller on the headband comprising a memory, a processor, and a plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory and operating on the processor:

periodically receiving acceleration data either from a sensor of the headgear or from an input port of the headgear, the acceleration data indicating a direction and a magnitude of an acceleration:

identifying a first transducer of the plurality of transducers that is closest in direction to the direction of the acceleration;

operating the first transducer, the intensely of transducer operation corresponding to the magnitude of the acceleration;

while the magnitude of the acceleration meets or exceeds a threshold value, operating a second transducer to the left of the first transducer and a third transducer to the right of the first transducer, the intensity of operation of the second and third transducers corresponding to the magnitude of the acceleration, but at a lower intensity than the operation of the first transducer;

while the magnitude of the acceleration falls below the threshold value, ceasing the operation of the second and third transducers; and

repeat the operations of the controller set forth above periodically as acceleration data is periodically received from the sensor.

9. The method of treatment of claim 8 , wherein the direction and magnitude of acceleration are received at the input port from a computer generated virtual environment.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein, when a new direction of the acceleration is contained in a periodic receipt of acceleration data from the sensor or the input port and a newly-selected first transducer is selected by the controller to reflect the new direction, one or more transducers are activated in sequence between the previously-selected first transducer and the newly-selected first transducer to indicate a rotational transition from the old direction to the new direction.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the intensity of operation of the one or more transducers activated in sequence is gradually reduced in the reverse order of their activation so as to cause a trailing off of intensity following the indication of rotational transition.