Computer interfaces including physiologically guided avatars
This invention provides user interfaces that more intuitively display physiological data obtained from physiological monitoring of one or more subjects. Specifically, the user interfaces of this invention create and display one or more avatars having behaviors guided by physiological monitoring data. The monitoring data is preferably obtained when the subject is performing normal tasks without substantial restraint. This invention provides a range of implementations that accommodate user having varying processing and graphics capabilities, e.g., from handheld electronic devices to ordinary PC-type computers and to systems with enhanced graphics capabilities.
1. A system for displaying physiological information of a user comprising:
a wearable sensor for acquiring real time physiological data of the user including cardiac stroke volume;
a processor operatively connected to the sensor, the processor adapted to receive the real time physiological data from the sensor; and
a display for visually presenting an avatar, the avatar including a graphical element representing the real time physiological data of the user,
wherein the graphical element is a substantially realistic heart image representing the real time cardiac data of the user,
wherein the processor dynamically changes a size of at least a portion of the substantially realistic heart image in proportion to the cardiac stroke volume.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the physiological data includes real time respiratory data.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the avatar includes a second graphical element representing the real time respiratory data of the user,
wherein the second graphical element expands and contracts in proportion to the real time respiratory data of the user.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the avatar includes a torso image, and
wherein the graphical element and the second graphical element are displayed in the torso image.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display presents a plurality of avatars representing the real time physiological data of multiple users.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further includes a memory device to store the real time physiological data of the user.
7. A method for displaying physiological data of a user during an athletic activity, comprising:
receiving from a wearable sensor real time physiological data of the user including real time respiratory volume during the athletic activity;
displaying on a display a torso image; and
displaying on a display a graphical element corresponding to the real time physiological data in the torso image, wherein the size of at least a portion of the graphical element dynamically changes in proportion to the real time respiratory volume.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the physiological data includes respiratory data.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the physiological data includes cardiac data including real time cardiac stroke volume.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising displaying a second graphical element that is a substantially realistic heart image, wherein the substantially realistic heart image expands and contracts in proportion to the real time cardiac stroke volume.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the graphical element expands and contracts in proportion to the real time respiratory volume.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the graphical element represents a lung and wherein the graphical element expands and contracts in proportion to real time respiratory volume.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the graphical element comprises an avatar including a visual image of the user.
14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the wearable sensor and the display are separate devices.
15. The method of claim 7 , wherein the sensor and display are part of the same device.
16. A method for displaying physiological data of a user during an athletic activity comprising:
providing a wearable sensor configured to collect real time physiological data of the user including activity data representing the intensity of the athletic activity, respiratory data and cardiac data during the athletic activity;
receiving the real time physiological data;
displaying on a display a first avatar including a first graphical element having an outer border, the first graphical element corresponding to the real time respiratory data;
displaying on a display a second avatar including a second graphical element having an outer border, the second graphical element corresponding to the real time cardiac data; and
displaying on a display a third avatar including a third graphical element corresponding to the real time activity data,
wherein the outer border of at least a portion of the first graphical element dynamically changes in proportion to the real time respiratory data, and
wherein the outer border of at least a portion of the second graphical element dynamically changes in proportion to the real time cardiac data.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the real time respiratory data is respiratory volume.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the real-time cardiac data is cardiac stroke volume.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the outer border of the first graphical element increases and decreases in size in proportion to the real time respiratory data.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first graphical element is a lung, and
wherein the first graphical element expands and contracts in proportion to the real time respiratory data of the user.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second graphical element is a substantially realistic heart image and wherein the substantially realistic heart image expands and contracts in proportion to the real time cardiac data of the user.
22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the wearable sensor and the display are separate devices.
23. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sensor and display are part of the same device.
24. The method of claim 16 , further comprising displaying multiple avatars corresponding to real time physiological data of multiple users.
25. The method of claim 16 , further comprising displaying on a display a fourth avatar including a fourth graphical element corresponding to real time psychological stress of the user.