Intelligent System for OOS and RSI Prevention

Intelligent System for OOS and RSI Prevention

Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS) and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) incidents are common injuries that happen in the workplace. Systems exist that notify users with break reminders and, for example, lock the user's workstation when the system detects the user has been using the computer for a designated period . However, these existing systems do not ensure that the user takes a break that includes stretching and walking . For example, current systems do not have the ability to detect if the user has gotten up from their desk and has taken a walk for a break . Further, they have no ability to ensure that the user has performed recommended stretches and other activities . By ensuring that users of devices and equipment take recommended breaks , and especially perform recommended exercises, the risk of serious pain, time off work, and significant medical costs can be reduced.

Prior Art:

1. Methods that describe how to avoid eye strain, but do not enforce a policy in that regard [1-3]

2. Eye defender after some given length of time displays a screen saver or image to remind you to give your eyes a break [4]

3. List of the different categories of software to avoid work strain [5]

Software solutions and tools generally address one or more of these functional categories:

• Break reminder: remind the user to take breaks based on factors such as elapsed time, how much/intensely you are working, natural rest patterns, times of day, and more.

• Activity Mitigation: allow the user reduce the amount they need to type or mouse (e.g., voice recognition tools, automatic clicking tools, hotkey/macro tools)

• Tracking: track information such as how long a user works each day, break-taking patterns, repetitions (e.g., keystrokes, mouse clicks). Some tools have much more sophisticated statistics, including predictive risk assessments based on fairly sophisticated and research-based methodologies. Other tools also include discomfort assessments and reporting tools to help the user find associative patterns between objectively collected statistics and subjectively reported discomfort information.

• Networking: Handle multiple-computer use (e.g., for profiles settings or for aggregating usage statistics) via networked data, including the ability to handle intermittent connectivity

• Training: a training component with information on topics including workstation setup, body positioning, work-efficiency tips, psychosocial information, and more

None of these solutions actually enforces the breaks or enforces physical exercise . They lock the screen, but do not make sure the user is actually moving around .

This article proposes a mechanism applied through smart phone applications for both enforcing and reporting on breaks taken by employees.

1

Unique aspects of this disclosure include the abilities to :

• Link a smart phone and a workstation, giving the smart phone the ability to l...